Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[TheCultOfIanTunnacliffe]

Former Altrincham FC director Kevan Guiney has just told me the sad news that the great Mal Bailey died this afternoon.

One of my Alty heroes from those halcyon days of the late 1970s/early 1980s.

Alty FC immortality attained via this unforgettable goal at Runcorn in the 1978 FA Trophy Semi-Final Second Leg, which secured the Robins' first ever appearance at Wembley Stadium:





Alty Legend profile here:


http://www.lusaweb.co.uk/legend11.htm

[Mausoleum Alty]

Mal was my first ever 'favourite' player when my Dad started taking me to Moss Lane around 1980/81. I had my photo taken with him on my birthday which the club used to do for kids back in the day.
RIP Mal.

[anglo alty]

R.I.P  Mal Bailey one of the untouchables(best semi pro side ever)

[One Foot in the Grave]

Whenever I've tried to pick my best ever Alty team, I've always started at the heart of my defence with the legendary pairing of  Bailey and Owens. They were the rock on which the great Alty team of that period was built.

At only 67, Mal has left us way too soon. R.I.P.

[Paul Cain's Chip Pan]

Very sad news. RIP

[hsmith1]

Just found this thread,so sorry to hear of Mals Death,my deepest sympathy goes to Julie and thier family

[MarpleAlty]

His son went to my school, my dad used to speak so fondly of Mal and the 'glory days' - and was still in total awe of him so many years later whenever he was at the school gates.

67 is far too soon, R.I.P.

[whiskyalty]

Rip mal you put a big smile on my face with that goal at runcorn

[thegazelle]

very sad news indeed . my thoughts go to Julie and family . mal was a legend

[roytonmike]

So sad. The Mal Bailey school of no-nonsense central defending was something to be experienced. May he rest in peace.

[Sale Holmfield]

Very sad news. Mal was one of the first players I got to recognise as individuals rather than "players" when I was growing up, and was a key member of our best ever side.

[Alty Dave]

My condolences to family and friends.

As others say a true Alty legend from the best Alty team I have been privileged to watch.

[Jezza]

Incredibly sad news to hear another of the alty legends has gone.

That picture is one of our most iconic moments...the moment we knew we were going to wembley for the first time...what a moment for those of us there...what a moment to talk about in hushed awe to those too young or not even born...a typical no nonsense header by a proper old school footballer...immortalised in a photo.

RIP Mal...legend

[Randy Konk]

Very sad news. He was part of the first Alty team I ever saw. Was it Mal that scored our goal in the FA cup draw at home to Orient?

[JTH]

I remember hearing of the signing of Mal Bailey (and John Rogers) in the summer of '77 from club secretary Dave Baldwin on the boundary at Timperley Cricket Club! Both signified we were seriously building on the Trophy run to the semi finals and whilst it was fantastic we'd got JR from Port Vale I was even more impressed Mal was coming to us from Runcorn. He'd been part of their 1976 NPL title winning team (something we never did pre APL formation) and had always played superbly against us. Mal was central in establishing Altrincham FC's modern reputation as along with goals like that at Runcorn and Rotherham he was front and centre in the rock solid defence of the record breaking 77-82 side. Thanks Mal.