Football Federation Australia is saddened to hear that former Socceroo Malcolm Wild passed away last weekend.
Born in Brisbane on 4th October 1931, Mal became involved in football at school and rose quickly to prominence.
He made his first grade competition debut in 1948 and in 1949 was the youngest player at the time to reach intercity standard for Brisbane in the Kruger Cup against Ipswich. In the same year Mal placed third in The Brisbane Telegraph's Blue of Blue awards.
In 1950 he represented Queensland as an 18 year old in an interstate series against NSW and also at the 1952 All-Australian Soccer Carnival. In total he made 20 appearances for the Queensland State team up until 1960.
Mal played his first match for the senior Australian team on the 14th of August 1954 against New Zealand in Melbourne becoming Socceroo Number 126. His second and last appearance for the Socceroos was against New Zealand two weeks later in his hometown of Brisbane which they won 4-1.
In 1957 he played with the Eastern Suburbs club in Brisbane and later captained the Annerley FC in the Brisbane League winning the premiership and championship in 1959.
One of Australia's best attacking players of the day he is reported to have received offers from Arsenal and Birmingham City in England, but he chose to stay in Australia.
Outside of football, Mal worked initially as a panel beater and then later as a soil tester for the Department of Main Roads.
An all-round sportsman, Mal was also a keen cricketer, tennis player and golfer.
He is survived by his wife Doreen, daughters Lea and Jo-Anne, son-in-laws, Bevan and Ian, grand children Trent, Kent, Corey, Shaye, Bree & Courtney and great-grand children Ashleigh, Tiarna, Sophie and Cooper.
Friends, family & football fans are warmly invited to attend the celebration of his life at 10.00am on Friday the 15th of July 2011 at the Chapel of Metropolitan Funerals 224 Newnham Rd. Mount Gravatt.
In lieu of flowers, Malcolm's family would prefer and appreciate donations to Wishart Village - Springbrook.
