ANDY MALCOLM, one of West Ham's all-time great midfielders, has died in Port Elizabeth, South Africa - his adopted home - aged 80.

Andy, who recently gave EX's Tim Crane an exclusive interview that appeared in issue 68, was voted the first Hammer of the Year in 1958 after being ever-present in the Division Two title-winning side of the same year.

A wing-half famed for his ability to nullify even the most talented of opponents, he played 306 first-team games for Hammers between 1953 and 1961, scoring four goals.

A tough-tackling, man-marker who never gave his opponents a moment's peace, Malcolm was born just a stone's throw from the Boleyn Ground on May 4, 1933.

He was handed a first-team debut at the age of 20, on December 5, 1953, when he lined up alongside the likes of Ernie Gregory, John Bond, Frank O'Farrell, Malcolm Allison, Dave Sexton and John Dick in a 2-1 Division Two defeat at Notts County.

Over the next seven-and-a-half seasons, he would rarely miss a game, and was ever-present as West Ham won the Division Two title in 1957-58.

The following campaign, 1958-59, Andy shut down some of the finest forwards in the country, including Chelsea's Jimmy Greaves and Fulham's Johnny Haynes, as West Ham finished sixth on their return to Division One.

The popular wing-half's time at the Boleyn Ground came to an end in November 1961, when he joined London rivals Chelsea in a deal which saw a £10,000 fee and Ron Tindall move in the opposite direction.

Malcolm spent just a few months at Stamford Bridge before moving to Queens Park Rangers in October 1962. There, under manager Alec Stock, he played his part as the Hoops embarked on the greatest period in the club's history.

After leaving Loftus Road in 1965, Andy played for South African sides Westview Apollon and Port Elizabeth City before returning to England with non-league Brentwood Town.

Following his retirement in the late 60s, he was landlord of three public houses in Essex before returning to South Africa on a permanent basis in 1986. It was there, in the city of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province, that he passed away following a short illness on Boxing Day 2013.

We understand Andy's son contacted West Ham United to alert them to the sad news of his father's passing but we have not been able to obtain any further information from him, despite attempts to make contact by email.

Malcolm will be laid to rest at a funeral service in Port Elizabeth on Friday, January 10.

Everyone at EX would like to pass on their sincere condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.