Former Malta stalwart Sammy Nicholl passes away

The local football community is in grief after the news that football icon Sammy Nicholl has passed away.

Sammy was 88 years old and only three weeks shy of his 89th birthday.

With an illustrious football career, he was part of the team in the first-ever international match for Malta on 24th February 1957 at the Empire Stadium in a 2-3 defeat against Austria.

Earning seven caps for Malta and netting one goal, Sammy Nicholl enjoyed a spell with Żebbuġ Rangers, but arguably the pinnacle of his career was the time he proudly wore the Sliema Wanderers shirt with whom he tasted glory several times.

Nicholl also represented his country in unofficial encounters, playing 15 times for the MFA XI selection between 1953 and 1958, scoring three goals.

In total Sammy played 140 times in the elite category, the First Division then, scoring a total of 81 goals, his debut came along on the 12th of October 1952 in a 0-0 stalemate for Sliema Wanderers against Birkirkara.

His debut goal in Division One was converted on the 18th of October 1953, albeit in a 3-2 setback for Wanderers against Hibernians.

Sammy Nicholl won the league title with Sliema Wanderers five times, he also commends three FA Trophy success medals, three times winner also of the Cassar Cup, and also in glory with Wanderers lifting the Scicluna Cup six times. 

With Sliema Sammy Nicholl scored 107 goals in all competitions.

On a personal note, Sammy was always clinical in front of goal, winning the best goal scorer award in seasons 1955/56 and 1956/67, netting fifteen and fourteen goals respectively in a highly contested elite championship contest then, with eight teams participating.