Malcolm Pyke
Malcolm Pyke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 March 1938 Eltham, London, England |
| Died | 13 February 2020 (aged 81) |
| Occupation(s) | Professional footballer, Publican |
| Years active | 1953–1960 |
| Known for | Football League player for West Ham United and Crystal Palace |
Malcolm Pyke (6 March 1938 – 13 February 2020) was an English professional footballer who operated as a wing half, competing in the Football League for West Ham United and Crystal Palace before moving on to Dartford.
Playing career
Hailing from Eltham in London, Pyke represented Woolwich, Kent, and London during his schoolboy football days. In the 1953–54 season, he played for UGB Pantiles, a team affiliated with the United Glass Bottle company.
Pyke began his association with West Ham United in 1953 by joining their ground staff, advancing through the club’s youth system and signing a professional contract in March 1955. He made his first-team debut on 22 April 1957 in a 3–1 victory over Bristol City and kept his place for the subsequent fixture against Liverpool.
During the 1957–58 season, Pyke was a member of Ted Fenton’s squad that secured the Second Division championship. His inclusion came after Malcolm Allison was diagnosed with tuberculosis, leading him to share the number 6 jersey alongside Bill Lansdowne and partner with Ken Brown on the field. A highlight of that campaign was his assist to John Dick in a convincing 5–1 FA Cup win against Stanley Matthews’ Blackpool. Over that season, he featured in 21 competitive matches, including 15 league appearances.
Although he did not play during West Ham’s return to the First Division in 1958–59, Pyke accumulated a total of 24 appearances for the club across all competitions before transferring to Crystal Palace on 9 June 1959 as part of an exchange deal involving Ron Brett. His spell at Palace was short-lived, making only two appearances before signing with Dartford in June 1960.
After football
Following retirement from playing, Pyke took on the role of landlord at the Papermakers Arms pub located in Dartford, Kent. He died on 13 February 2020 at the age of 81.