One of Malta’s best ever football players, Sammy Nicholl, has died at the age of 88, his family confirmed.
Nicholl began his career with Żebbuġ Rangers but he will mostly be remembered for his time with Sliema Wanderers for whom he scored 80 goals in 12 seasons between 1952 and 1964.
Nicholl had also played in the first-ever international match against Austria, which the Austrians won 3-2 at the Empire Stadium, in 1957. The goal he scored late in the game "nearly caused a riot".
After retiring from the game, Nicholl became a familiar face on the national television station with his participation in sport programmes.
Born in 1934, Nicholl was educated at St Aloysius College, quickly becoming an automatic choice for the college football team.
Nicholl also played regularly for Sliema Shamrocks in the Sliema District Under 16 League.
In 1952, he moved from Zebbug to Sliema Wanderers, making his debut on 12 December in a 0-0 draw against Birkirkara.
His goal-scoring ability rivalled that of his uncle, Tony, with his 80 goals in 135 games. In three successive seasons between 1955 and 1958, he finished as the league top scorer, although in the latter season he shared the honour with Tony Cauchi and Pullu Demanuele of Floriana.
In one of the greatest periods for Sliema, the club won three successive titles and the quadruple crown in 1955-56. Nicholl played in every game in that period of time. His knack of scoring goals made him one of the most feared forwards in the history of the Maltese game.
A banker by profession, Nicholl also turned up to play for the bank's team in the Malta Sports Association League.
On 14 October 1962, Nicholl celebrated his 125th league appearance in a 3-3 against St George's. The following season he only played four times before he retired to take up a career in sports journalism.
In his whol career, Nicholl won the league five times, the FA Trophy three times, the Scicluna Cup seven times and the Cassar Cup three times.
Source: Dictionary of Maltese Biographies, Michael J. Schiavone