The McGinn’s were originally from Ayrshire Scotland where the two brothers Malcolm and Alexander played for Kilmarnock, prior to migrating Malcolm was signed up by Glasgow Rangers and Alexander [ Sandy ] was also signed by Glasgow Rangers. During the miners strike in Scotland in the early 1920’s the family decided to emigrate to West Australia.
The family settled at Collie in 1923 and some of their descendants still live in Collie. Malcolm played for the Collie Association for the first time in 1924 and his clubs were Ewington Athletic and Towns Athletic, his brother Sandy McGinn played for the Collie club of Shotts, Towns and also the Collie Representative Team.
Malcolm McGinn was recognized as one of the best goalkeepers in West Australia, he had a long soccer career of thirty plus years and represented Collie on many occasions, he was named amongst the best players of his era.
Malcolm Mc’Ginn was a member of numerous representative teams that won the Country Championships, South West Cup and League & Cup championships in the Collie Association League. He was also a Collie Association referee and was a member of the Protest & Disputes Board.
Malcolm’s daughter Margaret still recalls the W.A. versus England match in 1937 when Stan Cherry of Collie who was her honorary uncle was captain of the West Australian team. Before the game started Margaret’s father put her over the fence with a doll dressed in the W.A. colours and told her to go and give Stan Cherry a kiss which she promptly did, little did she know that the two teams would all follow Stan’s lead and kiss this little 4 year old girl from Collie.
Malcolm Mc’Ginn will be the remembered for the outstanding goalkeeper that he was and the outstanding contribution he made to southwest soccer.
Photo shows Malcolm his daughter Margaret and his brother Sandy McGinn.