[5] Whilst stationed at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, he played 14 games (5 goals) for Falmouth Town.

[5] He went on to play for Airdrieonians,[1] then the team from the town of his birth, Queen of the South,[6] and Albion Rovers in his native Scotland.

[7] Malcolmson was often used as a striker and scored more than 50 goals in New Zealand's National League, but he was also comfortable with playing defence.

[9] He went on to represent the All Whites at the 1982 FIFA World Cup finals in Spain, his sole appearance at the tournament being his last game for New Zealand in a 5–2 defeat against his native Scotland.

[10][11] In doing so, he became the second of three players with Queen of the South among his ex-clubs to travel to the World Cup finals after George Hamilton and before Bernie Slaven.