Eddie Colquhoun Explained

Eddie Colquhoun
Fullname:Edmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun
Birth Date:1945 3, df=y
Birth Place:Prestonpans, Scotland
Position:Centre back
Years1:1962–1967
Clubs1:Bury
Caps1:81
Goals1:2
Years2:1967–1968
Clubs2:West Bromwich Albion
Caps2:46
Goals2:1
Years3:1968–1978
Clubs3:Sheffield United
Caps3:363
Goals3:21
Years4:1978–1980
Clubs4:Detroit Express
Caps4:69
Goals4:4
Years5:1979–1980
Clubs5:Detroit Express (indoor)
Caps5:11
Goals5:1
Years6:1981
Clubs6:Washington Diplomats
Caps6:9
Goals6:0
Totalcaps:490
Totalgoals:24
Nationalyears1:1967–1973
Nationalteam1:Scotland
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:0

Edmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun (; 29 March 1945 – 16 April 2023) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre back for Sheffield United and Scotland.

Known to players and fans as Eddie Colquhoun, he started his professional football career with Bury in 1962. He made 81 league appearances and scored twice for them. He moved on to West Bromwich Albion in 1967. During his time at the club West Brom won the 1967-68 FA Cup but Colquhoun missed the final against Everton through injury.[1]

In 1968, Sheffield United had just been relegated to the Second Division. Their manager at the time was Arthur Rowley, and he signed Colquhoun from West Brom for £27,500.[2]

Colquhoun made his debut for Sheffield United against Huddersfield Town on 19 October 1968. Colquhoun was uncompromising, hard tackling and a leader in his play, and was instantly made team captain for his home debut at Bramall Lane against Charlton Athletic on 26 October 1968, in a match United won 2–0. The following week, he scored his first Sheffield United goal against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 2 November.

Colquhoun proved to be an excellent signing and was an integral part of the Sheffield United side which won promotion to the First Division in season 1970–71. He made a total of 416 appearances (363 league) with 21 goals (21 league) in all competitions for Sheffield United between 1968 and 1978.[3]

A sign of his popularity was the chant containing his name;We ain't got a barrel of money, But we've got Woodward and Currie, And with Eddie Colquhoun, Promotion is soon, United.[4]

Colquhoun won eleven international caps for Scotland between 1967 and 1973. He played in two games during a 1967 overseas tour that the Scottish Football Association decided in October 2021 to reclassify as full internationals,[5] which increased his cap tally from nine to eleven – some match reports also credit him with a goal (against Israel) which is elsewhere assigned to Alex Ferguson.[6]

His grandson Ben Wiles plays for Rotherham United.[7]

Colquhoun died on 16 April 2023, at the age of 78.[8] [9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: ALBION 1 EVERTON 0 (AET). wba.co.uk. 24 April 2023.
  2. Book: Clarebrough, Denis. Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years. Sheffield United Football Club. 1989.
  3. http://since1888.co.uk Since 1988 Football League Database.
  4. Web site: Hall . Danny . United legend Tony Currie remembers legendary promotion season immortalised in song to this day . The Star . 16 November 2021 . 18 April 2023.
  5. Web site: Former Scotland players to be recognised with international caps including Sir Alex Ferguson . www.scottishfa.co.uk . Scottish Football Association . 9 October 2021 . 10 October 2021.
  6. https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/did-joe-harper-really-score-five-the-conundrum-of-scotlands-1967-world-tour Did Joe Harper really score five? The conundrum of Scotland's 1967 World Tour
  7. Web site: 9 November 2022 . Ben Wiles: Huddersfield Town midfielder reflects on 'special' win over Sheffield United . 17 April 2023 . BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: 16 April 2023 . RIP Eddie Colquhoun . 16 April 2023 . Sheffield United FC.
  9. News: Gokal . Mehdi . Sheffield United legend passes away at the age of 78 . 17 April 2023 . Caught Offside . 16 April 2023.