Eddie Colquhoun

Edmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun (/kəˈhuːn/;[2] 29 March 1945 – 16 April 2023) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre back for Sheffield United and Scotland.

Eddie Colquhoun
Personal information
Full name Edmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun[1]
Date of birth (1945-03-29)29 March 1945
Place of birth Prestonpans, Scotland
Date of death 16 April 2023(2023-04-16) (aged 78)
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962–1967 Bury 81 (2)
1967–1968 West Bromwich Albion 46 (1)
1968–1978 Sheffield United 363 (21)
1978–1980 Detroit Express 69 (4)
1979–1980 Detroit Express (indoor) 11 (1)
1981 Washington Diplomats 9 (0)
Total 490 (24)
International career
1967–1973 Scotland 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

Colquhoun won eleven international caps for Scotland between 1967 and 1973.[7] He played in two games during a 1967 overseas tour that the Scottish Football Association decided in October 2021 to reclassify as full internationals,[8] 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.[9]

His grandson Ben Wiles plays for Rotherham United.[10]

Colquhoun died on 16 April 2023, at the age of 78.[11][12]

References
  1. "Eddie Colquhoun". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  2. Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  3. "ALBION 1 EVERTON 0 (AET)". wba.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. Clarebrough, Denis (1989). Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years. Sheffield United Football Club.
  5. Since 1988 Football League Database. Archived 9 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 28 December 2006)
  6. Hall, Danny (16 November 2021). "United legend Tony Currie remembers legendary promotion season immortalised in song to this day". The Star. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  7. Eddie Colquhoun at the Scottish Football Association
  8. "Former Scotland players to be recognised with international caps including Sir Alex Ferguson". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  9. Did Joe Harper really score five? The conundrum of Scotland’s 1967 World Tour, Andy Mitchell Scottish Sport History, 7 February 2023
  10. "Ben Wiles: Huddersfield Town midfielder reflects on 'special' win over Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  11. "RIP Eddie Colquhoun". Sheffield United FC. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  12. Gokal, Mehdi (16 April 2023). "Sheffield United legend passes away at the age of 78". Caught Offside. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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