Eddie Colquhoun

{{short description|Scottish footballer (1945–2023)}}

{{More citations needed|date=April 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Eddie Colquhoun

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Edmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun{{Hugman|3875|accessdate=12 May 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1945|3|29}}

| birth_place = Prestonpans, Scotland

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2023|4|16|1945|3|29}}

| death_place =

| height =

| position = Centre back

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| 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 ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|h|uː|n}};{{Cite LPD|3}} 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.{{cite news

|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/may/albion-1-everton-0-aet

|title=ALBION 1 EVERTON 0 (AET)

|publisher=wba.co.uk

|access-date=24 April 2023}}

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.{{cite book|last=Clarebrough|first=Denis|title=Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years|publisher=Sheffield United Football Club|year=1989}}

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.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} The following week, he scored his first Sheffield United goal against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 2 November.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

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.[http://since1888.co.uk Since 1988 Football League Database.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209052946/http://www.since1888.co.uk/ |date=9 February 2006 }} (accessed 28 December 2006)

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.{{cite web | last=Hall | first=Danny | title=United legend Tony Currie remembers legendary promotion season immortalised in song to this day | website=The Star | date=16 November 2021 | url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-legend-tony-currie-remembers-legendary-promotion-season-immortalised-in-song-to-this-day-3460070 | access-date=18 April 2023}}

Colquhoun won eleven international caps for Scotland between 1967 and 1973.{{SFA Profile|id=113760}} He played in two games during a 1967 overseas tour that the Scottish Football Association decided in October 2021 to reclassify as full internationals,{{cite web |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/former-scotland-players-to-be-recognised-with-international-caps-including-sir-alex-ferguson/?rid=14258 |title=Former Scotland players to be recognised with international caps including Sir Alex Ferguson |website=www.scottishfa.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Football Association |date=9 October 2021 |accessdate=10 October 2021}} 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.[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], Andy Mitchell Scottish Sport History, 7 February 2023

His grandson Ben Wiles plays for Rotherham United.{{Cite web |date=9 November 2022 |title=Ben Wiles: Huddersfield Town midfielder reflects on 'special' win over Sheffield United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63563980 |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=BBC Sport}}

Colquhoun died on 16 April 2023, at the age of 78.{{Cite web |date=16 April 2023 |title=RIP Eddie Colquhoun |url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2023/april/16/rip-eddie-colquhoun/ |access-date=16 April 2023 |website=Sheffield United FC}}{{cite news |last1=Gokal |first1=Mehdi |title=Sheffield United legend passes away at the age of 78 |url=https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/04/16/sheffield-united-legend-passes-away-at-the-age-of-78/ |access-date=17 April 2023 |publisher=Caught Offside |date=16 April 2023}}