Eddie Colman remembered on 85th birthday of Busby Babe

Short in stature but huge in heart and spirit: Colman was a mirror held up to reflect the changing times. In partnership with his great pal Duncan Edwards – the grit to Colman’s cheeky, swivel-waisted wiles – he was swiftly dubbed ‘snake hips’. He was, if you like, the Babes’ own Elvis, the little rock ‘n’ roller with a ready grin.

It wasn’t just that winning manner that made him such a terrace darling, though. Nor was it the fact that he was one of us, from Archie Street, Salford, the inspiration for Coronation Street. He was loved because for all his jocularity, he swiftly came to appreciate the value his skills had.

His father, a keen player himself, had been out of work for five years and scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford in the 1933 Salford Unemployed Cup Final so it wouldn’t do for Eddie to let his gifts go begging. And this, after all, was a phenomenal football talent. Colman’s trademark drag back left opponents trailing, his low centre of gravity carrying him off before they could react.