Members News: Sky Blue Scottish Striker Hits 77 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’ Colin!!
Sky Blue Colin Stein
CCFPA member and legendary Scottish Sky Blue striker Colin Stein is celebrating his birthday today and we wish him ‘Many Happy Returns’. Colin was born in Philipstoun, Linlithgow, West Lothian on 10th May 1947 so is celebrating his 77th Birthday today.
Colin was last at the Ricoh for Legends Day 2018 as part of a strong Scottish contingent of Sky Blues former players and occasionally returns to Coventry to support CCFPA functions when he can. His illustrious career started out in humble beginnings in his homeland with Broxburn Strollers and Armadale Thistle. Hibernian came calling in May 1965 and there he first demonstrated a thirst for goals at the top level, netting a fantastic 55 times in his hunred appearances.
This reputation attracted a big money (£100k) signing to top Scottish club Glasgow Rangers in October 1968 and, at Ibrox, Colin developed further to become a feared top striker, lethal with both head and feet. He went on to score 94 goals for them in 183 national and European appearances before the Sky Blues, in something of a coup, brought him to Highfield Road in October 1972.
Willie Carr (left) in an all Scottish team at Legends Day 2013 with (L-R) Ian Wallace; Colin Stein; the late Gerry Baker; Tom Hutchison & Quintin Young
Gordon Milne signed him for CCFC for £140k with fellow Scotsman Quinton ‘Cutty’ Young returning in the opposite direction. Colin formed an immediate bond with Milne’s other new signing Tommy Hutchison and an immediate impact on what was previously a struggling Sky Blue side. All three mentioned are now CCFPA members. He made his Division One debut on 7th October 1972 at Crystal Palace in a 1-0 victory, the first of eight games unbeaten. Good to see both ‘Wally’ and ‘Cutty’ at Legends Day 2024 a few days ago. Sadly, Colin couldn’t make it in the end.
Colin is welcomed onto the pitch by Legends Day 2018 crowd
By the time Colin returned to Glasgow to play for Rangers in March 1975 for £80k he had contributed 28 goals in his 98 Sky Blues appearances and added another four caps to his eventual total of 21 full caps for Scotland. His second spell at the Scottish club was more short-lived, only knocking in five goals in 28 appearances before he finished his career with Kilmarnock on loan for a further 24 outings (eight goals) and reportedly also played for Highland League side Elgin City. Colin retired from football in close season 1978 to become a joiner and also County standard Bowls player in his home country.
His honours include four Scottish League medals (1968-72), a European Cup Winners Cup medal in 1972; two Scottish League Cup Winners medals (1971 & 1976); a Scottish FA Cup Runners up medal in 1971; and Scottish Championship medals in both 1975-76 and 1977-78. Some of his Sky Blues’ goals can be seen by clicking the YouTube video below (Courtesy former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson)
We hope you have a great day today Colin. Come back and see us again soon!
