Colin Stein – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Forward

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Linlithgow

Date Of Birth

May 10, 1947

Age

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

8708

88.9

Per Game

Goals

0.3

Per Game

Assists

0.2

Per Game

Gordon Milne paid Glasgow Rangers £140,000, the highest sum paid by the club but his arrival, along with Tommy Hutchison a few days later, kick started the club’s season and made the fee look like a bargain. City won their first game with Stein in the side and started a run of eight unbeaten games. The football played by City during the run was some of the most entertaining in the 34 years of top flight football with Hutchison and Mortimer creating chances galore and Stein and Brian Alderson deadly in front of goal. Colin netted in the home wins over Manchester City and West Ham but his most memorable goal ended up not counting. On November 25th City travelled to Ipswich and completely outclassed Bobby Robson’s team until a floodlight failure in the second half with City leading 1-0 thanks to Stein’s fine header, caused the game to be abandoned.

He was rated as one of the top Scottish strikers of his generation winning 17 caps with Hibernian and Rangers and earning a reputation for one of the hardest shots in football. He had scored a hatful of goals for Hibernian and Rangers but also had a reputation for disciplinary problems with several sendings off north of the border.

A Glasgow reporter asked about his transfer to Coventry commented, “Stein will run through a brick wall for the Sky Blues – it’s a great signing”.

Stein was an influential character in the club’s excellent FA Cup run in his first season, scoring twice in the 3-0 Fifth round win over Hull and went on to make almost 100 first team appearances for the club scoring 29 goals. He regained his place in the Scotland squad and added four more caps to his total whilst at City.

In 1975 with financial pressures on the club forced the club to accept a bid of £80,000 for Stein from his old club Rangers and Colin returned to a hero’s welcome at Ibrox Park. His timely arrival enabled him to share in the club’s first league title in 11 years and it was his goal at Easter Road that clinched the title and ended Celtic’s 10-year domination of the Scottish League. His career was on the wane and he struggled to get a game for Rangers the following season. Despite being only 27-years old the game had taken its toll on Colin and after a brief loan period at Kilmarnock he decided to retire from the game. In retrospect City did well to get such a good fee for him.

He has returned to live in his hometown of Linlithgow becoming a joiner and several years ago took up bowls. He has represented his county and was a member of their team that won the Scottish Championships.

Penalties (2 - both scored)
1974-75
23 November 1974 v Arsenal H, scored
30 November 1974 v Liverpool H, scored

Hat tricks (1)
1973-74
8 October 1973 v Darlington H

FA Cup (England)

1974-1975

180′

1973-1974

180′

1972-1973

360′

2 (0)

720′

2 (0)

Football League First Division (England)

1974-1975

2093′

6 (2)

1973-1974

2475′

6 (0)

1972-1973

2790′

10 (0)

7358′

22 (2)

League Cup (England)

1974-1975

90′

1 (0)

1973-1974

540′

4 (0)

630′

5 (0)

Totals:

8708′

29 (2)