Edward Colman grave (1^st November 1936 to 6^th February 1958)

Eddie “Snakehips” Colman was a talented footballer who was born and buried in Salford. He was one of the “Busby Babes” who died on a runway in Munich when the plane failed to take off due to thick slush. Aged 21 years and 3 months he was the youngest person of the 23 people who died that snowy day in 1958. Here I am at his grave.

There was no working in a mill for this talented lad: aged 16 he left school and joined Manchester United's youth team. Three years later was on the top team (ousting Jeff Whitefoot.) This small hub of energy played with a daring jaunty swagger that made the Stretford End love him. Though he lacked power he was an effective dribbler and accurate passer of the ball often curling it far across the field to an unmarked player. He was more of player than a scorer of goals and scored just two goals in his career.

The team nicknamed him "Snakehips" for his trademark body swerve. In total he played for The Reds 108 times. Twenty-seven workers at a Manchester box-making factory were sacked for leaving work to attend the Eddie’s funeral (but were reinstated.) After the burial a statue of Eddie was erected by the side of the grave but vandals damaged it. It was repaired and moved to his parent’s place (they also buried here.)

Near Salford University there’s a block of flats called “Eddie Colman Court.”

Revisited in 2021...