Prestonpans-born Scottish internationalist Eddie Colquhoun has passed away at the age of 78 at his home in England.

The centre-back was born in Prestonpans on March 29, 1945 before moving to Bury in 1962 where he started his professional career.

In 1967 he moved to to West Bromwich Albion where he missed out on an FA Cup winners medal having suffered a broken leg earlier in the campaign.

The following year he joined Sheffield United, spending a decade with the club and becoming a legend at Bramall Lane.

East Lothian Courier: Eddin Colquhoun in action with Sheffield United

His leadership qualities would see him made captain of the side that clinched promotion back to the top flight of the English game at the end of the 1970/71 season.

One of the iconic photographs of the celebrations showed Colquhoun in the John Street stand after the Watford game, joining with the fans in their joy, bottle of champagne in one hand and cigarette in the other.

Colquhoun was strong and quick as well as being exceptional in the air, and his partnership with John Flynn became the very heart of the defence of on Sheffield United's greatest teams.

He missed just 15 first team games in the red and white stripes in his first seven seasons with the club.

He would eventually make 430 starts, scoring 23 goals during his time in Yorkshire.

His popularity with the club earning him his own chant: "We ain't got a barrel of money, But we've got Woodward and Currie, and with Eddie Colquhoun, promotion is soon, United."

East Lothian Courier: Eddie Colquhoun in action with Sheffield United

In 1978 he moved out to America to join Detroit Express and Washington Diplomats before ending his playing career.

For Scotland he earned nine caps between 1971 and 1973, making his official debut against Portugal at Hampden Park.

He was later awarded two caps retroactively for an oversees tournament where he had represented Scotland in 1967 to take the total to 11.

In 2014 while working with the SFA and his wonderful wife Maureen, Sheffield United arranged for a cap to awarded to him as Scotland did not used to issue one unless you had played in all the home internationals that season, an accolade he missed.

Stuart McCall, then manager of Motherwell, drove down specially to do the honours to a shocked and bemused Eddie – a man that didn't court attention or fuss was the centre stage in front of over 1000 people, and the gesture and applause brought him to tears.

A official statement from Sheffield United said: "Eddie was a true gentleman. He loved his career and adored his Blades, and it was no surprise that after his American adventures, he returned to the area and stayed, working in a number of roles until his retirement.

"He was carved out of Scottish granite both on the outside and on the field of play with the heart of the lion displayed on his country's coat of arms, but his warmth on the inside and generosity to friends and fellow Blades was and is legendary.

"The club will miss him hugely, and his loss leaves another colossal hole in our family and, of course in his own, and our love and thoughts go to Fiona, Heather and all of them at this saddest of times."