Bob Colquhoun '47

Robert F. Colquhoun was born on April 4, 1926, in Philadelphia. He grew up on Hurley Street in Kensington and just down the block from fellow Hall of Famer Benny McLaughlin. His parents and most of his 7 brothers were born in Scotland. He learned to play soccer with his brothers at McPherson Square and later at McVeigh.

What is most interesting about Bob is that he went to public school all the way into his junior year at Frankford High. He then quit school in 1944 to join the US Navy during WWII and found himself on a ship in the Pacific Ocean through 1945. After his service ended, he return to Kensington and found out that he was eligible to enroll in a special program at North Catholic designed to help returning veterans get their High School diplomas. It was during this time that he played on Fr McLernan’s Falcon team for the 1946 season. Alongside team Captain Pete Hess he led the team to an 11-2-1 record. Colquhoun was selected as an All-Scholastic player after the season.

It was also during this season that Colquhoun caught the attention of U of Pennsylvania soccer Coach Charles Scott. The Falcons beat the U of Penn Freshman team and Coach Scott asked Fr. McLernan more about the skillful, goal-scoring senior & WWII veteran. After graduating North in 1947, Colquhoun passed the entrance test to Penn and went on to an outstanding College soccer career with the Quakers where he played forward on the varsity squad in 1949 & 1950. Bob Colquhoun was named team Captain for the 1950 Penn team. After his senior season, Colquhoun was also named honorable mention All-American by the NSCAA.

After graduating from Penn, Bob played professionally for the Philadelphia Nationals of the ASL until they folded in 1954. The 1953 team had won the ASL League Title and made the semi-finals of the National Cup. Bob currently lives with his wife Doris in Churchville, Bucks County, PA.