Name: Colin Blant
DOB: 7th October 1946
Dale debut: Port Vale – 12th August 1972
Last game: Port Vale – 3rd November 1973
Also played for: Burnley, Portsmouth, Darlington, Grimsby Town, Workington
Time at Dale: Dick Connor (Dale manager) quote in programme notes on signing Colin at the start of the 1972/3 season “We have had quite a sort out in playing personnel and I would like to introduce you to the new men. First of all the man I have appointed club captain, Colin Blant, who is a very good signing, having played in the first and second division with Burnley and Portsmouth and is a commanding back four defender. Asked on how he became a centre back, Colin said that Burnley brought him on as a substitute defender in one game and he seemed to take to the position.
Things didn’t work out too well, a move that he apparently regretted after making 51 appearances before moving to Darlington, mainly as the new manager, Walter Joyce, arrived from Oldham Athletic bringing with him several members of the Latics Youth team and looked to a youthful squad at Rochdale.
Born in Rawtenstall, Colin started his career with local club Rossendale United before joining his first Football League club, Burnley in 1964. He became a regular for the reserve team over the following two years before making his first-team debut, which came in the 1–1 draw with Shrewsbury Town on
14th September 1966. He had an extended run in the Burnley side during 1967, playing at centre forward in place of the injured Willie Irvine. He netted three goals in his first three matches but was later converted into a central defender and regularly partnered Colin Waldron in defence during the 1968/9 campaign. In total, Colin scored 9 goals in 62 league appearances for the Turf Moor club before joining Portsmouth for a fee of £5,000 in 1970.
What are you doing since leaving Dale?: Colin was released by the club in May 1977 and retired from professional football taking up his time as a newsagent and a property developer plus worked as a coach at the Rochdale Centre of Excellence.
These days he lives in the North East, retired form the stresses of work