Subject: Colemanballs

Colemanballs:

A term coined by British magazine “Private Eye,” to describe verbal gaffes, errors or misuse of words and phrases spoken by British football (soccer) announcers, coaches or players – initially BBC broadcaster David Coleman and the suffix -balls, as in “to balls up” or make a mistake.

The lads really ran their socks into the ground.

Colemanballs

Once Tony Daley opens his legs you’ve got a problem.

English football player & manager
Colemanballs

Queens Park against Forfar, you can't get more romantic than that.

Scottish football player
Colemanballs

… and he crosses the line with the ball almost mesmerically tied to his foot with a ball of string.

English sports commentator
Colemanballs

He came in from the outfield there like an absolute rabbit.

(1926 – ) English sports commentator
Colemanballs

They [Manchester United] are breathing down the heels of Liverpool now.

television sports presenter & executive
Colemanballs

Don't tell those coming in now the result of that fantastic match. Now let's have another look at Italy's winning goal.

(1926 – ) English sports commentator
Colemanballs

It's a Renaissance, or put more simply, some you win, some you lose.

Irish television & radio commentator
Colemanballs

Howard Kahn, a lecturer at Edinburgh’s Heriot Watt University, has studied the matter intently and says he’s figured out why Scottish soccer teams can’t seem to win World Cup and other competitions; they’re not good players.

Colemanballs

Wayne Clarke, one of the famous Clarke familiy, and he's one of them, of course.

English football player & commentator
Colemanballs

He’ll be giving everything, but he hasn’t got everything to give.

Scottish football player
Colemanballs

The tackles are coming in thick and thin.

Scottish football player & broadcaster
Colemanballs

Nottingham Forest are having a bad run, they've lost six matches in a row now without winning.

(1926 – ) English sports commentator
Colemanballs

I predicted in August Celtic would reach the final. On the eve of the final I stand by that prediction.


Colemanballs

And then there was Johan Cryuff, who at 35 has added a whole new meaning to Anno Domini.

Scottish football player
Colemanballs

The game is balanced in Arsenal’s favour.

English television football commentator
Colemanballs

The keeper was coming out in installments.

English football manager
Colemanballs

I think everyone in the stadium went home happy, except all those people in Rumania.

English soccer commentator
Colemanballs

I’d love to be a mole on the wall in the Liverpool dressing room at half-time; and not for the reasons that you’re thinking of Clive.

English former football player & manager
Colemanballs

Had we not got that second goal, I think the score might have been different, I’m not sure.

British football commentator
Colemanballs

Solskjaer never misses the target; that time he hit the post.

Danish football player
Colemanballs