Ernie Coleman

Who was Ernie Coleman?

Ernest "Ernie" Coleman was an English footballer.

Born in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, Coleman started his career as a youth playing for Hucknall. After being turned down by Nottingham Forest he joined Halifax Town of the Third Division North in 1927. He scored five times in nineteen appearances, enough to catch the attention of Grimsby Town of the Second Division, joining them in March 1928. In just eight appearances in the 1928-29 season he scored seven times, helping Grimsby reach the First Division. Coleman remained at Grimsby for the next three seasons, and was Grimsby's top scorer in 1930-31 and 1931-32, and in March 1932 was signed by Herbert Chapman for £7,500 to join the reigning league champions, Arsenal; he made 85 league appearances for Grimsby, scoring 57 goals.

Intended as a replacement for Jack Lambert, Coleman made his Arsenal debut in a 2-1 win against Leicester City at Highbury on 5 March 1932 and played a total of six games that season, as Arsenal finished runners-up to Everton.