Neill Collins

Neill Collins
Collins during the Jody Craddock Testimonial in May 2014
Personal information
Full name Neill William Collins[1]
Date of birth (1983-09-02) 2 September 1983
Place of birth Troon, Scotland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Playing position Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Tampa Bay Rowdies (head coach)
Youth career
Kilmarnock
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Queen's Park 32 (0)
2002–2004 Dumbarton 63 (4)
2004–2007 Sunderland 18 (1)
2005–2006 → Hartlepool United (loan) 22 (0)
2006 → Sheffield United (loan) 2 (0)
2006–2007 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 3 (1)
2007–2009 Wolverhampton Wanderers 81 (8)
2009–2010 → Preston North End (loan) 16 (0)
2010 Preston North End 5 (1)
2010 → Leeds United (loan) 9 (0)
2010–2011 Leeds United 21 (0)
2011–2016 Sheffield United 177 (12)
2015 → Port Vale (loan) 7 (0)
2016–2018 Tampa Bay Rowdies 63 (3)
Total 508 (30)
National team
2005 Scotland U21 7 (0)
2007 Scotland B 1 (0)
Teams managed
2018– Tampa Bay Rowdies
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Neill William Collins (born 2 September 1983) is a Scottish football manager and former player who is now the head coach of USL side Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Born in Troon, Scotland, he is a former Scotland U21 and Scotland B international who played as a centre-back. He started his playing career with Queen's Park before moving to Dumbarton. A transfer to English side Sunderland followed in 2004 but he failed to establish himself in the first team during his three-year spell on Wearside. After loan moves to Hartlepool United and Sheffield United he was loaned to Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he became a first team regular and signed a permanent deal in 2007. Following Wolves' promotion to the Premier League he fell out of favour and moved on loan again, this time to Preston North End, but although they signed him permanently in 2010, he was never a regular and quickly moved to Leeds United, with whom he won promotion to the Championship in 2010. After losing his place the following season Collins returned to Sheffield United, one of his former loan clubs, for whom he made over 100 appearances. He lost his first team place in the 2014–15 season and joined Port Vale on loan in March 2015. He moved to America in March 2016 to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. By the end of his 18-year playing career he had scored 35 goals in 583 league and cup appearances.

He took his first post in management in May 2018 when he transitioned from player to head coach at the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Club career

Queen's Park

Collins was associated with Kilmarnock's youth academy, the team he supported as a boy, before being released at the age of 14.[3] He began his career with Scottish amateur club, Queen's Park, making four appearances in the 2000–01 season as John McCormack's "Spiders" were relegated from the Second Division to the Third Division. He played 31 games as Queen's Park finished bottom of the Scottish Football League in 2001–02. During this time he worked at Safeway.[3]

Dumbarton

Collins earned a move to newly promoted Second Division club Dumbarton in July 2002.[4] During his stay at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Collins became popular with the fans and had a spell as captain and was key to Paul Martin's "Sons" battle to stay in the Second Division in 2002–03. He then featured 34 times as Dumbarton finished two points outside the promotion places in 2003–04 under Brian Fairley's stewardship. During his time there he had trials with Falkirk, Hibernian, Rangers and Charlton Athletic.[5][6] During his time in Scotland he also completed a BA Sport in the Community degree at the University of Strathclyde.[7]

Sunderland

Collins was signed by Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy in August 2004 for a fee of £25,000.[8] Three months later he signed a new contract to keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2007.[9] He made 11 appearances during the 2004–05 season as the club won promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship.

He never appeared in the top-flight for the "Black Cats" after Alan Stubbs was signed, and was instead loaned out to League One side Hartlepool United in August 2005.[10] He made 25 appearances for Martin Scott's "Pools" during his stay at Victoria Park. He was loaned out to Neil Warnock's Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United in February 2006.[11] The "Blades" succeeded in winning promotion in 2005–06, though Collins featured in just two games at Bramall Lane.

With Sunderland back in the Championship in 2006–07, Collins was forced to play in the unfamiliar role of right-back after injuries to teammates Stephen Wright and Nyron Nosworthy. He was a regular under Mick McCarthy, but when McCarthy left the job, Collins was dropped by replacement manager Roy Keane.

Wolves

Collins was reunited with his former boss Mick McCarthy at Wolverhampton Wanderers after joining the club on loan in November 2006.[12] The discussion of his loan deal was the first time that Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy had spoken to each other since the Saipan incident in 2002.[13] After his loan expired, he joined Wolves permanently in January 2007 for a fee of £150,000.[14] He was a regular starter for the rest of the 2006–07 season as the club reached the Championship play-offs.

The 2007–08 season saw Wolves miss out on the play-offs on goal difference with Collins making 42 appearances. Collins started 2008–09 strongly with Wolves but was left out of the first team with the loan arrival of Michael Mancienne from Chelsea.[15] When Mancienne returned to Chelsea in the New Year, Collins returned to the side, partnering Richard Stearman. He contributed several important goals during this period, but was soon ousted from the side again after receiving a red card for dissent at Reading and following the addition of Scottish international Christophe Berra. He remained out of the side for the remainder of the season as the club were promoted to the Premier League as champions, and was transfer listed in July 2009.

Preston North End

In September 2009, Collins was loaned out to Championship side Preston North End, a move made permanent when he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee in January 2010.[16][17] The deal was finalised after manager Alan Irvine left the club, and the defender lost his place in the side under new manager Darren Ferguson.

Leeds United

In March 2010, Collins moved to League One side Leeds United on loan for the rest of the 2009–10 season as a replacement for the injured Patrick Kisnorbo.[18] He played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Championship after finishing in second place in League One. He signed a three-year deal with Leeds in July 2010 for an undisclosed fee.[19]

He started the 2010–11 season as one of Leeds' first choice defenders, due to Patrick Kisnorbo still being out with a long term injury. After some indifferent performances early on in the season, Collins scored an own goal in Leeds' 5–2 defeat by Barnsley, and was dropped to the bench by manager Simon Grayson at the end of October.

Sheffield United

Collins playing for Sheffield United in 2013

Collins signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Championship side Sheffield United after being signed by Micky Adams for an undisclosed fee in January 2011.[20] He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 5 February. He was a regular in defence for the remainder of the 2010–11 season, playing 14 games, but struggled as the team undertook an ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation; he later said that "ill discipline was rife at the club on and off the pitch" and "I tried to be like Roy of the Rovers and Terry Butcher rolled into one and it didn't go well".[21]

Now in League One and under the stewardship of Danny Wilson, the 2011–12 campaign saw Collins establish an effective defensive partnership with fellow centre-back Harry Maguire, and he was awarded supporters Player of the Month for September 2011.[22] He scored his first goal for the "Blades" in February 2012, in a 1–0 victory over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium.[23] Collins remained a mainstay of the defence but United missed out on automatic promotion, losing to Huddersfield in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium; the match ended in a 0–0 draw, and though Collins converted his penalty United lost the penalty shoot-out 8–7.[24]

With the club still in League One, Collins remained as first choice in central defence alongside Maguire, captaining the side during Michael Doyle's absence. During the first half of the 2012–13 season Collins began to score regularly, netting five times by the start of December as United challenged for automatic promotion. In November he extended his current contract by a further two years until 2015 with the option of another year.[25] His good form was halted when he fractured his cheekbone during a game against Scunthorpe United at the end of December, an injury that ruled him out of action for two months.[26] He made 45 appearances across the campaign as United recorded a club record 21 clean sheets; however they could only reach the play-off semi-finals.[27]

He lost his place in the United first team early in the 2014–15 season, and dropped out of manager Nigel Clough's first team plans having failed to make an appearance past October.[28] Despite this he vowed to remain at the club, saying he enjoyed a connection with the club.[29] He joined League One rivals Port Vale on loan until the end of the season on 26 March 2015.[30]

Following Nigel Clough's departure as manager, Collins was restored to the first team under new boss Nigel Adkins for the 2015–16 season.[31]

Tampa Bay Rowdies

On 11 March 2016, Collins had his contract with Sheffield United cancelled by mutual consent to allow him to sign a two-year contract with the North American Soccer League's Tampa Bay Rowdies.[32][33] Head coach Stuart Campbell led the Rowdies to a ninth-place finish in the combined 2016 table. He featured 33 times in the 2017 campaign as the Rowdies finished third in the United Soccer League.

Coaching career

On 18 May 2018, Collins was promoted to manager at the Tampa Bay Rowdies after he impressed chairman Bill Edwards with his intensity and work ethic.[34]

International career

Collins won seven caps at Scotland under-21 level.[35] On 20 November 2007, he played for Scotland B in a 1–1 draw with Republic of Ireland B at the Excelsior Stadium; he came on as a substitute for Darren Dods at half-time.[36]

Style of play

Writing in The Guardian in 2007, Steve Claridge compared Collins to Tony Adams, describing him as "strong and robust" with good positional and organisation skills.[37] Collins described heading as the strongest part of his game.[2]

Playing statistics

Club Season Division League National Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Queen's Park2000–01[38]Scottish Second Division4000000040
2001–02[39]Scottish Third Division280201000310
Total 320201000350
Dumbarton2002–03[40]Scottish Second Division33210103[lower-alpha 1]0382
2003–04[41]Scottish Second Division30210201[lower-alpha 1]0342
Total 634203040724
Sunderland2004–05[42]Championship110210000131
2005–06[43]Premier League0021000021
2006–07[44]Championship7100100081
Total 181421000233
Hartlepool United (loan)2005–06[43]League One22000201[lower-alpha 2]0250
Sheffield United (loan)2005–06[43]Championship2000000020
Wolverhampton Wanderers2006–07[44]Championship22230002[lower-alpha 3]0272
2007–08[45]Championship393211000424
2008–09[46]Championship234202000274
2009–10[47]Premier League0000100010
Total 8497140209710
Preston North End2009–10[47]Championship211100000221
Leeds United2009–10[47]League One9000000090
2010–11[48]Championship210002000230
Total 300002000320
Sheffield United2010–11[48]Championship140000000140
2011–12[49]League One42240206[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]0542
2012–13[50]League One39430112[lower-alpha 3]0455
2013–14[51]League One44280102[lower-alpha 2]0552
2014–15[52]League One8100301[lower-alpha 2]0121
2015–16[53]League One193101100214
Total 166121608211020114
Port Vale (loan)2014–15[52]League One7000000070
Tampa Bay Rowdies2016[54]NASL221200000241
2017[54]USL322100000332
2018[54]USL90100000100
Total 633400000673
Career total 5083037321218058335
  1. 1 2 Appearance/s in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
  3. 1 2 3 Appearance/s in the play-offs.

Honours

Sunderland
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leeds United

References

  1. ↑ "Neill Collins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 The Art of Heading neillcollins.com
  3. 1 2 Law, Gareth (20 November 2016). "Tampa Bay Rowdies star Neill Collins reveals all in this weeks special A to Z". The Scottish Sun. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. ↑ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
  5. ↑ "Sara fails to win move". BBC Sport. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2003.
  6. ↑ "Charlton want Collins". BBC Sport. 21 April 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2003.
  7. ↑ About Me neillcollins.com
  8. ↑ "Player of the Day: Neill Collins". safc.com. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Collins pens Sunderland extension". BBC Sport. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Collins joins Hartlepool on loan". BBC Sport. 12 August 2005. Retrieved 12 August 2005.
  11. ↑ "Sheff Utd sign defender Collins". BBC Sport. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2006.
  12. ↑ "Wolves loan Black Cat". Sky Sports. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  13. ↑ Keane, Roy (2014). The Second Half. Orion. p. 148. ISBN 9780297608882.
  14. ↑ "Sunderland's Collins joins Wolves". BBC Sport. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
  15. ↑ "Dropping Collins hurt - Mick". Express & Star. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Collins ties up move to Preston". BBC Sport. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Preston North End sign Wolverhampton's Neill Collins". BBC Sport. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  18. ↑ "Leeds sign Preston defender Neill Collins on loan". BBC Sport. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Preston defender Neill Collins joins Leeds United". BBC Sport. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Neill Collins leaves Leeds United for Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  21. ↑ The phone is not ringing neillcollins.com
  22. ↑ "Neill nets monthly award at the Lane". The Sheffield Star. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Huddersfield Town Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  24. ↑ "Huddersfield 0 - 0 Sheffield United". 26 May 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Sheffield United defender Neill Collins extends contract". BBC Sport. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  26. ↑ "Shaun Miller out for the season". BBC Sport. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  27. ↑ Only as good as your strikers neillcollins.com
  28. ↑ "Rob Page says treble signing shows Vale aim to finish season in style". The Sentinel. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  29. ↑ "Sheffield United: Neill Collins breaks his silence". Sheffield Telegraph. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  30. ↑ "Collins, Junior and Coulibaly make move to Port Vale on loan". BBC Sport. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "Neill Collins set for Blades chance as manager Nigel Adkins wipes slate clean". Sheffield Telegraph. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  32. ↑ "Veteran Defender Neill Collins Joins Tampa Bay Rowdies". RowdiesSoccer.com. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Neill heads Stateside". SUFC.co.uk. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  34. ↑ Kennedy, Will (18 May 2018). "Rowdies transition defender Neill Collins to head coach". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  35. ↑ McLaughlin, Lee (11 February 2007). "Neill: I'd really like to play in the Park again". Sunday Mercury. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  36. ↑ Lindsay, Clive (20 November 2007). "Scotland B 1-1 Rep of Ireland B". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  37. ↑ Claridge, Steve (13 March 2007). "Neill Collins, Wolverhampton Wanderers". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  43. 1 2 3 "Games played by Neill Collins in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  44. 1 2 "Games played by Neill Collins in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  47. 1 2 3 "Games played by Neill Collins in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  48. 1 2 "Games played by Neill Collins in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  50. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. 1 2 "Games played by Neill Collins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Neill Collins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. 1 2 3 Neill Collins at Soccerway
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