Billy Collings
Encyclopedia
Billy Collings is a Scottish
ex footballer who played for Greenock Morton, Dumbarton
, Berwick Rangers, Cambuslang Rangers, Queen of the South
, Stranraer
and Gretna
.
working at Greenock shipyards.
Billy Collings then joined Dumbarton
where he picked up the only sending off of his senior career.
Next on Collings' travels was Berwick Rangers after which he stopped playing completely.
when he was approached by Davie McLachan to play for Cambuslang Rangers in the West of Scotland junior league. Collings agreed to join.
At Cambuslang with Collings was ex Queen of the South trainer Jimmy McGuire and ex Queens left back Charlie Hammill.
Despite being a marked man as an ex pro, Collings remembers his Junior League time with affection. Cambuslang Rangers won the West of Scotland Junior League and also made it to the Scottish Junior Cup Final. In the semi final played at neutral Firhill Collings picked up an injury that essentially ended his involvement in the fixture. Struggling to run he was moved to left wing where he finished the game. After the game he was at home when police came to the door to tell him that he was required to attend hospital immediately. At hospital he was told that his earlier diagnosis was inadequate as it had since been recognised that there was issue that hadn't been noticed. Collings was subsequently diagnosed as having a broken rib and a punctured lung. Collings played in the final after taking an injection from a specialist. The final was won by Johnston Burgh.
manager George Farm
when the Dumfries
club were in Scotland's top division. Collings was paid a retainer of £5 per week for remaining with Cambuslang ahead of joining Queens in the close season to start his career as a full time footballer. Things worked out differently. Farm was sacked as manager in January and Queens were relegated at the season's end. Collings was facing the part time Second Division football of which he had had enough of when he was at Berwick. Before the new season's start Colings approached club official Jimmy McKinnell Junior
to request a free transfer - the request was rejected.
Now aged 24, Billy Collings made his debut for Queens on 8 August 1964 against Montrose
in the Scottish League Cup
. Collings netted a debut goal in the 2-0 home victory.
Collings was an attacking midfielder of the old school – one who was as happy exchanging lumps with opposing defenders as sticking the ball in the net. He earned £8 a week when he broke into the Queens first team.
In Queens first 2 seasons after Billy Collings' breakthrough (1964/65 and 1965/66) they missed out on promotion back to Scotland's top flight by one place by finishing third. Queens again finished third in Collings' last season at the club (1969/70). Over six seasons Collings scored 31 goals in his 247 appearance for Queens excluding friendlies.
Billy Collings' last game for Queens was in the 2-0 away win against East Fife
on 25 April 1970.
when Queens came back from 5 - 2 down. Collings also scored to put Stranraer 1-0 ahead against Celtic in the League Cup at Stair Park in 1972.
At Stranraer the player of the year title was awarded by Willie Marshall of Marshall's buses. After having been presented with the title on the Saturday evening of the season end dinner and dance Collings was told on the following Monday that he was being released by the club.
Collings joined non league Gretna
where he finished his playing days where again as an ex pro he was a marked man.
car sales operation.
Billy Collings has three children and six grandchildren and has stayed in Dumfries since his days as a Queens player. Collings enjoys his retirement watching Queen of the South and playing golf
with former club mate and now Queens honorary director Allan Ball
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
ex footballer who played for Greenock Morton, Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
, Berwick Rangers, Cambuslang Rangers, Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
, Stranraer
Stranraer F.C.
Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the Third Division.-History:...
and Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
.
Greenock Morton, Dumbarton & Berwick Rangers
Billy Collings started his senior career as a teenager playing for Greenock Morton. At the same time he served his apprecticeship as a bricklayerBricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
working at Greenock shipyards.
Billy Collings then joined Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
where he picked up the only sending off of his senior career.
Next on Collings' travels was Berwick Rangers after which he stopped playing completely.
Cambuslang Rangers
Billy Collings was playing snooker in Bridgeton YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
when he was approached by Davie McLachan to play for Cambuslang Rangers in the West of Scotland junior league. Collings agreed to join.
At Cambuslang with Collings was ex Queen of the South trainer Jimmy McGuire and ex Queens left back Charlie Hammill.
Despite being a marked man as an ex pro, Collings remembers his Junior League time with affection. Cambuslang Rangers won the West of Scotland Junior League and also made it to the Scottish Junior Cup Final. In the semi final played at neutral Firhill Collings picked up an injury that essentially ended his involvement in the fixture. Struggling to run he was moved to left wing where he finished the game. After the game he was at home when police came to the door to tell him that he was required to attend hospital immediately. At hospital he was told that his earlier diagnosis was inadequate as it had since been recognised that there was issue that hadn't been noticed. Collings was subsequently diagnosed as having a broken rib and a punctured lung. Collings played in the final after taking an injection from a specialist. The final was won by Johnston Burgh.
Queen of the South
Billy Collings was signed by Queen of the SouthQueen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
manager George Farm
George Farm
George Neil Farm was a Scottish professional football goalkeeper and manager.Born in Slateford, a suburb of Edinburgh, Farm represented his country on ten occasions, the last three of which occurred after a gap of five years....
when the Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
club were in Scotland's top division. Collings was paid a retainer of £5 per week for remaining with Cambuslang ahead of joining Queens in the close season to start his career as a full time footballer. Things worked out differently. Farm was sacked as manager in January and Queens were relegated at the season's end. Collings was facing the part time Second Division football of which he had had enough of when he was at Berwick. Before the new season's start Colings approached club official Jimmy McKinnell Junior
Jimmy McKinnell Junior
James "Jimmy" McKinnell, Jr. was long time secretary and manager with Scottish Football League team Queen of the South of Dumfries....
to request a free transfer - the request was rejected.
Now aged 24, Billy Collings made his debut for Queens on 8 August 1964 against Montrose
Montrose F.C.
Montrose Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team, based in the town of Montrose, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division.- Early years :...
in the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
. Collings netted a debut goal in the 2-0 home victory.
Collings was an attacking midfielder of the old school – one who was as happy exchanging lumps with opposing defenders as sticking the ball in the net. He earned £8 a week when he broke into the Queens first team.
In Queens first 2 seasons after Billy Collings' breakthrough (1964/65 and 1965/66) they missed out on promotion back to Scotland's top flight by one place by finishing third. Queens again finished third in Collings' last season at the club (1969/70). Over six seasons Collings scored 31 goals in his 247 appearance for Queens excluding friendlies.
Billy Collings' last game for Queens was in the 2-0 away win against East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
on 25 April 1970.
Stranraer & Gretna
Billy Collings left Queens in 1970 signing for Stranraer. Collings scored for Stranraer in a 5 - 5 draw against Queens at Stair ParkStair Park
Stair Park is a public park and football stadium in the town of Stranraer, Scotland. It is owned by Dumfries & Galloway Council and is situated next to the London Road and the railway line in the town. It is home to Stranraer F.C., Wigtownshire RFC and Stranraer and Rhins Agricultural Show...
when Queens came back from 5 - 2 down. Collings also scored to put Stranraer 1-0 ahead against Celtic in the League Cup at Stair Park in 1972.
At Stranraer the player of the year title was awarded by Willie Marshall of Marshall's buses. After having been presented with the title on the Saturday evening of the season end dinner and dance Collings was told on the following Monday that he was being released by the club.
Collings joined non league Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
where he finished his playing days where again as an ex pro he was a marked man.
After football
After retiring as a footballer Billy Collings worked as manager of a PeugeotPeugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
car sales operation.
Billy Collings has three children and six grandchildren and has stayed in Dumfries since his days as a Queens player. Collings enjoys his retirement watching Queen of the South and playing golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
with former club mate and now Queens honorary director Allan Ball
Allan Ball
Allan Ball is an English former footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish club Queen of the South. Ball made 731 first team appearances for Queens, a club record, between 1963 and 1982...
.