Gerry Collins (football)
Encyclopedia
Gerard "Gerry" Collins is a former Scottish football player and coach who managed Falkirk
and Partick Thistle
for short spells. Collins was assistant manager to John Lambie at both clubs before being promoted to manager.
, Albion Rovers, Ayr United
, Hamilton Academical
and Partick Thistle
during an eleven playing career year.
and the pair have been together ever since. Success quickly followed as Lambie and Collins led the Accies to the First Division title in 1985-86 and a shock Scottish Cup
defeat of Rangers
at Ibrox
the following season.
. Unfortunately, this proved to a be a disastrous move for him. Poor results were compounded by the fans' unfavorable comparisons of Lambie's pragmatic tactical style with the entertaining football played under his predecessor, Jim Jefferies
. Collins took over as caretaker manager briefly but did not manage a win in six matches.
who were in administration were able to offer double wages for key players Stephen Craigan
and Alex Burns
. This left Collins going for broke, he signed young players from Chelsea
reserves and brought in experienced players like Derek Whyte
and Andy Thompson who had been a prolific goalscorer in the lower leagues in England.
Thistle's new look side struggled to cope at this level and were bottom of the league with no wins when Collins was sacked as manager. The sacking came at a time when Thistle were gradually improving in performances if not results. Collins was sacked after an impressive performance at Parkhead
where Thistle bravely went down 3-1. Collins was only given 14 weeks as manager, scant reward for many years service as a successful assistant.
in 2005. After initial success, winning the Ayrshire League Cup and the West of Scotland Cup, Collins resigned in 2007.
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
and Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
for short spells. Collins was assistant manager to John Lambie at both clubs before being promoted to manager.
Playing career
Collins turned out for StranraerStranraer 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:...
, Albion Rovers, Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
, Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
and Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
during an eleven playing career year.
Hamilton Academical
Collins and Lambie first teamed up in 1985 when the former was a player with HamiltonHamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
and the pair have been together ever since. Success quickly followed as Lambie and Collins led the Accies to the First Division title in 1985-86 and a shock Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
defeat of Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
the following season.
Partick Thistle
Lambie and Collins successful partnership saw Partick Thistle secure promotion to the Premier Division in 1992, the pair kept Thistle there over the next three seasons despite meagre financial resources.Falkirk
In 1995 Lambie parted company with Thistle, looking for a fresh challenge, and took over at his old club FalkirkFalkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. Unfortunately, this proved to a be a disastrous move for him. Poor results were compounded by the fans' unfavorable comparisons of Lambie's pragmatic tactical style with the entertaining football played under his predecessor, Jim Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
. Collins took over as caretaker manager briefly but did not manage a win in six matches.
Return to Thistle
In March 1999 Collins and Lambie teamed up again after receiving another offer from Partick Thistle, who had plummeted spectacularly since the duos departure. Having already been relegated twice, the club were in danger of going down again, to the Third Division, when Lambie and Collins arrived. In arguably his greatest managerial feat, Lambie kept Thistle up, then went on to guide them to the Scottish Premier League following successive promotions. This period also saw the club reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals. Having once again kept Thistle in the top flight, Lambie retired as manager in 2003, allowing Collins to take over as manager.Jags manager
Collins took over at a time when Partick Thistle were hampered by severe financial restrictions. They were victims of their own success as the core of their successful team was transferred to rival Premier League clubs who could offer higher wages and longer contracts. Even MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
who were in administration were able to offer double wages for key players Stephen Craigan
Stephen Craigan
Stephen James Craigan is a professional footballer, currently playing for Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League. He plays in central defence, and has enjoyed two spells at Motherwell, where he is currently the club captain...
and Alex Burns
Alex Burns
Alexander "Alex" Burns is a former Scottish footballer.-Career:Burns began his career with junior club Shotts Bon Accord, before joining Motherwell in 1991 he trialed solar powered boots for NASA the results where conclusive that you could run all day but you could'nt hit a cows arse wi a shovvel...
. This left Collins going for broke, he signed young players from Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
reserves and brought in experienced players like Derek Whyte
Derek Whyte
Derek Whyte is a former Scottish footballer who played for Celtic, Middlesbrough, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle. He also won twelve caps for Scotland during his 18 year playing career. He participated at Euro 92, Euro 96 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup.Whyte joined Celtic on 14 May 1985 as a 16 year...
and Andy Thompson who had been a prolific goalscorer in the lower leagues in England.
Thistle's new look side struggled to cope at this level and were bottom of the league with no wins when Collins was sacked as manager. The sacking came at a time when Thistle were gradually improving in performances if not results. Collins was sacked after an impressive performance at Parkhead
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
where Thistle bravely went down 3-1. Collins was only given 14 weeks as manager, scant reward for many years service as a successful assistant.
Glenafton
After leaving Partick Thistle, Collins took up the position as manager at junior side Glenafton AthleticGlenafton Athletic F.C.
Glenafton Athletic are a Scottish football club, based in New Cumnock, Ayrshire. Formed in 1930, their history has been characterised by local success, with some national success too.-History:...
in 2005. After initial success, winning the Ayrshire League Cup and the West of Scotland Cup, Collins resigned in 2007.