Matthew Collins
Encyclopedia
Matthew Jeffrey "Matty" Collins (born 31 March 1986) is a Welsh
footballer who plays for Welsh Premier League side Neath. He has represented Wales at Under-17
, Under-19
and Under-21
levels, and plays as a central midfielder and also as a right back
.
, Collins started his career at Swindon Town
but Fulham
scouts were impressed by him and he signed for the club in the summer of 2001 for a fee in excess of £200,000. During a pre season tour to Germany in the 2005–06 season, Collins sustained a hamstring injury, this was a start of a nightmare season as he had recurring hamstring tears which kept him out for an 18-month period. He did not break into the first team at Fulham
and signed for Swansea City
on a free transfer in May 2007 on a two year deal. He joined League Two
side Wrexham on a one-month loan deal in November 2007. He made his debut against Shrewsbury Town
, playing a full 90 minutes. He returned to Swansea after playing three times for the Dragons. He is set to appear more in the Swansea City first team this year after a lot of grooming and nurturing as a right-back by Roberto Martínez
. This also coincides with the short injury of designated right-back Angel Rangel
. Collins started Swansea's first Championship match of the 2008–2009 campaign and the following two matches. Collins was rewarded for his good performances by John Toshack
as the Welsh manager put the 22 year old on the bench for the international friendly against Georgia
. On 11 August 2010, Collins left Swansea City by mutual consent in a search for regular football.
After leaving Swansea, Collins joined Welsh Premier League side Haverfordwest County. He was only with the Pembrokeshire outfit for 6 months as they spent almost the entire season in the relegation zone and Collins was transferred to high Neath to join up with former Swansea colleagues Lee Trundle
and Kristian O'Leary
.
|2006–07
||Fulham
||Premier League||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||0||0
|-
|2007–08
||Swansea City
||League One
||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||0||0
|-
|2007–08
||Wrexham||League Two
||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||3||0
|-
|2008–09
|| rowspan=2 |Swansea City
|| rowspan=2 |Championship
|||6||0||0||0||1||0||4||0
|-
|2009–10||1||0||0||0||1||0||2||0
9||0||1||0||2||0||12||0
9||0||1||0||2||0||12||0
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
footballer who plays for Welsh Premier League side Neath. He has represented Wales at Under-17
Wales national under-17 football team
The Wales national under-17 football team is the national under-17 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales.-Current squad:...
, Under-19
Wales national under-19 football team
The Wales national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship held every year.-Recent history:...
and Under-21
Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
levels, and plays as a central midfielder and also as a right back
Right Back
-Guest Artists:This album features many additional artists, including:* Barrington Levy, performing on "Righteous Dub" & "Saw Red"* H.R., performing on "New Sun"* Dangr, performing on "Kick Down"* Tippa Irie, performing on "Sensi"...
.
Career
Born in Merthyr TydfilMerthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, Collins started his career at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
but Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
scouts were impressed by him and he signed for the club in the summer of 2001 for a fee in excess of £200,000. During a pre season tour to Germany in the 2005–06 season, Collins sustained a hamstring injury, this was a start of a nightmare season as he had recurring hamstring tears which kept him out for an 18-month period. He did not break into the first team at Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and signed for Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on a free transfer in May 2007 on a two year deal. He joined League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Wrexham on a one-month loan deal in November 2007. He made his debut against Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, playing a full 90 minutes. He returned to Swansea after playing three times for the Dragons. He is set to appear more in the Swansea City first team this year after a lot of grooming and nurturing as a right-back by Roberto Martínez
Roberto Martínez
Roberto Martínez Montoliú is a Spanish former professional footballer and is currently manager of Wigan Athletic.Martínez played as a midfielder and began his career at lower league Spanish side CF Balaguer. Two years later he went to English Division Three side Wigan Athletic...
. This also coincides with the short injury of designated right-back Angel Rangel
Àngel Rangel
Àngel Rangel Zaragoza is a Spanish footballer who plays for Swansea City in the Premier League, as a right back.-Football career:...
. Collins started Swansea's first Championship match of the 2008–2009 campaign and the following two matches. Collins was rewarded for his good performances by John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
as the Welsh manager put the 22 year old on the bench for the international friendly against Georgia
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
. On 11 August 2010, Collins left Swansea City by mutual consent in a search for regular football.
After leaving Swansea, Collins joined Welsh Premier League side Haverfordwest County. He was only with the Pembrokeshire outfit for 6 months as they spent almost the entire season in the relegation zone and Collins was transferred to high Neath to join up with former Swansea colleagues Lee Trundle
Lee Trundle
Lee Christopher Trundle is an English footballer who currently plays for Neath.-Career:Trundle was a late entrant into professional and league football, playing for non-league teams Burscough, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport, Bamber Bridge and Chorley before joining Welsh Premier League club Rhyl in...
and Kristian O'Leary
Kristian O'Leary
Kristian Denis O'Leary is a Welsh footballer who plays for Neath.-Career:Born in Port Talbot, O'Leary began his career as a trainee at Swansea City, having signed for the club as a schoolboy at the age of 14 in 1992. He made his professional debut for the club during the 1995–96 season...
.
Career statistics
|-|2006–07
FA Premier League 2006-07
The 2006–07 FA Premier League was the fifteenth season of the FA Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 19 August 2006 and concluded on 13 May 2007....
||Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
||Premier League||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||0||0
|-
|2007–08
The Football League 2007-08
The Football League is contested through three divisions in England and Wales. The divisions are the League Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner up of the League Championship will be automatically promoted to the Premier League and they will be joined by the winner of...
||Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||0||0
|-
|2007–08
The Football League 2007-08
The Football League is contested through three divisions in England and Wales. The divisions are the League Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner up of the League Championship will be automatically promoted to the Premier League and they will be joined by the winner of...
||Wrexham||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||3||0
|-
|2008–09
The Football League 2008-09
The Football League 2008–09, titled the Coca-Cola Football League, was the 109th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2008 and concluded in May 2009, with the promotion play-off finals....
|| rowspan=2 |Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
|| rowspan=2 |Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
|||6||0||0||0||1||0||4||0
|-
|2009–10||1||0||0||0||1||0||2||0
9||0||1||0||2||0||12||0
9||0||1||0||2||0||12||0