Neill Collins
Encyclopedia
Neill William Collins is a Scottish
footballer defender
who currently plays for Championship
side Sheffield United
. He is a former Scotland U21
international and has also represented Scotland B
side.
, Scotland
, began his career with Scottish amateur club, Queen's Park
, moving to Dumbarton
after two seasons. During his stay at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium
, Collins became popular with the fans and had a spell as captain and was key to the Sons' battle to stay in the Second Division. During his time there he had trials with , , and .
in August 2004, for a fee of £25,000, and made 11 appearances during the first season as the club won promotion to the Premier League as champions. He never appeared in the top flight for them though, after being loaned out to, first, League One
Hartlepool United
, then Championship
promotion hopefuls Sheffield United
, during the 2005–06 season.
He returned to the Sunderland
team at the start of the following campaign, but was forced to play in the unfamiliar role of right-back after injuries to team-mates Stephen Wright and Nyron Nosworthy
. He was a regular under manager Mick McCarthy
, but McCarthy left the job, and after a slow start to the Championship season caretaker manager Niall Quinn
was replaced by Roy Keane
as Sunderland manager.
, whereupon he reunited with his former boss Mick McCarthy
at Wolves
.
After his loan expired, Collins joined Wolves
permanently in January 2007 for a fee of £150,000. He was a regular starter for the rest of the season as the club reached the Championship play-offs
. The 2007–08 season saw the side miss out on the play-offs on goal difference with Collins again playing regularly.
Collins started 2008–09
strongly with Wolves but was left out of the first team with the loan arrival of Michael Mancienne
from Chelsea. 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 and 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 by the club in July 2009.
side Preston North End
, a move made permanent when he signed a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee on 5 January 2010. Soon after signing on a permanent basis, manager Alan Irvine
left the club, Collins lost his place in the side under the new manager Darren Ferguson
where Collins wasn't part of his plans.
promotion chasers Leeds United
in March 2010 on loan for the rest of the season in a bid to help Leeds promotion campaign. Collins made his début for Leeds when he started against Norwich
after replacing the injured Patrick Kisnorbo
in the line-up. He played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus being automatically promoted.
Collins signed a three year deal with Leeds on 7 July 2010 for an undisclosed fee. Collins started the Championship season as one of Leeds' first choice defenders with 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 thrashing against Barnsley. and was dropped to the bench by the end of October after being previously starting every game for Leeds.
; Collins was awarded supporters Player of the Month for September 2011.
international and has also represented Scotland B
side.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leeds United
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...
footballer defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who currently plays for 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...
side Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. He is a former Scotland U21
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
international and has also represented Scotland B
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
side.
Career
Collins, born in TroonTroon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
, Scotland
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...
, began his career with Scottish amateur club, Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, moving to 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...
after two seasons. During his stay at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium
Strathclyde Homes Stadium
Strathclyde Homes Stadium is a stadium in Dumbarton, Scotland situated right below the famous Dumbarton Rock. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Dumbarton F.C. The stadium has a capacity of just over 2000, and was built in 2000 after the move away from...
, Collins became popular with the fans and had a spell as captain and was key to the Sons' battle to stay in the Second Division. During his time there he had trials with , , and .
Sunderland
He left Dumbarton for SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in August 2004, for a fee of £25,000, and made 11 appearances during the first season as the club won promotion to the Premier League as champions. He never appeared in the top flight for them though, after being loaned out to, first, 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....
Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, then 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...
promotion hopefuls Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, during the 2005–06 season.
He returned to the Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
team at the start of the following campaign, but was forced to play in the unfamiliar role of right-back after injuries to team-mates Stephen Wright and Nyron Nosworthy
Nyron Nosworthy
Nyron Paul Henry Nosworthy is an English football player who plays for Watford as a defender.-Gillingham:Born in Brixton, South London, Nosworthy - known since childhood by the nicknames "the clown","Ny" or "Nuggy" – began his career as a trainee at Gillingham. Where he became famed for running to...
. He was a regular under manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
, but McCarthy left the job, and after a slow start to the Championship season caretaker manager Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
was replaced by Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
as Sunderland manager.
Wolves
The defender was soon sent out on loan by the Sunderland's recently-appointed manager Roy KeaneRoy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
, whereupon he reunited with his former boss Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
After his loan expired, Collins joined Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
permanently in January 2007 for a fee of £150,000. He was a regular starter for the rest of the season as the club reached the Championship play-offs
Football League Championship play-offs
The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
. The 2007–08 season saw the side miss out on the play-offs on goal difference with Collins again playing regularly.
Collins started 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
strongly with Wolves but was left out of the first team with the loan arrival of Michael Mancienne
Michael Mancienne
Michael Ian Mancienne is an English footballer who plays for German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV as a defender.Schooled primarily as a centre back, Mancienne can also play as a defensive midfielder as well as both fullback positions as he showed during appearances for Chelsea, and multiple loan...
from Chelsea. When Mancienne returned to Chelsea in the New Year, Collins returned to the side, partnering Richard Stearman
Richard Stearman
Richard James Michael Stearman is an English footballer of Irish descent who plays as a defender for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers...
. He contributed several important goals during this period, but was soon ousted from the side again after receiving a red card for dissent at and the addition of Scottish international Christophe Berra
Christophe Berra
Christophe Berra is a Scottish international footballer who currently plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Hearts:Berra joined Hearts on 26 April 2002 from their youth development system...
. 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 by the club in July 2009.
Preston North End
Early in the 2009–10 season Collins was loaned out to ChampionshipFootball 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...
side Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, a move made permanent when he signed a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee on 5 January 2010. Soon after signing on a permanent basis, manager Alan Irvine
Alan Irvine
James Alan Irvine , more commonly known as Alan Irvine, is a Scottish former football player and manager, currently in charge of the Everton academy. Irvine played for five different clubs in Scotland and England during a 15 year playing career. He then became a coach, assisting Davie Moyes at...
left the club, Collins lost his place in the side under the new manager Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
where Collins wasn't part of his plans.
Leeds United
To gain playing time, he moved to League OneFootball 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....
promotion chasers Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in March 2010 on loan for the rest of the season in a bid to help Leeds promotion campaign. Collins made his début for Leeds when he started against Norwich
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
after replacing the injured Patrick Kisnorbo
Patrick Kisnorbo
Patrick Fabio Maxime Kisnorbo is an Australian football player of Mauritian and Italian heritage who plays for Leeds United in The Championship of the English Football League. Kisnorbo is also an Australian international with 18 caps to his name. Also known by his nickname Paddy...
in the line-up. He played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus being automatically promoted.
Collins signed a three year deal with Leeds on 7 July 2010 for an undisclosed fee. Collins started the Championship season as one of Leeds' first choice defenders with Patrick Kisnorbo
Patrick Kisnorbo
Patrick Fabio Maxime Kisnorbo is an Australian football player of Mauritian and Italian heritage who plays for Leeds United in The Championship of the English Football League. Kisnorbo is also an Australian international with 18 caps to his name. Also known by his nickname Paddy...
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 thrashing against Barnsley. and was dropped to the bench by the end of October after being previously starting every game for Leeds.
Sheffield United
On the following transfer deadline day, Collins signed for Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee and made his début in a 3-0 defeat to Ipswich Town a few days later. In the 2011-12 campaign Collins established a defensive partnership with Blades centre-back Harry MaguireHarry Maguire
Jacob Harry Maguire is an English footballer who currently plays for Sheffield United. He attended St.Mary's RC High school in Chesterfield from 2004-2009.-Playing career:...
; Collins was awarded supporters Player of the Month for September 2011.
International career
Collins is a former Scotland U21Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
international and has also represented Scotland B
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
side.
Honours
Sunderland- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe 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...
: 2004–05
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe 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...
: 2008–09
Leeds United
- League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
runner-up (promoted): 2009–102009–10 Football LeagueThe Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
External links
- Scouting report at The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...