Bobby Collins 16 February 1931 – 13 January 2014
Despite being just about 160 cm (5'3") tall, Collins was a strong, hard-working midfield player who was in the Celtic team as a 17-year old and stayed there for ten years, winning the Scottish Cup in 1951, and the Scottish cup double in 1954. He was also called up for international duty in 1950, and maintained a frequent presence in the Scotland squad in the later stages of the decade. Collins also represented the Scottish League XI 16 times, scoring 12 goals.
In 1958 he joined Everton where he played until 1962. He was an astute addition to the Leeds squad by manager Don Revie in 1962, helping the club avoid relegation. Leeds won promotion to the First Division in 1964, and Collins captained the side towards a potential League and FA Cup double a year later; however, Leeds missed out on the League on goal average to Manchester United, and lost the 1965 FA Cup Final to Liverpool.
Don Revie said about Collins "He's the perfect example of what we in the game call a professional's professional. Bobby's aim was always to do things simply and quickly in the field, he never tried to be too clever on the ball for the sake of his own glory. I have never come across anyone with such a fierce will-to-win and dedication to the game … Bobby regarded it as a personal insult to be beaten - we had numerous kicking bouts when I played against him for Manchester City! As manager of Leeds, I had been searching for some time for a midfield general with the character and skill really to motivate the team, and Bobby fitted the bill perfectly."
Collins's efforts in Leeds achievements were recognised as he was awarded the Footballer of the Year title in 1965. His sparkling form at Leeds also won him a recall to the Scotland squad after a 6-year absence, and he earned three more caps. His international career ended with 31 appearances and ten goals. Collins continued to skipper Leeds until 1966, when he suffered a horrific broken thighbone in a Fairs Cup tie against Torino. He briefly came back from the injury, but age and a struggle to reclaim previous form brought his Leeds career to an end.
Collins went into management, with spells at Huddersfield Town, Hull City and Barnsley. He also coached within the Leeds youth set-up in the 1970s and then again in the late 1990s.
I will resist the temptation to say what we would give for a Bobby Collins today, he gave his all for Leeds. I am too young to have ever seen him play but my father tells me how Collins was the lynchpin, the starting point for Revies Revolution. Like any player who gives their all for Leeds, we will always remember them, they will always be a legend and we will always be Marching On Together.
Watch below a taped from TV episode of Leeds Leeds Leeds covering the period of Collins joining and the clubs rise to prominence. Bobby is interviewed. On certain platforms it will direct you to Youtube to watch.
Despite being just about 160 cm (5'3") tall, Collins was a strong, hard-working midfield player who was in the Celtic team as a 17-year old and stayed there for ten years, winning the Scottish Cup in 1951, and the Scottish cup double in 1954. He was also called up for international duty in 1950, and maintained a frequent presence in the Scotland squad in the later stages of the decade. Collins also represented the Scottish League XI 16 times, scoring 12 goals.
In 1958 he joined Everton where he played until 1962. He was an astute addition to the Leeds squad by manager Don Revie in 1962, helping the club avoid relegation. Leeds won promotion to the First Division in 1964, and Collins captained the side towards a potential League and FA Cup double a year later; however, Leeds missed out on the League on goal average to Manchester United, and lost the 1965 FA Cup Final to Liverpool. Collins's efforts in Leeds achievements were recognised as he was awarded the Footballer of the Year title in 1965. His sparkling form at Leeds also won him a recall to the Scotland squad after a 6-year absence, and he earned three more caps. His international career ended with 31 appearances and ten goals. Collins continued to skipper Leeds until 1966, when he suffered a horrific broken thighbone in a Fairs Cup tie against Torino. He briefly came back from the injury, but age and a struggle to reclaim previous form brought his Leeds career to an end.
Collins went into management, with spells at Huddersfield Town, Hull City and Barnsley. He also coached within the Leeds youth set-up in the 1970s and then again in the late 1990s.
I will resist the temptation to say what we would give for a Bobby Collins today, he gave his all for Leeds. I am too young to have ever seen him play but my father tells me how Collins was the lynchpin, the starting point for Revies Revolution. Like any player who gives their all for Leeds, we will always remember them, they will always be a legend and we will always be Marching On Together.
Watch below a taped from TV episode of Leeds Leeds Leeds covering the period of Collins joining and the clubs rise to prominence. Bobby is interviewed. On certain platforms it will direct you to Youtube to watch.
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