James Collins (footballer, born 1990)

This article is about the Irish striker. For other footballers, see James Collins.
James Collins

Collins in 2010
Personal information
Full name James Steven Collins[1]
Date of birth (1990-12-01) 1 December 1990[1]
Place of birth Coventry, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Crawley Town
Number 19
Youth career
2004–2009 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Aston Villa 0 (0)
2009–2010 → Darlington (loan) 7 (2)
2010 → Burton Albion (loan) 10 (4)
2011–2012 Shrewsbury Town 66 (22)
2012–2013 Swindon Town 45 (15)
2013–2014 Hibernian 36 (6)
2014–2016 Shrewsbury Town 68 (20)
2016 → Northampton Town (loan) 21 (8)
2016– Crawley Town 19 (7)
National team
2008–2009 Republic of Ireland U19 6 (3)
2009–2012 Republic of Ireland U21 12 (3)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:20, 3 December 2016 (UTC).


James Steven Collins (born 1 December 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for League Two club Crawley Town. Starting his career at Aston Villa, he did not break through to the first team and has since represented a number of teams in the English lower leagues and Scotland.

Collins has notably won promotion from the fourth tier of English football three times so far in his career. Twice as a runner-up with Shrewsbury Town, and once as champions with Northampton Town.

Despite being born in England, he qualifies for the Republic of Ireland and has represented them at under-19 and under-21 levels.[2]

Career

Aston Villa

Born in Coventry, West Midlands,[1] Collins started his career with Aston Villa. Collins attended the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and Language College in Coventry.

In his final years at the club's academy and reserve sides, Collins had been a prolific goalscorer for the academy notching up 23 goals. His impact led manager Martin O'Neill to give the Collins opportunity to prove himself on loan the following season.[3]

Prior to the 2010–11 season, Collins joined up with Scottish side Aberdeen for a trial, appearing in a friendly match away to Tamworth. At this time, he became known as Jim Collins, presumably to avoid confusion between himself and his Aston Villa team-mate of the same name.[4][5] Following the trial, it appears Collins has returned to The Villains, however it was reported that Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee had not given up on signing the player.[6] Nonetheless, Collins remained at Villa following the departure of manager Martin O'Neill. Caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald named the striker in his 20-man squad to travel to Rapid Vienna in the UEFA Europa League on 18 August 2010. On Aston Villa's official website, he has been called James Collins Jnr.[7]

Darlington (loan)

He was loaned out in October 2009 on a three-month deal to Darlington,[8] where he made his professional debut in a 3–0 loss to Barnet. He scored his first goal for Darlington in a 2–1 defeat at Hereford United on 31 October 2009.[9] Three weeks later, on 21 November 2009, Collins scored again, a 35-yard lob, in a 5–2 loss against Chesterfield.[10] Collins' spell at Darlington began successfully, however he later found it difficult to remain in the first team and later returned to Aston Villa on 22 January 2010 when his loan spell terminated.[11]

Burton Albion (loan)

On 15 October 2010, Collins joined League Two side Burton Albion on an emergency loan,[12] and immediately made an impact by scoring two goals in his first three games for the club. His good performance earned Collins a nomination of the League Two Player of the Month award.[13]

His good performance led Collins to stay at the club making a permanent move.[14] On 15 November 2010, his loan spell was extended for second month.[15] After adding two more goals to his tally, his loan spell was extended for the third time.[16] However, manager Paul Peschisolido believed Collins would not stay at the club after January.[17]

Shrewsbury Town

On 7 January 2011, Collins signed permanently for League Two side Shrewsbury Town on an 18-month contract.[18] He made his debut the following day, setting up a goal for Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, in a 3–1 loss against Morecambe.[19] Collins scored his first goals for the club on 18 January, notching twice in a 3–1 win over Accrington Stanley and scored another brace on 29 March, in a 3–1 victory over Rotherham United, managing eight goals in total during his first half season at Shrewsbury.

The 2011–12 season started well for Collins when he scored his first league goal in the opening game of the season, Shrewsbury Town drawing 1–1 against Plymouth Argyle,[20] and scoring again in a 3–2 win over Derby County in the first round of the Football League Cup days later.[21]

On 20 September 2011, he scored against Premier League side Arsenal in the third round of the League Cup, giving Shrewsbury an early lead in a match they would ultimately lose 3–1 at The Emirates,[22] and hit another brace on return to League duty four days later in a 2–0 win over Torquay United to send the club into second place in the table.[23]

Following an injury to midfielder Nicky Wroe, Collins temporarily assumed penalty taking duties for Shrewsbury Town, scoring from the spot in a 2–1 home win against Southend United.[24][25] During the season, manager Graham Turner compared Collins to Wolves legend Steve Bull, due to his strength and determination, also commenting that he believed he could continue to improve his goal scoring record.[26]

In his first full season at Shrewsbury, Collins made 47 appearances, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, and was the club's top scorer as they won promotion to League One.[27] Collins was offered a new deal and Turner expected him to re-sign,[28] however he attracted interests from other clubs such as Watford, Coventry City and Sheffield United,[29] ultimately opting to join fellow promoted side Swindon Town.[30]

Swindon Town

On 18 June 2012, Collins signed for Swindon Town.[31] Upon the move, Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner expected the fee to be settled by a tribunal,[32] which was eventually settled at £140,000 plus add-ons, ultimately causing Swindon to enter a transfer embargo due to overspending.[33][34]

Collins first goals for the club came against Premier League side Stoke City in the second round of the League Cup, scoring a hat-trick to help knock out Stoke 4–3 after extra time.[35][36] Collins first league goal came eleven games into Swindon's campaign and proved to be the winner despite being scored in the first minute against Bury on 6 October 2012. Collins then added his second goal in the league the following game against the club he supported as a boy, Coventry, this time helping Swindon rescue a point on 13 October.[37] The New Year proved to be good fortune for Collins as he scored four goals against Portsmouth on 1 January 2013 in a 5–0 thrashing.[38] After the match, Collins described scoring four goals, after coming on from the bench, as "surreal experience".[39]

Despite manager Paulo Di Canio resigning, the introduction of new manager Kevin MacDonald allowed Collins to add to his goal tally with strikes against promotion chasing Tranmere Rovers and Yeovil Town. By the end of the season, Collins had scored 18 goals in all competitions, his last a consolation effort in a 3–1 loss against Scunthorpe United, who fell to final day relegation despite their win. Collins finished his only season at Swindon Town as the club's top-scorer in the league and in all competitions.[40]

It was reported on 21 July 2013 that Swindon had accepted a £200,000 bid from Hibernian for Collins.[41]

Hibernian

Hibernian confirmed that Collins had signed a three-year contract with the club on 29 July 2013.[42] Collins made his Hibs debut, making his first start in the opening game of the 2013–14 Scottish Premiership season, in a 1–0 loss against Motherwell.[43] After five matches without a goal,[44] Collins scored the winning goal against St Johnstone on 14 September[45] and scored another the following week, in a 2–0 win over against St Mirren.[46]

Following Pat Fenlon's departure, Collins vowed to score more goals under new manager Terry Butcher after scoring less goals than expected by that point.[47] In Butcher's first game as Hibernian Manager, Collins scored a last minute goal, in a 1–1 draw against Partick Thistle on 7 November 2013.[48] Collins scored the opening goal in a 2–1 win against fierce rivals Hearts on 2 January 2014.[49] A week after scoring in the derby, Collins scored twice, as Hibernian lost 3–2 to St Mirren on 18 January 2014.[50]

Return to Shrewsbury

Following Hibernian's relegation, Collins re-signed for former club Shrewsbury Town on 4 June 2014 on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.[51] He scored twice on his return debut, securing a point in a 2–2 draw away to A.F.C. Wimbledon on 9 August.[52] The following month, he scored the only goal as Shrewsbury beat Norwich City in the League Cup, notably sending the club through to the fourth round of the competition for the first time since the 1986–87 season.[53]

Surpassing his previous season's goal tally on 8 November, when he scored his seventh goal of the season in all competitions against Walsall in the FA Cup,[54] he continued to weigh in with important goals as Shrewsbury climbed into the top reaches of the League Two table, hitting double figures for the season with a brace against Exeter City,[55] following this up with the opener in a 2–0 away win at Oxford United on Boxing Day,[56] and the second goal in a 3–0 home win against bottom of the table Hartlepool United in January 2015.[57]

Collins ended the 2014−15 season as Shrewsbury's top scorer, with 17 goals in all competitions as he won promotion to League One with the club for the second time in his career, having finished as runners up to Burton Albion.[58][59]

Collins began the 2015−16 with a goal in each of the opening two matches, a 2−1 home defeat to Millwall,[60] and a 2−1 away victory over Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup.[61] After a spell where he found himself in and out of the side, he was restored to the starting line-up, and named captain for the first time in an FA Cup first-round tie at non-league side Gainsborough Trinity. After scoring the only goal of the game, he won the plaudits of manager Micky Mellon, who commented that wearing the captain's armband had turned Collins into "Superman".[62]

In January 2016, following a 7−1 defeat to Chesterfield in which he was named captain, Collins was loaned out to Northampton Town until the end of the season.[63] He scored on his debut for the club, the opening goal in a 2−1 victory at Plymouth Argyle.[64] He played regularly during the second half of the season as Northampton were promoted from League Two as champions.[65]

After returning from his loan spell, Collins contract at Shrewsbury was cancelled by mutual consent in July 2016.[66]

Crawley Town

After his release from Shrewsbury, Collins signed a three-year contract with League Two club Crawley Town on 11 July 2016.[67] He scored his first goal for Crawley in a 1–1 draw with Doncaster Rovers on 13 August 2016.[68]

International career

Despite being born and raised in England, Collins is also eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level through his parents. He has represented Ireland at under-19 and under-21 levels.[2] On 11 October 2011, Collins scored his first hat-trick of his international career, as Republic of Ireland under-21 beat Liechtenstein U-21, with a score 4–1.[69] Upon a move to Hibernian, Collins hoped that his performances would get him a call up to the senior squad.[70]

Controversy

In October 2011, Collins was arrested along with former Aston Villa team-mate Barry Bannan after a Range Rover hit the central reservation of the M1 motorway in Nottinghamshire. The following month, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that he would not face any charges, although Bannan was charged with four offences.[71]

On 15 March 2016, whilst attending the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Collins and Milton Keynes Dons' Samir Carruthers were photographed urinating into a beer glass before Collins poured it over a balcony.[72] The next day, Collins apologised for his behaviour and was fined two weeks' wages.[73]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 December 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 2009−10[74] Premier League 00—000000
2010−11[75] Premier League 00—000000
Total 00—000000
Darlington (loan) 2009−10[74] League Two 7210——82
Burton Albion (loan) 2010–11[75] League Two 10421——125
Shrewsbury Town 2010–11[75] League Two 248——2[lower-alpha 1]0268
2011−12[76] League Two 42142032004716
Total 66222032207324
Swindon Town 2012−13[77] League One 451510332[lower-alpha 2]05118
Hibernian 2013−14[78] Scottish Premiership 3662020—406
Shrewsbury Town 2014−15[79] League Two 451531411[lower-alpha 3]05317
2015−16[80] League One 235312100287
Total 68206262108124
Northampton Town (loan) 2015−16[80] League Two 218———218
Crawley Town 2016−17[81] League Two 19720102[lower-alpha 4]2249
Career total 272841631577231095
  1. ↑ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearances in League One play-offs
  3. ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  4. ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy

Honours

Shrewsbury Town

Northampton Town

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. 1 2 "James Collins Jr Profile". Aston Villa Official Website. Archived from the original on 8 October 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Martin O'Neill backs youngsters Clark and Collins to be loan stars". Birmingham Mail. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Honours even at Tamworth". Aberdeen Official Website. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Dons keeper in hot water injury". BBC News. 24 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Dons still chasing Basey, Collins". PressAndJournal.co.uk. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "Squad arrive in Vienna". Aston Villa Official Website. 18 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Stoddart, Craig (24 October 2009). "Staunton has high hopes of his new loan signings". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  9. ↑ "Hereford 2–1 Darlington". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  10. ↑ "Chesterfield 5 – 2 Darlington". BBC Sport. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Could Convery be on his way – Striker Situation". Vital Football. 21 January 2010.
  12. ↑ "James Collins joins Burton Albion from Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "GreenScene Players of the Month for October". GreenScene. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  14. ↑ "Collins keen to make his Burton loan permanent". Burton Mail. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Front man Collins delighted to have extended his loan stay with Brewers". This is Derbyshire. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Burton keen to keep James Collins and Scott Malone". BBC Sport. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Albion and Shaun stay 'poles apart'". Burton Mail. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Shrewsbury bring in Aston Villa striker James Collins". BBC. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  19. ↑ "Shrewsbury 1 – 3 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Shrewsbury 1–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "Derby 2–3 Shrewsbury". Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "BBC Sport – Arsenal 3–1 Shrewsbury". BBC. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  23. ↑ "Shrewsbury 2–0 Torquay". BBC Sport. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "BBC Sport – Shrewsbury 2–1 Southend". BBC. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  25. ↑ "BBC Sport – Nicky Wroe to reclaim spot-kick role from James Collins". BBC. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  26. ↑ "James Collins has Steve Bull traits – Graham Turner". BBC Sport. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  27. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town promoted from League Two". Shropshire Star. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  28. ↑ "Four stay, four go at Shrews". Sky Sports. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  29. ↑ "Chase on for Collins". Sky Sports. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  30. ↑ "James Collins chose Swindon move after failed Coventry bid". BBC Sport. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  31. ↑ "Swindon Town sign Gary Roberts, Andy Williams and James Collins". BBC Sport. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  32. ↑ "Shrews seek cash for Collins". Sky Sports. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  33. ↑ "Swindon Town: Paolo Di Canio confirms transfer embargo". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  34. ↑ "Swindon Town pay out for Collins and Archibald-Henville". BBC Sport. 20 September 2012.
  35. ↑ "Stoke 3–4 Swindon (aet)". BBC Sport. 28 August 2012.
  36. ↑ "Collins hails cup heroics". Sky Sports. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  37. ↑ "Swindon 2–2 Coventry". BBC Sport. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  38. ↑ "Swindon 5 – 0 Portsmouth". =BBC Sport. 1 January 2013.
  39. ↑ "Swindon striker James Collins admits it was a surreal experience to score four goals against Portsmouth". Sky Sports. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "Scunthorpe 3–1 Swindon". BBC Sport. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "Transfer news: Swindon accept Hibernian offer for James Collins". skysports.com. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  42. ↑ "Collins excited about move". hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  43. ↑ "Hibernian 0 – 1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  44. ↑ "Goal drought affecting Hibs' James Collins". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  45. ↑ Forsyth, Paul (16 September 2013). "St Johnstone 1–2 Hibs: New strikeforce earn points". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  46. ↑ "Hibs 2–0 St Mirren: Collins and Heffernan earn win". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Hibernian: James Collins targets more goals under Terry Butcher". BBC Sport. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  48. ↑ "Terry Butcher relieved after Hibernian snatch late draw with Partick Thistle". Sky Sports. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  49. ↑ "Hibernian 2–1 Heart of Midlothian". BBC Sport. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  50. ↑ "Hibernian 2–3 St Mirren". BBC Sport. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "James Collins: Hibernian striker re-signs for Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  52. ↑ "AFC Wimbledon 2–2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  53. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town 1 Norwich City 0". Shropshire Star. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  54. ↑ "Walsall 2–2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  55. ↑ "Exeter City 3–2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  56. ↑ "Oxford United 0–2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  57. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town 3–0 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  58. ↑ "Shrewsbury's James Collins targets more glory". Shropshire Star. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  59. ↑ "Connor Goldson top man at Town's awards". Shropshire Star. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  60. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Millwall". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  61. ↑ "Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  62. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town: Captain Collins was 'like Superman' - Mellon". BBC Sport. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  63. ↑ "Shrewsbury striker James Collins joins Northampton Town on loan". BBC Sport. 5 January 2016.
  64. ↑ "Plymouth 1 Northampton 2". BBC Sport. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  65. ↑ "Exeter City 0-0 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  66. ↑ "James Collins moves on". Shrewsweb. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  67. ↑ "James Collins: Crawley Town sign striker after Shrewsbury exit". BBC Sport. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  68. ↑ "Doncaster 1-1 Crawley". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  69. ↑ "Collins hits hat-trick in U21 victory". Football Association of Ireland Official Website. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  70. ↑ "Hibs new boy James Collins eyes Irish call up". Edinburgh Evening News. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  71. ↑ "No charges for Coventry footballer after M1 crash". Coventry Telegraph. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  72. ↑ "Cheltenham urine row: Samir Carruthers and James Collins apologise". BBC News. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  73. ↑ "Northampton Town statement". Northampton Town FC. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  74. 1 2 "Games played by James Collins in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  75. 1 2 3 "Games played by James Collins in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  76. ↑ "Games played by James Collins in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  77. ↑ "Games played by James Collins in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  78. ↑ "Games played by James Collins in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  79. ↑ "Games played by James Collins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  80. 1 2 "Games played by James Collins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  81. ↑ "Games played by James Collins in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  82. 1 2 "J. Collins". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 August 2016.

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