Eamonn Collins (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Eamonn Anthony Stephen Collins (born 22 October 1965) is an Irish retired footballer and football manager
, who is now a players' agent
.
In his playing career, he was the youngest player ever to turn out in a professional game in England, when he played for Blackpool
in 1980, six weeks before his 15th birthday. For much of his career, he played for teams where his mentor
at Blackpool, the former England
player, Alan Ball, was either manager or player. He also played for the Republic of Ireland national football team
at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
, Dublin, close to Richmond Park
, the home of St Patrick's Athletic
.
He signed apprenticeship forms with Blackpool
in April 1980 and became a member of the club's youth team, playing in the under-18 league. On Saturday, 6 September 1980, he had played against the Manchester United
youth team and scored twice. On the following Tuesday, 9 September, Collins was called into the squad to play at Bloomfield Road
in an Anglo-Scottish Cup
quarter-final first-leg tie against Kilmarnock
. In a later interview, Collins recalled the events leading up to the match:
In the match, Collins came on as a second-half substitute for Dave Hockaday
and, at the age of 14 years and 323 days, became the youngest player to have appeared in a professional match in England. The match itself was won 2–1, with Kilmarnock winning the second leg 4–2, to go through to the next round on aggregate.
Collins only made the one appearance for Blackpool, and in December 1981, he moved to Southampton
, where Alan Ball was now playing.
.
He continued to play regularly for the reserves, but being short (5 ft 6in) and lightweight (8st 3 lb), he lacked the muscle to force himself into the first team. He made two further substitute appearances in the Football League in the 1984–85 season, as well as two appearances in League Cup
matches, with his final appearance coming against Arsenal
at Highbury
on 19 November 1985.
Whilst with the Saints, Collins was called up to join the Republic of Ireland
squad for the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship
held in the Soviet Union
from August to September 1985. The Irish lost all three Round One matches, finishing bottom of their group.
where Alan Ball was now manager. He made five league and four cup appearances during Portsmouth's 1986–87 promotion campaign before being loaned out, firstly to Exeter City
in November 1987, where he made nine league appearances, and then to Gillingham
in November 1988, where he made one appearance in the Football League Trophy
.
to be re-united with Alan Ball, who was then the assistant to Jock Wallace
. Although Ball left Colchester in October 1989, Collins remained with the Layer Road
club for three years, during which they were relegated to the Conference
in 1990, before taking the Conference title, as well as winning the FA Trophy
in 1992.
. After eleven league appearances (plus four in various cup competitions), and a loan spell with Farnborough Town
, Collins left Exeter in the summer of 1993 and dropped down to non-league football
.
where he spent the early part of the 1993–94 season with Crediton United
, before moving to join Elmore
in February 1994. He remained with the Tiverton based club until December 1996, including the last four months as player-manager. He subsequently returned to his native Ireland to live.
During his playing career he also played in Denmark
and Norway
.
as assistant manager to Pat Dolan
, succeeding him as manager in February 2003, signing a two-year contract with the Richmond Park
outfit.
It was the dream job for Collins, the son of a former St. Patrick's chairman and brother of two former players.
However, despite a League of Ireland Cup win and an FAI Cup
final appearance, after just over a year in charge, Collins quit St Patrick's in May 2004 with the club second from bottom in the League of Ireland
Premier Division. On his departure, chairman Andy O'Callaghan expressed his hope that Collins would change his mind, saying; "We've left the door open for Eamonn to come back. People are talking to him and praying he will change his mind."
In the event, Collins joined rivals Shelbourne
as assistant to Pat Fenlon
on 31 May 2004. Collins left Shelbourne following Fenlon's resignation in December 2006.
Soon after leaving Shelbourne, Collins was established as a player's agent. and is now on FIFA
's list of registered agents. Amongst his clients is Keith Fahey
, who was transferred from St Patrick's to Birmingham City
in January 2009.
His son Joe and nephew Michael both played for the U17 Republic of Ireland national football team
.
And now he manages Cherry Orchard Under 11s who play in Ballyfermot
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, who is now a players' agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
.
In his playing career, he was the youngest player ever to turn out in a professional game in England, when he played for Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1980, six weeks before his 15th birthday. For much of his career, he played for teams where his mentor
Mentorship
Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....
at Blackpool, the former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
player, Alan Ball, was either manager or player. He also played for the Republic of Ireland national football team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship
1985 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship, the ninth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in the Soviet Union from August 24 to September 7, 1985. The tournament took place in eight venues — Baku, Yerevan, Leningrad, Minsk, Moscow, Hoktemberyan, Tbilissi and Sumqayit — where a total...
.
Blackpool
Collins was born at InchicoreInchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
, Dublin, close to Richmond Park
Richmond Park (football ground)
Richmond Park is a football stadium in Dublin, Ireland. It is the home ground for Irish football team St. Patricks Athletic of the League of Ireland. It is situated in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore...
, the home of St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
.
He signed apprenticeship forms with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in April 1980 and became a member of the club's youth team, playing in the under-18 league. On Saturday, 6 September 1980, he had played against the Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
youth team and scored twice. On the following Tuesday, 9 September, Collins was called into the squad to play at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
in an Anglo-Scottish Cup
Anglo-Scottish Cup
The Anglo-Scottish Cup was a tournament arranged for teams in the English and Scottish football leagues during the summer for several years during the 1970s...
quarter-final first-leg tie against Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
. In a later interview, Collins recalled the events leading up to the match:
"That Monday I was just back to my normal jobs, getting all the coaches' kit ready, cleaning the players' boots. From eight till ten, I did all my jobs. After that I was going out to train with the youth team and some of the reserves. Then the first team coach, Ted MacDougallTed MacDougallEdward John "Ted" MacDougall is a retired Scottish footballer who is currently coaching with Atlanta Silverbacks in the USA....
, came over to me and said, 'Eamonn, you're training with the first team today'. I honestly thought it was a wind-up. They were playing a lot of practical jokes on me at the time, with me having just arrived over from Ireland at 14. Doing a lot of silly stuff. So I just kept on walking over towards the youth team. Then Alan Ball shouted across, 'Come over Eamonn, you're training with us'. Only then did I realise it was serious."
In the match, Collins came on as a second-half substitute for Dave Hockaday
Dave Hockaday
David "Dave" Hockaday is an English former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He is currently first team manager at Conference National club Forest Green Rovers.-Playing career:...
and, at the age of 14 years and 323 days, became the youngest player to have appeared in a professional match in England. The match itself was won 2–1, with Kilmarnock winning the second leg 4–2, to go through to the next round on aggregate.
Collins only made the one appearance for Blackpool, and in December 1981, he moved to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, where Alan Ball was now playing.
Southampton
Collins spent his first three years at Southampton playing either for the Youth team or for the reserves, and did not make his first-team debut until 29 September 1984, when he played in a 1–1 draw with Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
He continued to play regularly for the reserves, but being short (5 ft 6in) and lightweight (8st 3 lb), he lacked the muscle to force himself into the first team. He made two further substitute appearances in the Football League in the 1984–85 season, as well as two appearances in League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
matches, with his final appearance coming against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
on 19 November 1985.
Whilst with the Saints, Collins was called up to join the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
squad for the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship
1985 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship, the ninth edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in the Soviet Union from August 24 to September 7, 1985. The tournament took place in eight venues — Baku, Yerevan, Leningrad, Minsk, Moscow, Hoktemberyan, Tbilissi and Sumqayit — where a total...
held in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
from August to September 1985. The Irish lost all three Round One matches, finishing bottom of their group.
Portsmouth
In May 1986, Collins moved to PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
where Alan Ball was now manager. He made five league and four cup appearances during Portsmouth's 1986–87 promotion campaign before being loaned out, firstly to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in November 1987, where he made nine league appearances, and then to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in November 1988, where he made one appearance in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
.
Colchester United
Collins left Portsmouth in April 1989, moving on to Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
to be re-united with Alan Ball, who was then the assistant to Jock Wallace
Jock Wallace
John "Jock" Martin Bokas Wallace was a professional Scottish football player and manager. His father, Jock Wallace, Sr., was a goalkeeper for Raith Rovers, Blackpool and Derby County....
. Although Ball left Colchester in October 1989, Collins remained with the Layer Road
Layer Road
Layer Road was a Football League stadium in Colchester, England. It was only used for football matches and was the home ground of Colchester United before being replaced by the Weston Homes Community Stadium. The stadium held spectators and was built in 1907, originally for use by Colchester Town...
club for three years, during which they were relegated to the Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
in 1990, before taking the Conference title, as well as winning the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
in 1992.
Exeter City
In July 1992, Collins was once again re-united with Ball when he returned to Exeter CityExeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. After eleven league appearances (plus four in various cup competitions), and a loan spell with Farnborough Town
Farnborough Town F.C.
Farnborough Football Club is an English football team currently in the Conference South after finishing top of Southern League Premier Division in 2009–10. Their home ground is known as the Rushmoor Stadium, formerly Cherrywood Road, based in Farnborough, Hampshire...
, Collins left Exeter in the summer of 1993 and dropped down to non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
.
Non-league football
Collins returned to DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
where he spent the early part of the 1993–94 season with Crediton United
Crediton United A.F.C.
Crediton United A.F.C. is a football club based in Crediton, Devon, England. They were established in 1910.After spending eighty years in local football, latterly the Devon & Exeter League, they joined the Western League in 1990...
, before moving to join Elmore
Elmore F.C.
Elmore F.C. are a football club based in Tiverton, Devon, England. They currently play in the Western League Division One.-Club history:The club was founded in 1947 and joined the South Western League in 1974 and played there for four years before gaining admittance to the Western Football League...
in February 1994. He remained with the Tiverton based club until December 1996, including the last four months as player-manager. He subsequently returned to his native Ireland to live.
During his playing career he also played in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Coaching and managerial career
In 1999, he joined his home-town club St Patrick's AthleticSt Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
as assistant manager to Pat Dolan
Pat Dolan
Patrick Dolan is a former football player, manager, and executive. He is a soccer analyst on Setanta Sports Ireland.-Early life:...
, succeeding him as manager in February 2003, signing a two-year contract with the Richmond Park
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
outfit.
It was the dream job for Collins, the son of a former St. Patrick's chairman and brother of two former players.
However, despite a League of Ireland Cup win and an FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
final appearance, after just over a year in charge, Collins quit St Patrick's in May 2004 with the club second from bottom in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
Premier Division. On his departure, chairman Andy O'Callaghan expressed his hope that Collins would change his mind, saying; "We've left the door open for Eamonn to come back. People are talking to him and praying he will change his mind."
In the event, Collins joined rivals Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
as assistant to Pat Fenlon
Pat Fenlon
Patrick "Pat" "Nutsy" Fenlon is an Irish former footballer and manager. He is currently in charge of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian....
on 31 May 2004. Collins left Shelbourne following Fenlon's resignation in December 2006.
Soon after leaving Shelbourne, Collins was established as a player's agent. and is now on FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
's list of registered agents. Amongst his clients is Keith Fahey
Keith Fahey
Keith Declan Fahey is an Republic of Ireland international footballer who plays for English club Birmingham City. With Ireland he was part of the team that secured qualification for UEFA Euro 2012....
, who was transferred from St Patrick's to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in January 2009.
His son Joe and nephew Michael both played for the U17 Republic of Ireland national football team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
.
And now he manages Cherry Orchard Under 11s who play in Ballyfermot