James Collins (footballer born 1990)
Encyclopedia
James Steven Collins, also known as Jim Collins and James Collins Jnr (born 1 December 1990) is an English-born Irish footballer who plays for League Two side Shrewsbury Town
. A young striker, Collins has played a number of games for Aston Villa Reserves
and spent loan spells at Darlington
and Burton Albion
. Despite being born and raised in England, he has been part of Republic of Ireland
squads at under-19 and under-21 levels.
In his Aston Villa career, he was usually known as Jim Collins to avoid confusion, because there is another player at the club with the same name.
, West Midlands
, Collins started his career with Aston Villa
. Collins attended the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and Language College
in Coventry
.
, 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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...
. A young striker, Collins has played a number of games for Aston Villa Reserves
Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
and spent loan spells at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
and Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
. Despite being born and raised in England, he has been part of Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
squads at under-19 and under-21 levels.
In his Aston Villa career, he was usually known as Jim Collins to avoid confusion, because there is another player at the club with the same name.
Aston Villa
Born in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, Collins started his career with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. Collins attended the Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and Language College
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and Language College
Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School is a comprehensive school with Language College status situated in Potters Green, Coventry, England.-Feeder primary schools:*Corpus Christi, Ernesford Grange*Good Shepherd, Foleshill*Sacred Heart, Stoke*St Gregory's, Wyken...
in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.
Darlington loan
He was loaned out in October 2009 on a three-month deal to DarlingtonDarlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
, where he made his professional debut in a 3–0 loss to Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
. He scored his first goal for Darlington in a 2–1 defeat at Hereford United on 31 October 2009.
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.
2010–11
Prior to the 2010–11 season, Collins joined up with ScottishScotland
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...
side Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
for a trial, appearing in a friendly match away to Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
. 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. Following the trial, it appears Collins has returned to The Villains, however it was reported that Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee
Mark McGhee
Mark Edward McGhee is a former Scottish professional football player. McGhee started his career at Greenock Morton in 1975 and spent spells at clubs including Newcastle United, Aberdeen, Hamburg, Celtic, IK Brage and Reading...
had not given up on signing the player.
Nonetheless, Collins remained at Villa following the departure of manager Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
. Caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald
Kevin MacDonald (footballer)
Kevin Duncan MacDonald is a Scottish former footballer who played in the Liverpool "double" winning side of 1986....
named the striker in his 20-man squad to travel to Rapid Vienna
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
in the UEFA Europa League on 18 August 2010. On Aston Villa's official website, he has been called James Collins Jnr.