Sam Collins (footballer)

Sam Collins

Collins playing for Hartlepool United in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Samuel Jason Collins
Date of birth	5 June 1977
Place of birth	Pontefract, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Centre-back
Youth career
1994–1997	Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1997–1999	Huddersfield Town	37	(0)
1999–2002	Bury	82	(2)
2002–2006	Port Vale	135	(11)
2005–2006	→ Hull City (loan)	10	(0)
2006–2008	Hull City	13	(0)
2007	→ Swindon Town (loan)	4	(0)
2008–2015	Hartlepool United	244	(6)
Total		525	(19)
Teams managed
2014	Hartlepool United (caretaker)
2014	Hartlepool United (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Samuel Jason "Sam" Collins (born 5 June 1977) is an English former footballer who played as a defender. His brother, Simon, is also a former professional footballer and manager.

He started his career with Huddersfield Town in 1997, alongside his brother, before he transferred to Bury in 1999. After three years he moved on to Port Vale, where he established himself as club captain and star defender. His performances earned him a move up to Hull City in 2006, though a series of knee injuries blighted his time at the club. Loaned to Swindon Town for a brief spell in 2007, the following year he signed permanently with Hartlepool United. Spending most of his career in the third tier of English football, he has been described as a "warrior" and as "the quintessential lower-league centre-back".^[1]

He was appointed caretaker-manager of Hartlepool United in October 2014, and then again two months later.

Playing career

Huddersfield Town

Born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, Collins started his career at First Division club Huddersfield Town as a trainee. Brian Horton handed him his senior debut just as brother Simon, was leaving the club. He made 41 appearances in all competitions before leaving the club himself.

Bury

In 1999 he stepped down a division to join Bury, who paid the "Terriers" a £75,000 fee for his services. He played ninety games in all competitions for the "Shakers", including 82 in the Second Division, before being released at the end of the 2001–02 season, following the club's relegation into the Third Division.^[2]

Port Vale

He signed for Port Vale in June 2002, in a move that reunited him with former manager Brian Horton.^[3][4] Collins played 49 games for Port Vale and was named their Player Of The Year in the 2002–03 season, later becoming the team captain.^[5][6] In September 2003 he was given the Second Division Player of the Month award.^[7] At the end of the 2003–04 season he penned a new two-year deal,^[8] having put in a 47-game haul. He played 37 games in 2004–05, helping the club to avoid relegation to League Two.

His continuing strong performances in 2005–06 attracted interest from Plymouth Argyle boss Tony Pulis.^[9] However he rejected the approach,^[10] and instead joined Peter Taylor's Hull City in November on loan from Vale, prior to a permanent transfer for a fee of £65,000 in the January transfer window.^[11] Team-mate Billy Paynter also made the switch to the "Tigers" at the same time.

Hull City

He captained Hull on several occasions, but after only seventeen league games for the "Tigers" he joined a lengthy list of team-mates on the treatment table, suffering a knee ligament injury in a February game at Millwall, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 2005–06 season.^[12] He also missed most of the following season through a further knee injury, making only eight appearances.^[13] In September 2007, he joined Swindon Town on a one-month loan,^[14] in which he made four appearances for the "Robins".

Hartlepool United

He joined Hartlepool United on transfer deadline day, 31 January 2008, for a nominal fee.^[15] After only several weeks with the club he was sidelined by an injury sustained from an awkward fall.^[16] This came just days after assistant boss Ian Butterworth praised Collins for "[adding] steel to the back four".^[17]

"He's a calming influence, he's a leader and that's what we needed in that backline. You'll get that consistency from him, he doesn't complicate his game."

— Collins soon won praise from Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson.^[18]

He was appointed captain at the start of his first full season with the club,^[19] and made 48 appearances by the end of the campaign, earning himself a new contract at the end of the campaign.^[20] His consistency continued in 2009–10, as he played a total of 48 games. After 49 appearances in the 2010–11 campaign, he signed a new contract with the club in May 2011.^[21] Collins was hopeful that manager Mick Wadsworth could lead the club to the play-offs in 2011–12,^[22] however they could only manage a 13th-place finish. He made 43 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign, as Hartlepool suffered relegation into League Two, and was retained for a further season.^[23] Collins made 43 appearances during the 2013–14 campaign, and was praised by manager Colin Cooper for the positive influence he had on the rest of the team.^[24]

Coaching career

Between 2003 and 2005 he helped coach Brackenhill Blues, an under-13 football club based at Ackworth. In the two years he was there, he helped Brackenhill gain promotion twice.

In October 2014, following the exit of manager Colin Cooper as manager of Hartlepool United, Collins was appointed as caretaker-manager.^[25] He took charge of four games, overseeing one win and three losses, before Paul Murray was appointed as manager.^[26] Murray was sacked after only 45 days in charge, and Collins again was appointed as caretaker-manager.^[27] He continued in this capacity until Ronnie Moore was announced as manager in December, who then appointed Collins as his assistant.^[28]

Personal life

Collins married Claire in 1999 and the couple had four children. After finding that Collins had been having an affair, Claire posted derogatory messages on Collins' Twitter account, which were widely reported in the tabloids.^[29]

Statistics

As a player

As of 26 April 2015.

Season	Club	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[30]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1996–97[31]	Huddersfield Town	First Division	4	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	6	0
1997–98[32]			10	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	11	0
1998–99[33]			23	0	3	0	4	0	0	0	30	0
Total			37	0	3	0	7	0	0	0	47	0
1999–2000[34]	Bury	Second Division	19	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	22	0
2000–01[35]			34	2	1	0	2	0	0	0	37	2
2001–02[36]			29	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	31	0
Total			82	2	2	0	5	0	1	0	90	2
2002–03[37]	Port Vale	Second Division	44	5	1	0	1	0	3	0	49	5
2003–04[38]		League One	43	4	3	0	1	0	0	0	47	4
2004–05[39]			33	2	1	0	1	0	2	0	37	2
2005–06[40]			15	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	16	0
Total			135	11	5	0	4	0	5	0	149	11
2005–06[40]	Hull City	Championship	17	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
2006–07[41]			6	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	8	0
2007–08[42]			0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2007–08[42]	Swindon Town (loan)	League One	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Total			23	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	27	0
2007–08[42]	Hartlepool United	League One	10	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	2
2008–09[43]			40	1	2	0	3	0	1	0	46	1
2009–10[44]			44	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	48	0
2010–11[45]			42	2	3	0	2	0	2	0	49	2
2011–12[46]			36	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	37	1
2012–13[47]			41	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	43	0
2013–14[48]		League Two	24	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	27	0
2014–15[49]			7	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	9	0
Total			244	6	10	0	10	0	5	0	285	6
Career total			525	19	22	0	26	0	13	0	586	19

As a manager

As of 16 December 2014.^[50]

Team	From	To	Matches	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
Hartlepool United (caretaker)	4 October 2014	29 October 2014	4	1	0	3	25.00
Hartlepool United (caretaker)	9 December 2014	16 December 2014	1	0	0	1	00.00
Total			5	1	0	4	20.00

Honours

Individual

• Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year: 2002–03^[51]
• Football League Second Division Player of the Month: September 2003

References

1. "Wadsworth: I wouldn’t want to bump into skipper after dark". Hartlepool Mail. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
2. "Bury release Bhutia". BBC Sport. 24 April 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
3. "Collins reunites with Horton". BBC Sport. 26 June 2002. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
4. "Horton moves for Collins". BBC Sport. 10 June 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
5. "Vale embargo lifted". BBC Sport. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
6. "Skipper in warning to Port Vale". BBC Sport. 13 September 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
7. "Huckerby wins award". BBC Sport. 8 October 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
8. "Matthews joins Port Vale". BBC Sport. 9 June 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
9. "Pulis confirms Vale duo interest". BBC Sport. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
10. "Pulis fails to land loan signing". BBC Sport. 14 November 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
11. "Hull snap up Port Vale's Collins". BBC Sport. 2 November 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
12. "Tigers seek stand-in for Collins". BBC Sport. 17 February 2006. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
13. "Hull's Collins out for the season". BBC Sport. 7 November 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
14. "Collins joins Swindon from Hull". BBC Sport. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
15. "Pools sign Hull defender Collins". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
16. "Collins injury frustrates Wilson". BBC Sport. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
17. "Butterworth plaudits for Collins". BBC Sport. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
18. "Wilson praises 'leader' Collins". BBC Sport. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
19. "Sam's the man". \hartlepool Mail. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
20. "Seven players released in Hartlepool summer overhaul". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
21. "Ten players shown door by Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
22. "Sam Collins backs Hartlepool United to surprise". BBC Sport. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
23. "Hartlepool United retain Sam Collins and Andy Monkhouse". BBC Sport. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
24. "Hartlepool United: Sam Collins delights boss Colin Cooper". BBC Sport. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
25. "Caretaker Sam Collins unsure of Hartlepool United tenure". BBC Sport. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
26. "Hartlepool United appoint ex-player as manager". BBC Sport. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
27. "Hartlepool United part company with manager Paul Murray". The Guardian. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
28. "Hartlepool United appoint ex-Rotherham manage". BBC Sport. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
29. Brus, Mark (10 March 2016). "Hartlepool’s Sam Collins has affair exposed after wife hacks Twitter account". The Metro. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
30. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
31. "Games played by Sam Collins in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
32. "Games played by Sam Collins in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
33. "Games played by Sam Collins in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
34. "Games played by Sam Collins in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
35. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
36. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
37. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
38. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
39. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
40. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
41. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
42. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
43. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
44. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
45. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
46. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
47. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
48. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
49. "Games played by Sam Collins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
50. Sam Collins management career statistics at Soccerbase
51. "It's a clean sweep as Super Sam is Top Man". port-vale.co.uk. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2011.

External links

• Sam Collins career statistics at Soccerbase
• Sam Collins management career statistics at Soccerbase