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Probably Don Revie's most inspired signing. At the age of 31,
many thought he was past his best, but he proved to be a vital part
of the team that won promotion back to Division 1, and came so
close to winning the FA Cup and League. He was made captain in
succession to Freddie Goodwin, and played a major role in bringing
on the crop of youngsters that was emerging from United's youth
team at the time. He was voted Footballer of the Year in the
1964-65 season, but the following season a terrible challenge from
a Torino player broke his leg, and although he came back to play in
the final game of that season, his time at Leeds was effectively
over.
After leaving Leeds, he was player-coach or coach for a variety
of clubs, including a couple in Australia and Ireland. He had brief
spells in management at Huddersfield, Hull and Barnsley - taking
Leeds to two replays in the League Cup when his Huddersfield side
were near the bottom of Division 3 and Leeds had just won the title
in 1974. He also spent a year in charge of the youth team at Elland
Road after joining the coaching staff under Jimmy Armfield in
summer 1976.
Robin Healey says: Bobby Collins was the greatest midfielder to
play for Leeds in the last 40 years. Better even than Johnnie Giles
and Gordon Strachan. What more can you say than that.
Bob Hanson says: I saw Bobby throughout his career with Leeds,
and as time goes by his effect on the team is forgotten by many.
Jack Charlton speaks of him correctly as 'the man who made the
difference'. He was inspirational, and his 'banana' free kicks
would put David Beckham in the shadows. Without doubt the greatest
Leeds midfielder.
Julie Collins says: I would like to say thankyou to all the fans
who have stuck by my dad. He is the most inspirational person that
I have known. He has guided me through my whole life even though I
wasn't born in his hay days, but I have listened to all of his
stories. He makes me laugh when he tells me about some of his on
pitch antics. It still amazes me that people young and old still
recognises him even at Tesco's where I work and in the Airport
especially. I any one would like to ask me any questions about my
dad feel free.
Archie Wilson says: I remember Bobby playing for Greenock Morton
and i also remember leeds utd coming to Greenock to play a
testimonial match for Bobby if anyone remembers it e-mail me
please
Michael Kane says: Can you confirm whether Bobby was ever voted
european footballer of the year by either his peers or writers.
Jabba says: nope - his award was solely domestic - but still a
pretty big accolade for a 34-year-old playing for a team that had
only just been promoted.
J. Kelso says: I seen him playing once he put his heart into the
game which is more than I could say about some of his
counterparts
bunminho says: Collins was the key to the door that Don Revie
needed to unlock to make Leeds United a successful side. Combative,
even mean, he applied himself ruthlessly to the task of winning
matches, and as CAPTAIN OF LEEDS UNITED, demanded the same levels
of dedication from his teammates. His attitude definitely rubbed
off on Billy Bremner and Johnny Giles in the Leeds midfield because
both became noted for their combativeness allied with tremendous
skills. As Jack Charlton has said in LLL, Bobby was the kind of
player who would break his mother's leg if that's what it took to
win a match. And that attitude suffused a young Leeds United side
and propelled it to the old 2nd division title in 1964 and to
within a whisker of a League and Cup Double in 1965. Collins was
master of the one-touch game. When it was one-touch, his head
seemed to be on a swivel, he took in all the angles, and he knocked
the ball around perfectly. It helped that he had also perfected the
trick of deceiving his markers by swaying as he shaped up to
receive a pass. One goal Collins didn't score, I will never forget.
With Albert Johannesson breaking clear on the left flank, Collins
dragged the 2 defenders off on a dummy run to the left corner flag,
and Albert cut inside unopposed and scored. That was the ultimate
tribute to Collins' vision, equally dangerous with or without the
ball. Justly a player rightly worshipped still at Celtic, Everton
and Leeds United.
Wayne Goodison says: Bobby was my youth team coach and then 1st
team manager at Barnsley in the early 8o's. Without a doubt he was
the single most influence on me as a footballer and a person. A
wonderful man with a hard reputation (justified!) but also very
inspiring one.
Alec Wearing says: I can remember meeting Bobby Collins on a few
occasions in the late 1950s when I was about the age of nine. I
used to spend Easter and summer holidays with my grandparents in
Glasgow and my grandfather would take me to a lot of matches. He
was, however, keen to avoid the crush of the crowds, and so we set
out very early. On a couple of occasions we were travelling in on
the tram from Pollokshaws and Mr Collins got on at the Mannering
Road stop in Shawlands. After he'd clambered up the stairs with a
large bag of kit, my grandfather would get into conversation with
him for the rest of the journey and all the way to Parkhead. Mr
Collins would then go in through the main entrance and return a few
minutes later with tickets for us for seats in the grandstand. It
was at one of these matches that I gave Mr Collins my autograph
book. He hung onto it for quite some time, and when he returned it
there were several pages full of autographs: not only the entire
Celtic team, but also the teams of Rangers, Motherwell, Clyde and
the Scotland team for the international against Wales in 1956. (I
still have all these autographs and I recently scanned them into
the computer; they look really good when enlarged on the screen). I
can also remember at that time my grandmother saying to me that I
should write Mr Collins a letter to thank him for all the trouble
he had taken to obtain the autographs. Alas, I never did write that
letter. But, I notice that one of the postings on this message
board is from Mr Collins daughter. And so, if she should happen to
see this - and although I've left it rather late, almost fifty
years late, in fact - perhaps she could convey to her father my
warmest thanks for the excellent collection of autographs he
obtained for me.
Ian Johnson says: I watched Bobby lots of times and loved
watching him strut around after making another of his many great
passes.I got his autograph after a Cup Semi-final afer his playing
days were over when I saw him in the car park at somewhere like Old
Trafford.He remains fondly in my heart as a truly excellent
professional. I read somewhere else that he had been in hospital.I
do hope he is well and keeping in touch at LUFC where he
belongs.
ellen aitchison (nee collins) says: my name is ellen , i am
doing a family tree, bobby collins was my fathers cousin, we share
the same g grandparents, i have a copy of his grandfathers marriage
cert, but cannot make out the name od his wife, would be grateful
for any information, my grandfather was his fathers brother,his
name was thomas, the same as my father.
Michael Dixon says: Bobby Collins tackled Willie McPheat, a very
promising, young Scottish teenager making his way with Sunderland,
in a match at Elland Road the early 1960's. I shall never forget
the black and white film of Willie being carried off the pitch by
the trainer and the then Sunderland Manager Alan Brown, in absolute
agony. The story goes that Brown, one of the hardest Managers of
his day, shouted "deliberate" from the Directors box, before
rushing down to the pitch. McPheat was never the same again and not
too long afterwards finshed off at Airdre via, Hartlepool. Was it
deliberate? Only Bobby Collins can tell you if, indeed, he can
recall it. But for those of us of that generation who followed
Sunderland Football Club, I can assure you that Bobby Collins will
never be forgotten. McPheat apparently later became a
park-keeper.
gerry neish my grandpa is archie collins says: i dont remember
her first name but i know her second name was young i will try to
find out for you as bobby is my uncle so ill ask my grandpa.
joe neish says: bobby is my wifes uncle he always wears the
medal he won when celtic beat rangers 7.1 in 1957 cup final
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