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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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