Neill Collins

For those of a similar name, see Neil Collins and Neal Collins.

Neill Collins

Personal information
Full name	Neill William Collins
Date of birth	2 September 1983 (1983-09-02)
Place of birth	Troon, Scotland
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Sheffield United
Number	15
Youth career
	Queen's Park S-Form
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2002	Queen's Park	32	(0)
2002–2004	Dumbarton	63	(4)
2004–2007	Sunderland	18	(1)
2005–2006	→ Hartlepool United (loan)	22	(0)
2006	→ Sheffield United (loan)	2	(0)
2006–2007	→ Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)	3	(1)
2007–2009	Wolverhampton Wanderers	83	(8)
2009–2010	→ Preston North End (loan)	16	(0)
2010	Preston North End	5	(1)
2010	→ Leeds United (loan)	9	(0)
2010–2011	Leeds United	21	(0)
2011–	Sheffield United	41	(0)
National team‡
2005	Scotland U21	7	(0)
2007	Scotland B	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:00 21 January 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:26, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Neill William Collins (born 2 September 1983) is a Scottish footballer defender who currently plays for League One side Sheffield United. He is a former Scotland U21 international and has also represented Scotland B side.

Career

Collins, born in Troon, Scotland, began his career with Scottish amateur club, Queen's Park, moving to Dumbarton after two seasons. During his stay at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Collins became popular with the fans and had a spell as captain and was key to the Sons' battle to stay in the Second Division. During his time there he had trials with Falkirk, Hibernian, Rangers and Charlton Athletic.

Sunderland

He left Dumbarton for Sunderland in August 2004, for a fee of £25,000, and made 11 appearances during the first season as the club won promotion to the Premier League as champions. He never appeared in the top flight for them though, after being loaned out to, first, League One Hartlepool United, then Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United, during the 2005–06 season.

He returned to the Sunderland team at the start of the following campaign, but was forced to play in the unfamiliar role of right-back after injuries to team-mates Stephen Wright and Nyron Nosworthy. He was a regular under manager Mick McCarthy, but McCarthy left the job, and after a slow start to the Championship season caretaker manager Niall Quinn was replaced by Roy Keane as Sunderland manager.

Wolves

The defender was soon sent out on loan by the Sunderland's recently-appointed manager Roy Keane, whereupon he reunited with his former boss Mick McCarthy at Wolves.

After his loan expired, Collins joined Wolves permanently in January 2007 for a fee of £150,000. He was a regular starter for the rest of the season as the club reached the Championship play-offs. The 2007–08 season saw the side miss out on the play-offs on goal difference with Collins again playing regularly.

Collins started 2008–09 strongly with Wolves but was left out of the first team with the loan arrival of Michael Mancienne from Chelsea. When Mancienne returned to Chelsea in the New Year, Collins returned to the side, partnering Richard Stearman. He contributed several important goals during this period, but was soon ousted from the side again after receiving a red card for dissent at Reading and the addition of Scottish international Christophe Berra. He remained out of the side for the remainder of the season as the club were promoted to the Premier League as champions and was transfer listed by the club in July 2009.

Preston North End

Early in the 2009–10 season Collins was loaned out to Championship side Preston North End, a move made permanent when he signed a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee on 5 January 2010. Soon after signing on a permanent basis, manager Alan Irvine left the club, Collins lost his place in the side under the new manager Darren Ferguson where Collins wasn't part of his plans.

Leeds United

To gain playing time, he moved to League One promotion chasers Leeds United in March 2010 on loan for the rest of the season in a bid to help Leeds promotion campaign. Collins made his début for Leeds when he started against Norwich after replacing the injured Patrick Kisnorbo in the line-up. He played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus being automatically promoted.

Collins signed a three year deal with Leeds on 7 July 2010 for an undisclosed fee. Collins started the Championship season as one of Leeds' first choice defenders with Patrick Kisnorbo still being out with a long term injury. After some indifferent performances early on in the season, Collins scored an own goal in Leeds' 5–2 thrashing against Barnsley. and was dropped to the bench by the end of October after being previously starting every game for Leeds.

Sheffield United

On the following transfer deadline day, Collins signed for Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee and made his début in a 3-0 defeat to Ipswich Town a few days later. He was a regular in defence for the remainder of the season but struggled as the team undertook an ultimately fruitless battle against relegation. Now in League One, the 2011-12 campaign saw Collins establish an effective defensive partnership with Blades centre-back Harry Maguire and Collins was awarded supporters Player of the Month for September 2011.

International career

Collins is a former Scotland U21 international and has also represented Scotland B side.

Honours

Sunderland

• Football League Championship: 2004–05

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Football League Championship: 2008–09

Leeds United

• League One runner-up (promoted): 2009–10

External links

• Neill Collins career stats at Soccerbase
• Scouting report at The Guardian