Thanks to Dave Rowntree for many of the player images after 1984.
Can you help? This page is the result of the best endeavours of all concerned. If you spot a mistake or know of facts to add, or have a better photo, please get in touch using 'Contact Us' (top, right).
Back to GoS-DB Hub Find Another Player
SIMON COLLINS
Born: 16 December 1973
Came from: Huddersfield Town Went to: Macclesfield Town
First game: 08 March 1997 Last game: 08 May 1999
Appearances: 88 (85/3) Goals: 5
Pontefract-born Collins started his footballing career at Huddersfield Town, where he scored three times in 52 appearances in a variety of positions between 1992 and 1997, including two years under the management of Neil Warnock and his assistant Mick Jones. He also had a loan spell with Halifax Town in 1994, making three appearances without scoring.
In March 1997, following Neil Warnock's dismissal at Home Park, new manager Mick Jones made Collins his first signing (for a £40,000 fee), reuniting him with ex-Huddersfield teammates Chris Billy, Kevin Blackwell, Gary Clayton, Richard Logan and Paul Williams. Collins, very much a utility player, featured regularly in the side that was relegated at Burnley in May 1998, and went on to become an integral part of Kevin Hodges' basement-dwelling outfit until he was allowed to join Macclesfield Town at the end of his two-year contract in the summer of 1999.
He was one of eight close-season signings by Macclesfield following their relegation back to the basement division. In his second season at Moss Rose he suffered knee ligament damage and did not regain his position on a regular basis. However, he spent time on loan at Shrewsbury in 2001, making 12 appearances without scoring, but was recalled due to an injury crisis at Macclesfield and played out the remainder of that season. He had also picked up a winners' medal in the Cheshire Senior Cup in 2000.
After leaving Macclesfield in 2001, Collins moved to Frickley Athletic and subsequently played for several other non-league clubs including two spells with Belper Town with a period at Bradford Park Avenue in between, followed by a return to Frickley Athletic for a second spell there. He then played briefly for Grantham Town before moving to Ossett Town and Stocksbridge Park Steels, continuing his playing career up until 2007. Collins then turned his hand to management, firstly with Ossett Town, then Stocksbridge Park Steels and finally in 2010, Bradford Park Avenue (whilst at Park Avenue he named his former Argyle and Huddersfield Town team-mate Chris Billy as his assistant). He left his post early on in the 2010-11 season and briefly undertook scouting for his old Huddersfield boss Neil Warnock whilst Warnock was in charge of Queens Park Rangers. Collins then moved to Florida in 2014 to become a Director of Coaching at an American youth football organisation, St Cloud Soccer Club.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION
If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.
From Ed Lockett in Cardiff on 16/12/2014 ...
I'm sure Simon Collins was signed as a striker but moved to defence not long after his debut?
From Steve (GoS owner) in Plymouth on 05/01/2015 ...
Thanks for your contribution, Ed. You've raised a very good point, as a result of which we've rewritten his pen-picture and expanded it quite a bit. Looking back at the Herald on the day he joined us, it's quite clear that he played in a number of positions at Huddersfield and was very much considered a utility player. The link with Warnock, Jones and quite a few ex-teammates emerged very strongly too, so thanks for giving us that nudge!
In terms of his career at Home Park, he was used in a variety of positions in his two and a bit seasons with us. In his first couple of months with us he ... More
APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. I have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material used on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of each page.