Robert Young Collins (16 February 1931 – 13 January 2014) was a Scotland international football player, best known for his successful spells at Celtic, Everton and Leeds United.

Playing career Celtic Collins was born on 16 February 1931 in Govanhill, Glasgow, Scotland, the eldest of Tom and Bella Collins's six children. He signed a contract with Everton from Pollok at the age of 17, but after a contractual dispute he eventually ended up joining Celtic instead of Everton; he was also working as an apprentice cobbler at the time. He made his debut at outside-right against Old Firm rivals Rangers on 13 August 1949, getting the better of Jock Shaw he helped Celtic to a 3–2 Scottish League Cup victory. Despite being just about tall, Collins was a strong, hard-working midfield player who was in the Celtic team as a 17-year-old and stayed there for ten years, winning the Scottish Cup in 1951, and the Scottish cup double in 1954. Affectionately known as the Wee Barra by Celtic fans, he was idolised by three generations of supporters. The grandfathers loved his throwback style of keeping the ball close, the dads loved his all-out action style and the kids just wanted to play like him. He was also called up for international duty in 1950, and maintained a frequent presence in the Scotland squad in the later stages of the decade. Collins also represented the Scottish League XI 16 times, scoring 12 goals.

Everton In 1958 Collins joined Everton where he played until 1962.

Leeds United Collins was an astute addition to the Leeds squad by manager Don Revie in 1962, helping the club avoid relegation. Revie later described Collins as his best-ever signing.Bobby Collins Obituary, The Guardian 14 January 2014 Leeds won promotion to the First Division in 1964, and Collins captained the side towards a potential League and FA Cup double a year later; however, Leeds missed out on the League on goal average to Manchester United, and lost the 1965 FA Cup Final to Liverpool. Collins's achievements at Leeds were recognised when he was awarded the Footballer of the Year title in 1965. His sparkling form at Leeds also won him a recall to the Scotland squad after a six-year absence, and he earned three more caps. His international career ended with 31 appearances and ten goals. Collins continued to skipper Leeds until 1966, when he suffered a horrific broken thighbone in a Fairs Cup tie against Torino. He briefly came back from the injury, but age and a struggle to reclaim previous form brought his Leeds career to an end.

Later playing career Bury signed Collins and he stayed there for two years.

During a short period back in his native Scotland with Greenock Morton, he doubled up as a scout for Revie, and recommended Joe Jordan. Jordan went on to become a respected and feared striker with Leeds, Manchester United, Milan and Scotland. Collins' last appearance for Morton was in August 1971, in a pre-season friendly against his former club Leeds United.

In 1972 Collins was playing coach of Australian club Ringwood City but left after a disagreement with the club board.

He then had a spell as player-coach with Oldham.

Collins guested for Shamrock Rovers in a friendly with Manchester United at Dalymount Park on 15 October 1973 and signed for The Hoops the following month making his début on the 11th at Glenmalure Park. He played a total of 13 games, 11 in the league scoring once on his second appearance at Finn Harps.

Managerial career Collins went into management, with spells at Huddersfield Town, Hull City and Barnsley. He also coached within the Leeds youth set-up in the 1970s and then again in the late 1990s.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCeltic1949–50Scottish First Division2674061203881950–51Scottish First Division271572835047201951–52Scottish First Division301220812342161952–53Scottish First Division1435000202131953–54Scottish First Division251000404033101954–55Scottish First Division2057121103071955–56Scottish First Division26444634240131956–57Scottish First Division205621142039111957–58Scottish First Division3019311073046271958–59Scottish First Division21007610107Total2208138106226265346122Everton1958–59First Division32743—0036101959–60First Division421410—0043141960–61First Division401610510046171961–62First Division195320000227Total1334295510014748Leeds United1961–62Second Division1110000001111962–63Second Division4183100004491963–64Second Division4162010004461964–65First Division39980110048101965–66First Division1000000201201966–67First Division7000002090Total14924131214016826Bury1966–67Second Division1000000001001967–68Third Division4343140005051968–69Second Division222101000242Total756314000847Greenock Morton1969–70Scottish First Division2822000003021970–71Scottish First Division271100040321Total553300040623Oldham Athletic1972–73Third Division7021000091Shamrock Rovers1973–74League of Ireland1112000—131Career total65015770187328345827208

International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsScotland195030195550195610195784195875195941196530Total3010

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Collins goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Bobby CollinsNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 19 May 1957 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland 2–1 2–1 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification2 22 May 1957 Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, West Germany 1–0 3–1 Friendly3 3–04 13 November 1957 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 1–0 1–1 1958 British Home Championship5 1 June 1958 Dziesieciolecia Stadion, Warsaw, Poland 1–0 2–1 Friendly6 2–17 11 June 1958 Idrottsparken, Norrköping, Sweden 2–3 2–3 1958 FIFA World Cup8 18 October 1958 Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales 3–0 3–0 1959 British Home Championship9 5 November 1958 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 2–0 2–2 British Home Championship10 27 May 1959 Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1–1 2–1 Friendly

Managerial record + Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordHuddersfield Town3 July 197423 December 1974Hull City1 October 197710 February 1978Barnsley8 February 198425 June 1985Total

Honours Celtic Glasgow Cup: 1950, 1956; runner-up 1951, 1952 Scottish Cup: 1951; runner-up 1955 Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup: 1953; runner-up 1951, 1954 Scottish Football League First Division: 1953–54; runner-up 1954–55 Scottish League Cup: 1957, 1958

Leeds United Football League Second Division: 1963–64 FA Cup runner-up: 1964–65

Bury Football League Third Division runner-up: 1967–68

Individual FWA Footballer of the Year: 1964–65

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