Collins: Robert Young (Bobby)

1962-1967 (Player Details)

Inside Forward

Born: Govinhill, Glasgow: 16-02-1931

Debut v Swansea Town (h): 10-03-1962

5’4” 10st 3lb (1963)

#21 in 100 Greatest LUFC Players Ever

He joined Glasgow Celtic in April 1948 after playing for Polmadie Street School in Glasgow, Polmadie Hawthorns and Glasgow Pollok. In ten years at Parkhead he won a Scottish League Champions Medal in 1954, Scottish Cup-Winners Medals in 1951 and 1955, Scottish League Cup-Winner’s Medals in 1957 and 1958, represented the Scottish League on sixteen occasions and was one of the very few players to score a hat-trick of penalties, against Aberdeen in September 1953. He was sold to Everton in September 1958 for £23,000 and when he joined Leeds it was thought his career was almost over. Small in stature, but huge in standing amongst United’s galaxy of greats, Bobby Collins was the platform that Don Revie launched his great sides. Revie paid £25,000 to Everton in March 1962 for the thirty-one-year-old ex-Scotland International, who went on to lift a mediocre club out of the depths of Division 2 to one of the most respected in Europe. He captained Leeds to the Second Division title in 1963-64 and the following season was voted “Footballer of the Year” as Leeds came close to a League and Cup double. He was recalled to the Scotland team after an absence of six years and added three more caps to the twenty-eight that he had won while with Everton and Celtic. He nurtured the talented brood of youngsters who went on to grab glory for Leeds. Collins broke a thigh in United’s first European Cup tie, second leg, in Turin. He briefly came back from the injury but age and a struggle to reclaim previous form brought his Leeds career to an end. Billy Bremner took over as captain and Leeds subsequently went on to be one of English football's dominant forces. He left for Bury on a free transfer in February 1967, and embarked on a journey which took him to Morton, in April 1969, Ringwood City (Melbourne) as player coach in the June 1971, followed by a move to another Australian team, Hakoah as coach in October 1971, and by a spell with Melbourne club Wilhelmina. During the short period back in his native Scotland with Greenock Morton, he doubled up as a scout for Revie, and recommended tough young striker Joe Jordan, among others. Jordan went on to become a respected and feared striker with both Leeds and Scotland. He then had a spell with Shamrock Rovers, followed by Oldham Athletic, as player-coach in September 1972 and then assistant Manager in January 1973. He was Manager of Huddersfield Town from July 1974 to September 1975, Youth Coach at Leeds in 1976, and then joined Hull City, where he was Coach in July 1977 and Manager from October 1977 to February 1978. He then coached Blackpool from March to May 1978, was Barnsley’s Youth Coach in 1980, before being Manager from 1984 to June 1985. He has always been held in affection at Elland Road and shared a Testimonial with John Charles in April 1988, when Collins was Managing Northern Counties East League side Guiseley.