NO MORE SHIFTS AT MCDONALD’S ...& I’M LOVIN’ IT
It’s Happy Meals all round if former fast food server Aaron serves up another promotion
BY
FOOTBALLERS are used to tough upbringings but not many work at Mcdonald’s to supplement their income.
That’s what Bolton’s Aaron Collins did when Newport did not offer him a professional contract at 16.
He juggled training and playing with working the tills at Mcdonald’s before then Newport boss Justin Edinburgh handed him professional terms.
Collins jokes he needed to pay for petrol for his moped but he showed a desire which has carried him to today’s League One play-off final against Oxford at Wembley.
“I had to bring money in somehow,” said the Welshman. “I had a moped at the time and I had to pay petrol, otherwise I couldn’t get to training.
“So I went out and got a job at Mcdonald’s, I was working there for three months.
“I was going in and training with the scholars and I remember when they had a game the next day, it was a Friday.
“I had a six-hour shift starting at 4.30pm and after an hour’s training, I had to say to the manager I had to go because I’ve got work, even though we had a game the next day.
“I was still one of the best and the coach pushed me towards the first team. Justin Edinburgh gave me a professional contract and I was able to quit Mcdonald’s.”
Collins, 26, had spells with Maidstone and Morecambe, before the striker really took off at Bristol Rovers three years ago. His crowning glory was beating Scunthorpe 7-0 on the final day in 2022 to pip Northampton to automatic promotion to League One on goals scored.
Collins scored twice and said: “We went in at halftime 2-0 up, but Northampton were 3-1 up so we still had to score five goals.
“But the mindset was we would keep going and by the 75th minute, we got the five goals and we were 7-0 up. You remember every promotion but the way we did it, I don’t think it’ll ever be topped.
“But if we do it against Oxford at Wembley, I know it’s probably going to be as sweet.”
Collins became Bolton’s biggest signing since Jay Spearing in 2013 when they paid Rovers £750,000 for him in February and he has repaid them with nine goals in his last 14 games.
His stunner against Reading has been voted April’s League One Goal of the Month and he said: “I want to play as high as I can and prove myself. Hopefully that will come with Bolton.”