Collins has found his light at end of tunnel
By JONATHAN HOLLOWAY
HE has gone from life playing in England’s League One with sheffield United to a football manager in the sunshine state of Florida in little over two years. For Neill Collins, it is a plan that has — quickly — come together.
It would be wrong, of course, to assume that most modernday footballers are firmly in control of their own destiny. Most don’t know what is waiting around the corner.
Collins, however, always knew the path he wanted to pursue as his career progressed and even knew where he wanted it to take him.
having experienced the very essence of a journeyman’s career — ten clubs over a 14-year spell after starting off at Queen’s Park — he signed for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in March 2016.
‘It was a place I had always wanted to live, round about the Tampa area,’ revealed the 34-year-old, who was in his second spell at Bramall Lane when the opportunity arose. ‘I had been coming on holiday for 20-odd years and everything just fell into place.
‘I knew that, if I didn’t make the move at 32, I could miss the boat because clubs over here are really looking for younger players and it was something I wanted to do for my family.’
although coaching was something he felt he was always destined for, the whirlwind nature of how his first management role came about surprised even him.
The start of the 2018 season under head coach stuart Campbell saw the Rowdies lose four of their five away games and defeat to fourth-tier side Jacksonville armada in the Us Open Cup three weeks ago proved to be his final game in charge.
Less than 24 hours later, Collins was unveiled as the Rowdies’ new head coach.
his appointment also marked the end of his playing career, which had included spells at Dumbarton, sunderland, Wolves and Leeds.
‘I’ve not really accepted the fact that I’ve hung the boots up yet, but it was a dream opportunity for me,’ added Collins. ‘I could wait another ten years and might never get that chance, so I felt I had to grasp it.’ his readiness to take on such a big role at a relatively young age is thanks in no small part to his forward thinking and preparation for this step throughout his career. having already attained his UEFa a licence, Collins has long harboured coaching ambitions. ‘someone once told me I was the coach who happened to play,’ he admitted.
‘I always like to be organised and prepared, so that when an opportunity arises I’m in a position to accept it. That’s what has happened here.
‘some players go into coaching because they think it’s the only route to them having a job. I’m not one of those. I’ve got a passion for it.
‘I’m really looking forward to the task ahead and I’m as prepared as I possibly could be for a 34-year-old.’
spending years travelling to away games on a bus for a few hours is a bit different to flying several hours to away games, sometimes crossing time zones for Collins. Yet the logistical side of football is not the only difference.
The Rowdies currently play in the second tier, the UsL, which is made up of 33 teams divided into two conferences; east and west. Many of the teams are affiliated to MLs clubs, giving their young talent a platform to play competitive football against professional players of all ages and experience.
The result of having a Toronto FC 2, for instance, current MLs champions Toronto FC’s UsL affiliate, is some low attendances. Tampa Bay’s recent win over Toronto FC 2 in Canada was played out in front of just 141 fans, while the Rowdies enjoy an average home crowd of almost 6,000.
however, Collins defended a set-up which some of scotland’s bigger clubs would like to bring in, insisting: ‘They have established a really good second tier. It has given these clubs a chance to give players proper football, so I think for the good of the game it’s great. The game over here is going the right way and will only get better.’
Tampa’s club captain is former England star Joe Cole. and the growing global interest in the game in america has coincided with a marked improvement in the standard.
‘From the time I got off the plane to now, it has improved drastically,’ said Collins. ‘It’s not for a 34-year-old who has played a few games in Europe — you need to be ready to come here to play. It’s serious stuff.’
In typical american style, the games are seen as a day out, with clubs continually coming up with new ideas and ways of attracting families.
With the Rowdies based an hour away from Disneyworld and other tourist hot spots, many visitors to the area make a point of taking in a match to satisfy their football fix.
‘It’s a great day out for the fans, great for the family, and a great setting, so it’s great fun and people who come here on holiday come to the games and really enjoy it,’ said Collins.
his time at the helm, so far, has been successful. a 2-2 draw with, at the time, undefeated Pittsburgh Riverhounds has been followed up with a 4-2 victory in Toronto, a goalless draw at home to atlanta United 2 and a 1-1 draw with MLs-bound Nashville. In his first-ever post-match interview as a head coach following that draw with Pittsburgh, Collins said: ‘My job now is to give these players no excuses.’
and so far, he hasn’t.