Clubs played for: Blackpool, Southampton, Portsmouth, Gillingham, Colchester United, Exeter City, Farnborough Town, Crediton United, Elmore (1980-1996)
Born: 1965
Birthplace: Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland
Position: Midfielder
Biography: Small in size but mighty in stature, Eamonn Collins became the youngest player to ever appear in a professional English match. He turned out at 14 years 323 days old for Blackpool. Alan Ball was the seaside club’s player-manager at the time, but it didn’t work out and Ball returned to Southampton. Collins, not yet 16, followed him after only that solitary appearance for the Tangerines. He only played one further game for Saints before he moved along the coast to Portsmouth - again under Ball. He would go on to play for the World Cup winner at two other clubs in Colchester and Exeter City before retiring. Collins went on to become a manager at lower and non league level and is now a players' agent based in Dublin. His mentor Ball described Collins as “diminutive”, he never grew but had a shrewd football brain and never let me down.”
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