The thing about Bobby Collins is that he was the signing at Everton that heralded the 'modern 'era ..a versatile player in his position and one who was the fulcrum of everything we did ...not particularly quick but an amazing positional sense and game reading talent(Ball was similar in this respect). A lot of his time was spent in the centre circle controlling the game(something the late period Rooney did, but not quite as well) At the time, I would say that peak Collins was bordering on genuine World Class. Collins could be the fox in the box when needed, and I remember one lovely back heeled goal at the Park End. Unlike Young, Collins could mix it with the hard defenders and had a touch of snide about him. One of the absolute key signings in the history of Everton.
Bobby Collins ahead of Scotland's clash with England at Wembley in 1965
Bobby Collins stood just five feet four inches in his stockinged feet – but such was his enormous influence on the football teams he graced he was dubbed the ‘Pocket Napoleon.’
Bought by
Everton FC for £23,500 in September 1958, he enjoyed four inspirational seasons at Goodison before Harry Catterick made a rare transfer blunder.
With Collins then 31, and Catterick of the belief that the fiery playmaker’s talents were on the wane, he sold him to Leeds United for £30,000.
He would make a similar mistake 10 years later with a star of similar influence, the talismanic Alan Ball.
Don Revie believed Collins could be the centre point of his emerging Leeds team, while Bill Shankly put in a last minute bid to try and lure him to Anfield.
Six months later Shankly tried again, but by this time Revie was drooling over the qualities of a man he labelled “my teacher on the pitch. Far from finished, Collins-
was still improving.
A portrait of Bobby Collins during his days playing inside-left for Everton FC
He served the Yorkshiremen for five years, earned a Scotland recall and was voted Footballer of the Year in 1965.
He continued to play professionally until the age of 42, ending his career with Oldham Athletic, then after spells as manager of Huddersfield, Hull City and Barnsley he pulled on his boots again and continued to play – vigorously – at amateur level into his 60s.
But his four inspirational years at Everton earned him the undying affection of Evertonians.
The Toffees, rudderless after the sacking of manager Ian Buchan, had lost six games in a row before Collins signed from Celtic.
On his debut he inspired Everton to a 3-1 defeat of Manchester City and The Football ECHO prophetically declared: “First appearances suggest that Collins will be worth every penny of his transfer fee and although one man may not be the complete answer to Everton’s troubles, he can go a great part of the way to restoring Everton’s glamour.” He did.
After 10 goals in his debut season, he top scored the following campaign and by the early 60s had helped propel Johnny Carey’s emerging side up to fifth and then fourth place finishes.
Collins fired a hat-trick in Carey’s final match as manager, a 5-1 drubbing of Cardiff City, but the incoming boss had his own ideas of which direction he wanted to take Everton.
Dennis Stevens was signed less than 12 months later to replace Collins, who remained typically modest about his talents.
“I couldn’t have been that good,” he joked “because they won the League the next season!”
Everton did lift the League title, but Bobby Collins was that good.
And he is still very fondly remembered at Goodison Park.
Bobby Collins February 16th 1931 – January 13 2014, aged 82.
