Eamonn Collins

Playing career

Blackpool Collins was born at Inchicore, Dublin, close to Richmond Park, the home of St Patrick's Athletic.

He signed apprenticeship forms with Blackpool in April 1980 and became a member of the club's youth team, playing in the under-18 league. According to Collins, on Saturday, 6 September 1980, he had played against the Manchester United youth team and scored twice.

In the match, Collins came on as a second-half substitute for Dave Hockaday and, at the age of 14 years and 323 days, became the youngest player to have appeared in a professional match in England. The match itself was won 2–1, with Kilmarnock winning the second leg 4–2, to go through to the next round on aggregate. Collins was surpassed as the UK's youngest ever footballer in September 2022 by 13-year-old Christopher Atherton of Glenavon, Northern Ireland, though Collins retains the record in England.

Collins only made the one appearance for Blackpool, and in December 1981, he moved to Southampton, where Alan Ball was now playing.

Southampton Collins spent his first three years at Southampton playing either for the Youth team or for the reserves, and did not make his first-team debut until 29 September 1984, when he played in a 1–1 draw with Queens Park Rangers.

He continued to play regularly for the reserves, but being short (5 ft 6 in – 1.68 m) and lightweight (8 st 3 lb – 52.2 kg), he lacked the muscle to force himself into the first team.

Whilst with the Saints, Collins was called up to join the Republic of Ireland squad for the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship held in the Soviet Union from August to September 1985. The Irish lost all three Round One matches, finishing bottom of their group.

Portsmouth In May 1986, Collins moved to Portsmouth where Alan Ball was now manager. He made five league and four cup appearances during Portsmouth's 1986–87 promotion campaign before being loaned out, firstly to Exeter City in November 1987, where he made nine league appearances, and then to Gillingham in November 1988, where he made one appearance in the Football League Trophy.

Colchester United Collins left Portsmouth in April 1989, moving on to Colchester United to be re-united with Alan Ball, who was then the assistant to Jock Wallace. Although Ball left Colchester in October 1989, Collins remained with the Layer Road club for three years, during which they were relegated to the Conference in 1990, before taking the Conference title, as well as winning the FA Trophy in 1992.

Exeter City In July 1992, Collins was once again re-united with Ball when he returned to Exeter City. After eleven league appearances (plus four in various cup competitions), and a loan spell with Farnborough Town, Collins left Exeter in the summer of 1993 and dropped down to Non-League football.

Non-league football Collins returned to Devon where he spent the early part of the 1993–94 season with Crediton United, before moving to join Elmore in February 1994. He remained with the Tiverton based club until December 1996. signing a two-year contract with the Richmond Park outfit.

It was the dream job for Collins, the son of a former St. Patrick's chairman and brother of two former players.

However, despite a League of Ireland Cup win and an FAI Cup final appearance, after just over a year in charge, Collins quit St Patrick's in May 2004 with the club second from bottom in the League of Ireland Premier Division. On his departure, chairman Andy O'Callaghan expressed his hope that Collins would change his mind, saying; "We've left the door open for Eamonn to come back. People are talking to him and praying he will change his mind."

In the event, Collins joined rivals Shelbourne as assistant to Pat Fenlon on 31 May 2004. Collins left Shelbourne following Fenlon's resignation in December 2006.

Soon after leaving Shelbourne, Collins was established as a player's agent. and is now on FIFA's list of registered agents. Amongst his clients is his nephew Nathan Collins and Keith Fahey, who was transferred from St Patrick's to Birmingham City in January 2009.

His son Joe and nephew Michael both played for the U17 Republic of Ireland national football team.

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour In July 2024, Collins was publicly alleged to have made sexual advances to women players while a coach.

He was arrested on 25 July 2026 as part of a Garda National Protective Services Bureau investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse involving a national sporting organisation in the 1990s.

Honours Colchester United Conference National: 1991-92 FA Trophy: 1992

St. Patrick's Athletic League of Ireland Cup: 2003