James Collins (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = James Collins


fullname = James Michael Collins
height = height|meter=1.88
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|8|23
cityofbirth = Newport
countryofbirth = Wales
currentclub = West Ham United
clubnumber = 19
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2000–2005
2005–
clubs = Cardiff City
West Ham United
caps(goals) = 66 (3)
33 (2)
nationalyears = 2001
2002
2002–2004
2004–
nationalteam = Wales U19
Wales U20
Wales U21
Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 03 (0)
02 (0)
08 (0)
24 (1)
pcupdate = 21:18, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 21:18, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

James Michael Collins (b. August 23 1983, Newport) is a professional footballer currently playing for West Ham United and a Welsh international.

Club career

Cardiff City

Collins joined Cardiff City as a trainee in August 2000 after playing local football in his native city of Newport. [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=23583 Soccerbase:James Collins] , Racing Post. Retrieved 19 June 2007.] He made his debut for Cardiff in an FA Cup match against Bristol Rovers in November 2000, which Cardiff won 5-1, and went on to make 86 appearances in all competitions for Cardiff, scoring six goals. He won the Welsh Young Player of the Year award in 2005. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4307482.stm "Gabbidon voted top Welsh player"] , BBC Sport, 4 October 2005. Retrieved 19 June 2007.]

West Ham United

Collins joined West Ham in July 2005, along with his centre-back partner at Cardiff, Danny Gabbidon, in a £3.5 million deal for the pair as Cardiff attempted cut their wage bill and raise money. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4642147.stm "Hammers swoop for defensive trio"] , BBC Sport, 5 July 2005. Retrieved 19 June 2007.]

Due to fitness problems as well as competition from more experienced players, Collins did not make his West Ham debut until the Carling Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday in September 2005, which West Ham won 4-2. He also made his first appearance on the bench for the Hammers but did not play in West Ham's 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the same month. He made his Premiership debut in October 2005 against Bolton Wanderers.

Due to injuries to new signing Matthew Upson and 2005/6 Hammer of the Year Daniel Gabbidon, Collins, affectionally known as 'Ginge', was given the chance to form a formidable centre back partnership with Anton Ferdinand towards the end of the 2006/7 season. Along with the excellent performance of Robert Green and the guidance of Lucas Neill, 'Ginge' was considered by Hammers supporters to be a major player in the improvement of the West Ham defence and their extraordinary success in beating the drop.

On the 28 Jan 2008 it was announced that Collins will be out for a year after suffering severe ligament damage in a West Ham reserve game against Portsmouth. [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3085013,00.html "Collins facing year on sidelines"] , Sky Sports News, 28 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.]

International career

Collins has 22 caps for Wales and is a regular in the first team alongside former Cardiff and now West Ham teammate Danny Gabbidon. He scored his first goal for Wales in a 3-1 defeat to Cyprus on 13 October, 2007. He also played for the under-21 team on several occasions and captained them in a match against Germany U21's [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4209793.stm "Collins named Wales U21 captain"] BBC Sport retrieved on 13 October, 2007]

Honours

With Cardiff City
*FAW Premier Cup: 2001-02
*Football League One play-off winners: 2002-03

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=23583|name=James Collins
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/c/collins_203533.stm James Collins profile] at bbc.co.uk