Danny Collins

Danny Collins (born August 6 1980 in Chester, England) is a Welsh Football (soccer) currently playing for Sunderland A.F.C. and the Wales national football team as a defender.

Club career

Early career

He began his career in the Cymru Alliance with local sides Mold Alexandra F.C. and Buckley Town F.C.. After having trials with Wrexham F.C. and Tranmere Rovers F.C., he signed for Chester City F.C. in December 2001, who were playing in the Conference National. Before turning professional, Collins played cricket for Wales Minor Counties Cricket Club during the football close season . In the 1999 season, he played two matches, taking two wickets at an average of 37.50 and scoring 14 runs at an average of 7.00 .

Chester

In just under three years he made over 70 appearances for Chester. It was after a successful spell on loan at Vauxhall Motors F.C. that his career started to take off, having been converted from an unconvincing forward into a composed central defender. His time at Vauxhalls included helping them surprisingly knock Queens Park Rangers F.C. out of the FA Cup in November 2002. The following season saw Collins miss just one game as Chester won the Nationwide Conference title and returned to the Football League after a four-year absence.

Although Chester had a mixed start to the 2004-05 in English football season, Collins continued to impress and a stoppage time goal against Macclesfield Town F.C. gave Chester their first win of the season on September 4 2004.

Sunderland

A month later he joined Sunderland A.F.C. in a six-figure transfer amid interest from other clubs, and he ended the season with another championship medal and full Welsh caps to his name. He was initially used as a backup player to defenders Gary Breen, Stephen Caldwell and George McCartney, in his first season at the club, but still managed to make 14 appearances.

Following promotion to the Premier League for the FA Premier League 2005-06 season, Sunderland signed several additional players and Collins found himself out of the first team squad early in the season. He later worked his way into the side but Sunderland endured a nightmare campaign and were comfortably relegated.

Collins started the 2006-07 in English football season as first choice defender at Sunderland, but was dropped four games into the season after being booed by a section of the crowd following a mistake in the previous game against Plymouth Argyle F.C.. Collins later regained his place following the arrival of manager Roy Keane and won yet another championship medal come the end of the season.

On 15 December Collins scored a late last minute goal against Aston Villa which would have led to the Black Cats victory but referee Steve Bennett denied the goal for a foul on Scott Carson, the foul was not apparent and the goal should have stood. Manager Roy Keane was very angry at the decision and said that Bennett had cheated Sunderland and went as far as to say "the players deserve better!".

On 5 April 2008, Collins scored Sunderland's first goal in their 3-1 over Fulham at Craven Cottage despite again having a goal disallowed earlier in the game. After a solid season in the premiership he was awarded the 2008 Sunderland A.F.C. player of the year.

Honours

- Football League Championship Champions: 2004-05 in English football, 2006-07 in English football, Sunderland A.F.C.
- Nationwide Conference Champions: 2003-04 in English football, Chester City F.C.