Sam Collins (footballer, born 1977)

Sam Collins

Collins as manager of York City in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Sam Jason Collins[1]
Date of birth	(1977-06-05) 5 June 1977 (age 47)[2]
Place of birth	Pontefract, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
000–1994	Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1999	Huddersfield Town	37	(0)
1999–2002	Bury	82	(2)
2002–2006	Port Vale	135	(11)
2005–2006	→ Hull City (loan)	10	(0)
2006–2008	Hull City	13	(0)
2007	→ Swindon Town (loan)	4	(0)
2008–2015	Hartlepool United	244	(6)
Total		525	(19)
Managerial career
2014	Hartlepool United (caretaker)
2014	Hartlepool United (caretaker)
2017	Hartlepool United (caretaker)
2018–2019	York City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sam Jason Collins (born 5 June 1977) is an English professional football manager and former player who is the lead youth development youth coach at Mansfield Town. He played as a centre back in the Football League for Huddersfield Town, Bury, Port Vale, Hull City, Swindon Town and Hartlepool United. He managed in the Football League with Hartlepool United.

Collins started his career with Huddersfield Town in 1994 before he signed for Bury in 1999. After three years, he moved on to Port Vale, where he established himself as captain. He was named the club's Player of the Year at the end of the 2002–03 season. Collins' performances earned him a move to Hull City in 2006, though knee injuries blighted his time at the club. Loaned to Swindon Town for a brief spell in 2007; the following year, he signed permanently with Hartlepool United.

Collins took on a coaching role with Hartlepool in 2014 and had three spells as caretaker manager before leaving the club in 2017. He spent a year as a coach at Bradford City before becoming youth-team manager at York City. He took over as manager in August 2018, initially as caretaker manager, before leaving in January 2019. He has since coached at Barnsley and Mansfield Town.