Francis Collin

Francis John Patrick Collin (born 20 April 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Hythe Town where he holds the role of player-coach.

Not to be confused with Francis Collins.
For the former President of the National Socialist Party of America, see Frank Collin.

Frannie Collin
Personal information
Full name Francis John Patrick Collin[1]
Date of birth (1987-04-20) 20 April 1987
Place of birth Chatham, England
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Hythe Town (player-coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Gillingham 9 (1)
2007–2010 Dover Athletic
2010–2013 Tonbridge Angels
2013–2016 Maidstone United
2016 Leatherhead
2016–2017 Hastings United
2017–2019 Margate
2019–2021 Hythe Town
2022 Ashford United 18 (3)
2022– Hythe Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:25, 15 February 2022 (UTC)

Career

Collin is a former England Schoolboy under 18 international. After having trials with various clubs during his youth, including Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, he eventually signed professionally for Gillingham. He made his debut for the first team with a goal in Gillingham's 2–0 win over Crawley Town in the Football League Trophy first round. In October 2005 he signed his first professional contract with the club and scored his first league goal against Hartlepool United in a 3–1 defeat on 1 November 2005.

Collin found first team opportunities at Gillingham limited and most of his appearances came as a substitute. Collin's spell at Priestfield was ended when Gillingham released him in May 2007. He was subsequently signed by former Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler at Dover Athletic in June 2007,[2] and signed a new one-year contract in May 2008.[3] The following season saw Dover Athletic clinch the Isthmian League Premier Division title with the help of Collin's 21 goals and he extended his stay at Dover in May 2009 by signing another contract with the Kent club. He left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season to join Tonbridge Angels.

In his first season with Tonbridge, Collin bagged 21 goals in all competitions from 43 appearances, with 16 coming from 40 appearances in the league. He was named Tonbridge Angels player of the year for the 2011–12 season and won the Golden Boot for the Conference South in the same season with 29 league goals.

In the 2013 close-season, Collin announced he was leaving Tonbridge Angels after three years at the club. After much speculation, which saw the player linked with Conference South clubs Sutton United, Whitehawk and Dover Athletic, Collin signed for Maidstone United, who had just been promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division.

On 7 January 2022, he signed for Isthmian League South East Division side Ashford United, having been without a club for over a month following his departure as player/coach for divisional rivals Hythe Town.[4]

In June 2022, Collin returned to Hythe Town in the role of player-coach.[5]

References
  1. "List of players under written contract registered between 01/07/2016 and 31/07/2016" (PDF). The Football Association. p. 33. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  2. "Two ex-Gills for Hessenthaler". NonLeague Daily. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  3. "New deal for Collin". NonLeague Daily. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  4. Panting, Matthew (7 January 2022). "Ashford United sign former Maidstone and Tonbridge striker Frannie Collin from Hythe Town". Kent Online. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  5. "Cannons bring in Brickies striker..." www.isthmian.co.uk. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
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