Frank Collins
Encyclopedia
Francis J. Collins also known as Frank Collins, was an Irish
footballer
who briefly played as goalkeeper for Celtic
during the 1920s. Collins was a dual internationalist
and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI
and the FAI XI. He was born in Dublin, Ireland
.
while playing for Ireland Juniors
. In May 1921 he joined Celtic in time for an end-of-season match in Paris
against Cercle Athlétique. The following season Collins provided cover for regular goalkeeper Charlie Shaw
, making his Scottish League
debut in a 4-0 win against Dumbarton
on the September 6, 1921. At the end of the season however, Celtic made Collins available for transfer, and he returned to Jacobs to play in the newly formed League of Ireland
. While with Jacobs, Collins also represented the League of Ireland XI
. He remained with the Dublin club until they left the League of Ireland in 1932.
was represented by a single team, selected by the Belfast
-based Irish Football Association
. However during the 1920s, Ireland was partitioned
into Northern Ireland
and the Irish Free State
. Amid these political upheavals, a rival association, the Football Association of Ireland
, emerged in Dublin and from 1924 organised their own national team. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Collins played for both teams – the IFA XI
and the FAI XI.
at both junior and senior levels. On March 12, 1921, while still playing for Jacobs, he played for the first IFA junior team to beat Scotland Juniors
at home.
He kept a clean-sheet in a 1-0 win at Celtic Park
and impressed the host club. Collins made his one and only appearance for the senior IFA XI while playing for Celtic
. Despite his lack of first-team action, Collins was selected for the match on March 4, 1922 with Scotland
. This time, however, the IFA XI lost 2-1 in a game also played at Celtic Park. His team mates that day included, among others, Mick O'Brien and Bill Lacey.
in 3-1 win at Dalymount Park
. His team mates that day included, among others, Ed Brookes
, Paddy Duncan
, Tommy Muldoon
, Charlie Dowdall
and Johnny Murray
.
Collins had to wait nearly four years before making his second appearance for the FAI XI. On April 23, 1927 he played against Italy B
at Lansdowne Road
. His team mates that day included Mick O'Brien and Bill Lacey, both of whom had previously played with him for the IFA XI. The FAI XI lost the friendly 2-1 and Collins was blamed for conceding a soft second goal, allowing a poorly hit shot from 20 yards to slip under his body. However, a colleague later claimed that a war wound, which meant Collins was slow to get down on his right side, may have been to blame.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who briefly played as goalkeeper for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
during the 1920s. Collins was a dual internationalist
Dual Irish international footballers
Dual Irish international footballers are a group of Irish international footballers who, between 1908 and March 1950, played for the international teams selected by both the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland...
and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
and the FAI XI. He was born in Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
Club career
Collins first came to prominence while playing junior football with Jacobs and was subsequently spotted by CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
while playing for Ireland Juniors
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
. In May 1921 he joined Celtic in time for an end-of-season match in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
against Cercle Athlétique. The following season Collins provided cover for regular goalkeeper Charlie Shaw
Charlie Shaw
Charlie Shaw was a footballer who mainly played for Celtic F.C.. He was their goalkeeper and team captain for several years in the 1920s. He was succeeded as no. 1 goalkeeper by Peter Shevlin. Although he was never capped by Scotland, he represented the Scottish Football League three times in...
, making his Scottish League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
debut in a 4-0 win against Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
on the September 6, 1921. At the end of the season however, Celtic made Collins available for transfer, and he returned to Jacobs to play in the newly formed League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. While with Jacobs, Collins also represented the League of Ireland XI
League of Ireland XI
The League of Ireland XI, known as of 2010 as the Airtricity League XI for sponsorship reasons, is the representative select team for the League of Ireland which operates in the Republic of Ireland.The select first played the Scottish League XI in 1938....
. He remained with the Dublin club until they left the League of Ireland in 1932.
Irish international
When Collins began his international career in 1922, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
was represented by a single team, selected by the Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
-based Irish Football Association
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
. However during the 1920s, Ireland was partitioned
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
into Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. Amid these political upheavals, a rival association, the Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
, emerged in Dublin and from 1924 organised their own national team. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Collins played for both teams – the IFA XI
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
and the FAI XI.
IFA XI
Collins represented the IFA XIIreland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
at both junior and senior levels. On March 12, 1921, while still playing for Jacobs, he played for the first IFA junior team to beat Scotland Juniors
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at home.
He kept a clean-sheet in a 1-0 win at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
and impressed the host club. Collins made his one and only appearance for the senior IFA XI while playing for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Despite his lack of first-team action, Collins was selected for the match on March 4, 1922 with Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. This time, however, the IFA XI lost 2-1 in a game also played at Celtic Park. His team mates that day included, among others, Mick O'Brien and Bill Lacey.
FAI XI
After returning to Jacobs, Collins also played twice for the FAI XI. On June 14, 1924 he kept goal against the United StatesUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 3-1 win at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
. His team mates that day included, among others, Ed Brookes
Ed Brookes
Edward A. Brooks , also known as Ed Brooks or Ned Brooks, was an Irish footballer who played as centre-forward or inside-left for, among others, Shelbourne, Bohemians, Stockport County and Athlone Town...
, Paddy Duncan
Paddy Duncan
Paddy Duncan was an Irish footballer. At the 1924 Olympics Games he scored the Irish Free State’s first ever goal in a senior international.-Club career:During his career Duncan was known by the nickname Dirty Duncan...
, Tommy Muldoon
Tommy Muldoon
Thomas Patrick Muldoon was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Athlone Town and Aston Villa. As an international he also played for the Irish Free State and represented them at the 1924 Olympics Games....
, Charlie Dowdall
Charlie Dowdall
Charlie Dowdall was an Irish footballer. He played for several clubs in both the League of Ireland and the English League and was also capped at international level by the Irish Free State...
and Johnny Murray
Johnny Murray
For the voice actor, see Johnny Murray Johnny Murray was an Irish soccer player during the 1920s.Murray was a skilful winger who played for Ormeau, Blue Crusaders, Bohemians and Drumcondra F.C.....
.
Collins had to wait nearly four years before making his second appearance for the FAI XI. On April 23, 1927 he played against Italy B
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
. His team mates that day included Mick O'Brien and Bill Lacey, both of whom had previously played with him for the IFA XI. The FAI XI lost the friendly 2-1 and Collins was blamed for conceding a soft second goal, allowing a poorly hit shot from 20 yards to slip under his body. However, a colleague later claimed that a war wound, which meant Collins was slow to get down on his right side, may have been to blame.