Francis Collin

{{For|the former President of the National Socialist Party of America|Frank Collin}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Frannie Collin

| image =

| fullname = Francis John Patrick Collin{{cite web |title=List of players under written contract registered between 01/07/2016 and 31/07/2016 |url=https://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/player-registration---july-2016.ashx |publisher=The Football Association |format=PDF |page=33 |accessdate=11 November 2016}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1987|4|20}}

| birth_place = Chatham, England

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Faversham Town

| years1 = 2005–2007

| years2 = 2007–2010

| years3 = 2010–2013

| clubs1 = Gillingham

| clubs2 = Dover Athletic

| clubs3 = Tonbridge Angels

| caps1 = 9

| goals1 = 1

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

|years4 = 2013–2016

|clubs4 = Maidstone United

|caps4 =

|goals4 =

|years5 =2016 |clubs5=Leatherhead |caps5= |goals5=

|years6 =2016–2017 |clubs6=Hastings United |caps6= |goals6=

|years7 =2017–2019 |clubs7=Margate |caps7= |goals7=

|years8=2019–2021 |clubs8= Hythe Town |caps8= |goals8=

|years9 =2022 |clubs9= Ashford United |caps9= 18 |goals9=3

|years10 = 2022–2024

|clubs10 = Hythe Town

|caps10 = 66

|goals10 = 14

|years11 = 2024–

|clubs11 = Faversham Town

|caps11 =

|goals11 =

| club-update = 14:27, 3 June 2024 (UTC)

}}

Francis John Patrick Collin (born 20 April 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Faversham Town.

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,{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=43121|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830202036/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=43121|url-status=usurped|archive-date=30 August 2012|title=Two ex-Gills for Hessenthaler|date=25 June 2007|publisher=NonLeague Daily|accessdate=2008-09-23}} and signed a new one-year contract in May 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=49886|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830202257/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=49886|url-status=usurped|archive-date=30 August 2012|title=New deal for Collin|date=9 May 2008|publisher=NonLeague Daily|accessdate=2008-09-23}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/sport/collin-makes-ashford-move-260266/|title=Ashford United sign former Maidstone and Tonbridge striker Frannie Collin from Hythe Town|date=7 January 2022|publisher=Kent Online|accessdate=15 February 2022|first=Matthew|last=Panting}}

In June 2022, Collin returned to Hythe Town in the role of player-coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.isthmian.co.uk/cannons-bring-in-brickies-striker-70943|title=Cannons bring in Brickies striker...|website=www.isthmian.co.uk|date=6 June 2022|accessdate=18 June 2022}}

In June 2024, Collin joined Southern Counties East Premier Division side Faversham Town.{{cite tweet|number=1797591562815504633|title=Town are excited to welcome @10_frannie, previously with Maidstone, Ashford, and Hythe, to the team. Frannie knows manager, Tommy Warrilow well and will be a great asset for us in the 2024/25 season as we aim for promotion. 🦁🦁🦁⚪️⚫️|user=FavershamTownFC|author-link=Faversham Town F.C.|date=3 June 2024|accessdate=3 June 2024}}

References

External links

{{Soccerbase}}
[http://doverathletic.com/index.php?p=showprofile&id=147&c=ft Dover Athletic profile]
[http://www.nutsandboltsarchive.co.uk/player-Profile.php?ID=984 Ashford United profile (Nuts and Bolts Archive)]

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Chatham, Kent

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Gillingham F.C. players

Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players

Category:Tonbridge Angels F.C. players

Category:Maidstone United F.C. players

Category:Leatherhead F.C. players

Category:Hastings United F.C. players

Category:Margate F.C. players