Raith Rovers: Neill Collins reveals how Mick McCarthy has been key man in his football career

Mick McCarthy has bossed Millwall, Ireland, Sunderland, Wolves, Ipswich Town, Apoel, Cardiff City and Blackpool (Pic by Ian Walton/Getty Images)Mick McCarthy has bossed Millwall, Ireland, Sunderland, Wolves, Ipswich Town, Apoel, Cardiff City and Blackpool (Pic by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Mick McCarthy has bossed Millwall, Ireland, Sunderland, Wolves, Ipswich Town, Apoel, Cardiff City and Blackpool (Pic by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
After his humble beginnings in professional football at Queen’s Park and Dumbarton, Neill Collins has outlined the subsequent importance of former Celtic star Mick McCarthy in shaping Collins’ playing career which then included spells at Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End, Leeds United, Sheffield United and Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Current Raith Rovers manager Collins, 41, was on the books of Dumbarton in 2004 when he was first snapped up by former Irish international centre-back McCarthy, then the manager of Sunderland.

Although McCarthy, 65, only gave Collins limited game time over the next two years while loaning him out to Hartlepool United, Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Barnsley-born boss later signed the Troon-born stopper again in 2007 for his next club Wolves.

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"Mick McCarthy was someone that had a big influence on my career,” former Tampa Bay Rowdies and Barnsley manager Collins told the Fife Free Press.

Neill Collins is pictured playing for Sheffield UnitedNeill Collins is pictured playing for Sheffield United
Neill Collins is pictured playing for Sheffield United

“He signed me for Sunderland from Dumbarton and then took me to Wolves.

"So I definitely learned a lot from him but you can't be a copycat, I think that doesn't work.

"I think you've got to be authentic to who you are and what you believe.

"I definitely share some of Mick's beliefs and values.

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"I think the best advice I got was about being myself and doing the things I believed in.

"I was very fortunate to play for so many good managers.

"Mick has probably been the most influential.

"When I became a manager I spoke to Mick for advice and he kept it pretty simple, telling me to just work as hard as I did as a player and bring those kind of values in.

"I think that was kind for him to say and good advice as well. Just work hard and be yourself.

"Maybe I was a similar style of player to Mick.

"I didn't see lots of him but I could imagine he was a pretty no nonsense centre-back.

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"I suppose in some ways, we both liked to defend the box, maybe not miles off. Our noses are pretty similar."

When asked about the secret of his longevity playing in the English leagues, during which time he scored 26 times for his various clubs between 2004 and 2016 despite playing in defence, Collins replied: "I think my ability in both boxes was probably why I was a part of these teams.

"I think I had a season at Wolves where I scored five winning goals so it was definitely something that I tried to bring, being a threat and getting on the end of things.

"I had a good knack of scoring quite a few late winners from corners.

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"One of the more enjoyable parts of being a defender was being able to get up and get a goal from a setpiece.

"I always planned to become a manager, even from a young age. Even from the age of 18 or 19, had I not been good enough to go into full-time football, I definitely saw myself trying to get into coaching in some way, shape or form.

"I definitely felt that was the next step.”

Raith are next in league action at home to Queen’s Park on Saturday, October 19.

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