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Aaron Collins (footballer)

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Aaron Collins
Collins at Bristol Rovers in 2022
Personal information
Full name Aaron Graham John Collins[1]
Date of birth (1997-05-27) 27 May 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Newport, Wales
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
 Bolton Wanderers
Number 19
Youth career
0000–2014 Newport County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Newport County 20 (2)
2015 → Merthyr Town (loan) 1 (0)
2016–2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
2016–2017 → Notts County (loan) 18 (2)
2017 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2 (1)
2017 → Maidstone United (loan) 4 (1)
2018 → Newport County (loan) 10 (0)
2018–2019 → Colchester United (loan) 7 (0)
2019 Morecambe 15 (8)
2019–2021 Forest Green Rovers 72 (14)
2021–2024 Bristol Rovers 118 (35)
2024– Bolton Wanderers 29 (9)
International career‡
2015 Wales U19 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:35, 22 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:10, 23 January 2024 (UTC)

Aaron Graham John Collins (born 27 May 1997) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers.

Club career

[edit]

Newport County

[edit]

Collins was a part of the Bristol Rovers academy before joining the Newport County academy. In 2014, he nearly left the Newport academy after not being offered a scholarship. Unable to afford the costs of travelling each day, Collins took a job in McDonald's in Malpas. However, academy coach Michael Flynn later intervened and Collins was offered his first professional contract with the club soon after. Then Newport manager Jimmy Dack described Collins as "a young George Boyd".[2]

Collins was handed his first place in a matchday squad as an unused substitute for Newport aged 17 in a League Two match versus Shrewsbury Town on 20 September 2014.[3] Three days later, Collins made his senior debut in a Football League Trophy first-round match against Swindon Town as an 11th minute replacement for Michael Flynn.[4] However, his debut lasted just 34 minutes when the ball hit him in the face and he too had to be substituted. Swindon won the game 2–1.[5]

In January 2015, Collins joined Merthyr Town on loan, making his only appearance as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Clevedon Town.[6] Collins made his Football League debut on 18 April as a second-half substitute in a League Two match versus Dagenham & Redbridge. He scored his first competitive goal on 15 August in a league match versus Stevenage during a 2–2 draw.[7] In the final week of the transfer window in August 2015, Championship side Burnley submitted two bids for Collins, the last being £65,000 plus potential future add-ons, both of which were rejected by Newport.[8]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

[edit]

On 22 January 2016, Collins signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[9] On 31 August, Collins joined Notts County on loan until 7 January 2017. He scored a last minute equaliser on his debut against Grimsby Town to tie the game at 2–2.[10] On 23 March, Collins joined Tranmere Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 season.[11] He made his debut for the club as a substitute during a 9–0 victory over Solihull Moors, scoring his side's final goal of the game.[12]

On 29 November 2017, Collins joined Maidstone United on a one-month loan deal[13] and on 3 January 2018, he re-joined Newport on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[14] On 7 June, Collins joined Colchester United on loan for the 2018–19 season.[15] He made his competitive debut on 4 August in Colchester's 0–0 draw with Notts County.[16] His loan was terminated by mutual consent on 2 January 2019 after scoring one goal in eleven appearances for the club.[17] In January, Collins' contract with Wolverhampton was terminated by mutual consent.[18]

Morecambe

[edit]

The following month on 9 February 2019, he signed for Morecambe until the end of the 2018–19 season.[19] Collins scored eight goals in 15 matches for Morecambe.

Forest Green Rovers

[edit]

Collins joined Forest Green Rovers on a two-year deal in June 2019.[20] Collins was offered a new contract by the club at the end of the 2020–21 season.[21]

Bristol Rovers

[edit]

On 25 June 2021, Collins agreed to join Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal following the expiration of his contract with Forest Green.[22] His debut came on 14 August in a 2–0 home defeat to Stevenage.[23] On 16 November, Collins scored his first goal for the club with an incredible strike from 25 yards to make it 3–3 in the 115th minute of an FA Cup first round replay with Oxford United.[24] It took until 7 December for Collins to open his league account for the club, a deflected strike in a 2–1 home defeat to Port Vale.[25] On 22 February 2022, he scored for the third match in a row to score his tenth goal of the season in all competitions, the second in a 2–0 win over Leyton Orient.[26] On 12 March, Collins scored a double as Rovers defeated Harrogate Town 3–0, taking his tally for the season to thirteen in all competitions, the best goalscoring season of his career.[27] On 30 April 2022, Collins scored a first career hat-trick, including a 95th-minute winner, as Rovers came from 3–1 down at Rochdale to get a vital 4–3 win to take Rovers' automatic promotion hopes to the last day of the season.[28] On 7 May 2022, Collins scored a double as Rovers thrashed bottom of the table Scunthorpe United 7–0, this result achieving the five-goal swing Rovers needed to overtake Northampton Town to claim the final automatic promotion spot on the final day of the season on a goals scored basis.[29]

On 29 July 2022, the eve of the beginning of the 2022–23 season, Collins signed a new two-year contract extension to his existing deal, keeping him at the club until 2025.[30] Collins marked his new contract by scoring the equaliser the following day as Rovers fell to a late 2–1 opening day defeat to Collins' former club and fellow promoted side Forest Green Rovers.[31] Collins was nominated for the August EFL League One Player of the Month award after scoring three goals and assisting an additional two in five matches across the month.[32] Three goals and three assists saw Collins again nominated for both the league's[33] and PFA Fans'[34] Player of the Month award for October, winning the former.[35] The day after winning the award, Collins reached the ten goal mark for the season with his side's second goal in a 2–2 draw with Fleetwood Town.[36] Following a 2–1 victory over Cheltenham Town on 1 January 2023, in which a goal and assist for Collins took his combined goals and assists total to 23 in 25 matches, manager Barton valued him at £5 million for the upcoming January transfer window.[37] In April 2023, he was named on a three-man shortlist for the League One Player of the Season, facing competition from Jonson Clarke-Harris and Barry Bannan.[38] At the EFL Awards Ceremony on 23 April, he took home the League One Player of the Season award,[39] also being named in the League One team of the season.[40] He followed this up with winning the Bristol Rovers Player of the Year award at the end of season awards, as well as the club's top goalscorer award.[41]

On 27 January 2024, Collins was omitted from the matchday squad as Rovers faced Oxford United with rumours surrounding his future at the club, amid reported interest from other clubs.[42] Manager Matt Taylor confirmed that it was the player's decision to not be selected.[43]

Bolton Wanderers

[edit]

On 1 February 2024, Collins signed for League One promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[44] Having had an initial bid reported to be in the region of £600,000 rejected,[45] the agreed fee was reported as £750,000.[46][47] Two days after joining the club, he made his debut from the bench in a 1–1 draw with Barnsley. Having been brought on in the sixty-third minute, he produced a sublime cross for Zac Ashworth to equalise with just his second touch of the ball, and almost won it for his new side late on.[48][49] On 1 April 2024, Collins scored a second career hat-trick in a 5–2 victory over Reading.[50] On 25 September 2024, Collins scored a consolation goal in a 5–1 EFL Cup third round away defeat to Arsenal.[51]

International career

[edit]

In April 2015, Collins was named in the Wales Under 19 squad for the match versus Germany on 18 April 2015 and was subsequently named in the starting line-up.[52]

Personal life

[edit]

Aaron is the elder brother of professional footballer Lewis Collins.[53] The brothers were on opposing sides for the first time on 18 May 2021 for the League Two play off first leg match at Rodney Parade in their home city of Newport, Wales. Aaron as a striker for Forest Green Rovers and Lewis as a striker for Newport County.[54] Newport won the match 2–0 with Lewis scoring the second goal.[55] Aaron scored in the second leg, a 4–3 win for Forest Green.[56]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 19 October 2024[57]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Newport County 2014–15[58] League Two 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
2015–16[59] League Two 18 2 2 0 1 0 1 1 22 3
total 20 2 2 0 1 0 2 1 25 3
Merthyr Town (loan) 2014–15 SL Division One South 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2015–16[59] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17[60] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017–18[61] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19[62] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 2016–17[60] — — — 2[a] 0 2 0
Notts County (loan) 2016–17[60] League Two 18 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 22 3
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2016–17[60] National League 2 1 0 0 — 0 0 2 1
Maidstone United (loan) 2017–18[61] National League 4 1 1 0 — 1[a] 0 6 1
Newport County (loan) 2017–18[61] League Two 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Colchester United (loan) 2018–19[62] League Two 7 0 0 0 1 0 3[a] 1 11 1
Morecambe 2018–19[62] League Two 15 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 8
Forest Green Rovers 2019–20[63] League Two 28 4 3 1 0 0 2[a] 0 33 5
2020–21[64] League Two 44 10 1 0 1 0 4[b] 1 50 11
Total 72 14 4 1 1 0 6 1 83 16
Bristol Rovers 2021–22[65] League Two 45 16 3 2 0 0 2[a] 0 50 18
2022–23[66] League One 46 16 2 0 1 0 4[a] 0 53 16
2023–24[67] League One 27 3 4 1 1 0 4[a] 1 36 5
Total 118 35 9 3 2 0 10 1 139 39
Bolton Wanderers 2023–24[67] League One 19 8 — — 3[c] 1 22 9
2024–25[68] League One 10 1 0 0 3 1 2[a] 1 15 3
Total 29 9 0 0 3 1 5 2 37 12
Career total 296 72 19 6 7 1 29 6 351 85
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Two appearances in EFL Trophy and two appearances; one goal in EFL League Two play-offs
  3. ^ Three appearances and one goal in League One play-offs

Honours

[edit]

Bristol Rovers

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  2. ^ "New deal for County youngster Aaron Collins". South Wales Argus. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  3. ^ "A star is born as Regan Poole shines on Football League debut". South Wales Argus.
  4. ^ Collins debut
  5. ^ "County 1 Swindon 2". South Wales Argus.
  6. ^ "Martyrs defeat Clevedon". Merthyr Town F.C. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Newport 2–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Manchester United swoop to sign Newport County starlet Regan Poole in deadline-day deal". WalesOnline. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Collins Arrives at Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 22 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Aaron Collins joins Notts". Notts County F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Aaron Collins: Tranmere Rovers sign Wolves forward on loan for rest of season". BBC Sport. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Tranmere Rovers 9–0 Solihull Moors". BBC Sport. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Wolves forward joins on loan". Maidstone United. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Aaron Collins returns to Newport County AFC on loan until the end of the Season". Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Colchester United sign Ethan Ross from West Brom and Aaron Collins from Wolves". BBC Sport. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Notts County 0–0 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  17. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (2 January 2019). "Colchester United loanee Aaron Collins returns to parent club Wolves". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Stevenson joins Colchester". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 30 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Morecambe: Aaron Collins joins League Two club after release by Wolves". BBC Sport. 9 February 2019.
  20. ^ "SIGNING Aaron Collins signs two-year-deal with Forest Green Rovers". Forest Green Rovers F.C. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Rovers announce released and retained list". www.fgr.co.uk. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Aaron Collins signs with the Gas!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Bristol Rovers 0–2 Stevenage: Chris Lines haunts former club". Sky Sports. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Bristol Rovers 4–3 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 16 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Bristol Rovers 1–2 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Leyton Orient 0–2 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Bristol Rovers 3–0 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. 12 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Rochdale 3–4 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Bristol Rovers 7–0 Scunthorpe United: Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Collins Signs New Deal!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Bristol Rovers 1–2 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  32. ^ "Sky Bet League One Player of the Month: August nominations". www.efl.com. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  33. ^ "Collins Nominated for Sky Bet League One Player of the Month Award for October". www.bristolrvers.co.uk. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Collins Up For Monthly Award!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  35. ^ a b "Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month: October winners". www.efl.com. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  36. ^ "Bristol Rovers 2–2 Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  37. ^ Kirwan, Chris (1 January 2023). "Aaron Collins worth £5million - Bristol Rovers boss Barton". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  38. ^ "EFL Awards 2023 shortlists revealed". www.efl.com. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Collins Named Player of the Season". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  40. ^ "EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed". www.efl.com. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  41. ^ a b "End of Season Awards 2022/23". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  42. ^ Hargraves, Daniel (27 January 2024). "Exclusive: Aaron Collins' Bristol Rovers future in doubt as Bolton and Wrexham pursue forward". Bristol Post. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  43. ^ Langstaff, Harry (27 January 2024). "Bristol Rovers boss comments on Aaron Collins speculation amid Bolton and Wrexham transfer interest". Bristol World. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  44. ^ "Wanderers Complete Collins' Coup". www.bwfc.co.uk. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  45. ^ Hargraves, Daniel (28 January 2024). "Exclusive: Bristol Rovers reject opening Aaron Collins bid as League One rivals lead race". Bristol Post. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  46. ^ Hargraves, Daniel (1 February 2024). "Aaron Collins closing in on Bristol Rovers exit after fee agreed with League One rivals". Bristol Post. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  47. ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers swoop to sign Bristol Rovers' Aaron Collins"
  48. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  49. ^ Iles, Marc (4 February 2024). "Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Barnsley - The Big Match Verdict". Bolton News. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  50. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 5–2 Reading". BBC Sport. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  51. ^ Anderson, Jess (25 September 2024). "Arsenal 5–1 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  52. ^ "INTERNATIONAL: Collins Called Up To Welsh U19s". newport-county.co.uk. Newport County. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  53. ^ "Lewis Collins – Midfielder – First Team – Newport County". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  54. ^ Collins brothers face each other
  55. ^ Newport beat Forest Green
  56. ^ League 2 playoff second leg
  57. ^ "Aaron Collins". Soccer Base. Centurycomm Limited. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  58. ^ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  59. ^ a b "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  60. ^ a b c d "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  61. ^ a b c "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  62. ^ a b c "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  63. ^ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  64. ^ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  65. ^ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  66. ^ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  67. ^ a b "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  68. ^ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  69. ^ "Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom takes Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  70. ^ "EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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