Sammy Collins Explained

Sammy Collins
Fullname:Ronald Dudley Collins
Birth Date:13 January 1923
Birth Place:Bristol, England
Death Place:Bristol, England
Position:Striker
Years1:1944–1948
Years2:1948–1958
Clubs3:Gloucester City
Caps1:14
Goals1:2
Caps2:356
Goals2:204

Ronald Dudley "Sammy" Collins (13 January 1923 – 31 May 1998) was an English professional football player. He holds the record for most league goals scored by a Torquay United player.

Collins began his career as a right winger with Bristol City, for whom he signed in November 1944. On the resumption of the Football League after the war, he struggled to make an impact at Ashton Gate and, after 2 goals in 14 league games in June 1948 he left to join Torquay United. Over the next 10 years, Collins would score 204 league goals in 356 games for Torquay, a total that stands today as the highest number of league goals by any Torquay player. He also holds the record for most league goals in a season after he hit 40 in 1955–1956. In August 1956, he scored a penalty after only ten seconds of Torquay's game against Walsall. He was Torquay's leading goalscorer seven consecutive seasons and played a significant part in Torquay's emergence as one of the better sides in the Third Division (South). On leaving Torquay, he joined non-league side Gloucester City.

He later ran a newsagents on Forest Road near the Plainmoor Ground in Torquay, before returning to his native Bristol to live in retirement.

Collins died in hospital on 31 May 1998.