Collins Arthur “Pat” Image 1 Fulham 1906

Description

New Whittington, Derbyshire born wing half Arthur “Pat” Collins was with Leicester Old Boys from 1899 and joined Second Division Leicester Fosse in September 1901, making his Football League debut at Blackpool in March 1902. He soon established himself in Leicester’s team scoring 5 times in 96 appearances for The Fossils before a move to Southern League Fulham in May 1905. He won The Southern League Championship with The Cottagers in 1906 and 1907, and was still at Fulham when they joined The Football League in the summer of 1907, playing in their inaugural League fixture against Hull City in September 1907.

He had nine seasons in total at Fulham scoring 11 goals in 279 appearances before joining Norwich City in 1914. With the onset of the First World War he played wartime league football for Leicester Fosse between 1915 and his retirement in 1917.

NB This photograph was taken on 8th January 1906 before an Amateurs v Professionals England trial match played at Craven Cottage, Fulham, which the Professionals XI won 1-0.

Amateurs (white shirts): Back Row – PH Farnfield, JG Witherington, CD McIver, HA Nulton

Middle Row – SH Day, Vivian Woodward, Herbert Smith, SS Harris (captain)

Front Row – EGD Wright, TS Rowlandson, GC Vassall

Professionals (striped shirts): Back Row – Jimmy Ashcroft, Joe Walton, Archie Cross, Peter Chambers

Middle Row – Walter Bull, Fred Blackburn, Riley, Fred Threlfall

Front Row – Arthur “Pat” Collins, Tim Coleman, Fred Harrison