If ever there was a moment that proved the phrase that football is more important than life or death then sadly the death of Yeovil Town club captain Lee Collins is one such time.
The Glovers are currently in mourning after it was announced that Collins passed away on 31 March 2021, and their thoughts and prayers are with Collins' family and friends at this difficult time.
Since his arrival at Huish Park, Collins was amongst manager Darren Sarll's first signings after he was appointed as Yeovil manager. He proved to be a big favourite with the Glovers' faithful with his wholehearted displays in the centre of defence alongside Luke Wilkinson, as Yeovil arrested a decline that had seen them fall from the Championship to the National League in the space of five years by reaching the National League play-offs with a fourth placed finish.
Born in Telford, Collins started his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers and was part of the Wolves' youth side that reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in 2004, which also included goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and midfielder Mark Davies. After leaving Molineux without making a first team appearance, Collins joined Port Vale, who he had previously enjoyed a loan spell with, in 2009.
While at Vale Park, he established himself as a first team regular with the Valiants. His popularity was reflected in January 2020 when he was named as the best Port Vale left-back of the 2010s in a poll by the Stoke Sentinel newspaper - receiving 50% of the vote with his former Glovers' teammate Carl Dickinson receiving 40%.
His next move took him to Barnsley, who he signed for on a permanent basis after initially joining on loan. However, he failed to break into the Tykes' first team and was loaned out to Shrewsbury Town - a move that saw him link up with Graham Turner who previously signed him for Hereford United earlier in his career.
Collins then joined Northampton Town midway through the 2012-13 season and featured for the Cobblers in the 2013 League Two play-off final, which they lost to Bradford City. After losing his place in the Northampton side following the appointment of Chris Wilder, Collins then moved on to Mansfield Town and Forest Green Rovers, where he became Rovers' first signing following their promotion to the Football League.
Following his departure from the New Lawn in 2019, Collins signed a two-year deal with Yeovil and was made club captain by Darren Sarll. He then went on to make 31 appearances for the Glovers prior to the Covid-19 enforced suspension of the 2019-20 season - as Yeovil finished fourth in the National League and lost to Barnet in the play-offs.
His final appearance for the Glovers came on February 6, 2021 against Stockport County and he was even named as an unused substitute a week before his death against Barnet on March 27, 2021.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former teammates past and present at this difficult time.
