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
Place of birth Newport, Wales
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Bristol Rovers
Number 10
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– Bristol Rovers 113 (35)
International career‡
2015 Wales U19 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:14, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 May 2019 (UTC)

Aaron Graham John Collins (born 27 May 1997) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers.

Club career

Newport County

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

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

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

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

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]

International career

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.[42]

Personal life

Aaron is the elder brother of professional footballer Lewis Collins.[43] 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.[44] Newport won the match 2–0 with Lewis scoring the second goal.[45] Aaron scored in the second leg, a 4–3 win for Forest Green.[46]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 November 2023[47]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newport County 2014–15[48] League Two 2000001030
2015–16[49] League Two 182201011223
total202201021253
Merthyr Town (loan) 2014–15 SL Division One South 1000000010
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2015–16[49] Championship 0000000000
2016–17[50] Championship 0000000000
2017–18[51] Championship 0000000000
2018–19[52] Premier League 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 2016–17[50] ———2[lower-alpha 1]020
Notts County (loan) 2016–17[50] League Two 182410000223
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2016–17[50] National League 2100—0021
Maidstone United (loan) 2017–18[51] National League 4110—1[lower-alpha 1]061
Newport County (loan) 2017–18[51] League Two 100000000100
Colchester United (loan) 2018–19[52] League Two 7000103[lower-alpha 1]1111
Morecambe 2018–19[52] League Two 158000000158
Forest Green Rovers 2019–20[53] League Two 28431002[lower-alpha 1]0335
2020–21[54] League Two 441010104[lower-alpha 2]15011
Total 72144110618316
Bristol Rovers 2021–22[55] League Two 451632002[lower-alpha 1]05018
2022–23[56] League One 461620104[lower-alpha 1]05316
2023–24[57] League One 14311102[lower-alpha 1]1185
Total 1053563208112139
Career total 254631664022429772
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ↑ Two appearances in EFL Trophy and two appearances; one goal in EFL League Two play-offs

Honours

Bristol Rovers

Individual

References

  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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "End of Season Awards 2022/23". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  42. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL: Collins Called Up To Welsh U19s". newport-county.co.uk. Newport County. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  43. ↑ "Lewis Collins – Midfielder – First Team – Newport County". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  44. ↑ Collins brothers face each other
  45. ↑ Newport beat Forest Green
  46. ↑ League 2 playoff second leg
  47. ↑ "Aaron Collins". Soccer Base. Centurycomm Limited. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  49. 1 2 "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  50. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  51. 1 2 3 "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  52. 1 2 3 "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Aaron Collins in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  58. ↑ "Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom takes Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  59. ↑ "EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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