Darren Collins

Born 24 May 1967 (Age 27 at debut)

Position: Forward

(Diamonds player #34)

 

Total appearances 288 - 152 goals

(211 League, 26 FA Cup, 23 FA Trophy, 15 League Cup, 1 Championship Shield, 10 Hillier Senior Cup 2 Maunsell Cup)

 

Debut:

2 August 1994 (Home Peterborough United)

 

Final game:

24 October 2000 (Home Stevenage Borough)

 

Darren was born in Winchester, Hampshire, and started his footballing career with nearby Petersfield Town, before joining Northampton Town in January 1989. In just over two years with the Cobblers, he played just over 50 games, scoring 9 times, before moving to Aylesbury Town early in January 1991 for a five figure transfer fee - the club's record signing to this day. He scored a hat-trick on his debut for the Ducks, and scored on his final game in December 1992, before joining Enfield in a swap deal which took striker and future Diamonds manager Graham Westley from Enfield to Aylesbury.

 

collins

 

Whilst at Enfield, his goalscoring exploits came to the attention of Roger Ashby, and is a deal worth £20,000, he arrived at Nene Park in July 1994, prior to Diamonds first season in the Southern League Premier Division. Darren's goal scoring record for Rushden and Diamonds was nothing short of phenomenal. Few could have predicated the impact Collins was to have on the club and his ability to produce a goal out of nothing when Diamonds needed it the most became legendary. After being out scored by Dale Watkins in his first season, Darren went on to become Diamonds most prolific scorer for the next five seasons. His most impressive hauls were in the 1995 / 1996 and 1997 / 1998 seasons where he scored 40 and 35 goals respectively. His haul for that 1995 / 1996 season earned him the supporters player of the season award, however, he improved his all round game over the following seasons. In the 1997 / 1998 season, he won the player of the season award from the supporters and also the award from his fellow players. He went on to score 152 goals for Diamondss in 288 appearances - a feat unlikely to be beaten, and a statistic which will always ensure him legendary status.

 

Darren Collins

 

Following the arrival of marksmen Justin Jackson and Duane Darby, Darren found himself out of the starting line-up, and he was sold to Kettering Town in November 2000, for a £25,000 transfer fee and was captain when the Poppies won promotion from the Southern League back into the Conference. In June 2002, he joined Cambridge City, before having a spell with Tamworth in December 2002 unril the end of the season, as they too were promoted into the Conference. In the summer of 2003, he joined Grantham Town, before a period with Nuneaton Borough, making his debut in November 2003, and scoring twice. In the summer of 2004, Darren joined UCL side Cogenhoe United and was a key member of the title winning side that season. After two years with the Cooks, where he became comfortable played as a centre back, he joined Wellingborough Town in August 2006, but returned back to Cogenhoe United as player/manager in March 2007. On 12 July 2010, he left Cogenhoe to join Southern League Premier side Brackley Town to take up the position of assistant manager to another former Diamond, Jon Brady. He is still registered to play, and made his debut for the Saints in August 2010, at the age of 43.

 

Appearances

1994/1995

MCF

2.8.94

Peterboro Utd (H)

 

BHP

20.8.94

Cheltenham Tn(H)

 

BHP

23.8.94

Gravesend&Nflt(A)

 

BHP

27.8.94

Halesowen Tn (H)

2 goals

BHP

29.8.94

Trowbridge Tn (H)

1 goal

BHP

3.9.94

Burton  Albion (H)

 

BHP

6.9.94

Crawley Town (A)

1 goal

FAC1q

10.9.94

Eastwood Hanley(A)

 

FAT1rq

17.9.94

Hendon (H)

 

FAT1r

20.9.94

Hendon (A)

2 goals

HSC1

27.9.94

Desborough (H)

 

BHP

1.10.94

Gresley Rovers(A)

 

DMC1/1

4.10.94

Rothwell Town (H)

 

BHP

8.10.94

Crawley Town (H)

1 goal

FAT2q

15.10.94

Wembley (H)

1 goal

DMC1/2

18.10.94

Rothwell Town (A)

 

BHP

22.10.94

Dorchester Tn (A)

 

HSC2

25.10.94

N'ton Spencer (H)

 

BHP

29.10.94

Gloucester City(H)

 

BHP

5.11.94

Burton Albion (A)

1 goal

DMC2

8.11.94

Bedworth Utd (H)

1 goal

BHP

12.11.94

VS Rugby (H)

1 goal

BHP

15.11.94

Trowbridge Tn (A)

 

FAT3q

26.11.94

Crawley Town  (H)

 

BHP

3.12.94

Leek Town (A)

1 goal

BHP

10.12.94

Halesowen Tn (H)

 

DMC3

14.12.94

Baldock Town (H)

1 goal

BHP

17.12.94

Solihull Boro (H)

 

BHP

26.12.94

Cambridge City(A)

 

BHP

31.12.94

Hastings Town (A)

 

BHP

2.1.95

Chelmsford City(H)

 

BHP

7.1.95

Worcester City(H)

1 goal

FAT1

24.1.95

Sudbury Town (H)

1 goal

BHP

28.1.95

Cheltenham Tn(A)

 

BHP

4.2.95

Sittingbourne (H)

2 goals

DMCQr

7.2.95

Worcester City(H)

1 goal

BHP

18.2.95

Atherstone Utd(A)

1 goal

FAT2

20.2.95

Farnborough Tn(A)

 

BHP

25.2.95

Gresley Rovers(H)

 

DMCS/1

28.2.95

Leek Town (H)

 

FAT3

4.3.95

Halesowen Tn (H)

2 goals

DMCS/2

7.3.95

Leek Town (A)

 

BHP

11.3.95

Corby Town (H)

1 goal

HSCSF

14.3.95

Rothwell Town (A)

as sub

BHP

18.3.95

Gloucester City(A)

 

BHP

21.3.95

Leek Town (H)

2 goals

FAT4

25.3.95

Enfield (A)

 

FAT4r

28.3.95

Enfield (H)

2 goals

BHP

1.4.95

Atherstone td (H)

 

BHP

3.4.95

Hednesford Tn (A)

1 goal

FATS/1

8.4.95

Woking (H)

 

BHP

11.4.95

Hednesford Tn (H)

1 goal

FATS/2

15.4.95

Woking (A)

 

BHP

2.5.95

Dorchester Tn (H)

 

BHP

4.5.95

Sudbury Town (A)

 

BHP

6.5.95

Sudbury Town (H)

 

1995/1996

HSCF

29.7.95

Kettering Town(H)

 

HSCFr

31.7.95

Kettering Town(A)

1 goal

BHP

19.8.95

Salisbury City (H)

1 goal

BHP

21.8.95

Chelmsford City(A)

 

BHP

26.8.95

Crawley Town (H)

 

BHP

28.8.95

Burton Albion (A)

1 goal

BHP

2.9.95

Hastings Town(A)

 

NHP

5.9.95

VS Rugby (H)

 

FAC1q

9.9.95

Grantham Town(H)

3 goals

BHP

16.9.95

Worcester City(A)

 

BHP

19.9.95

Chelmsford City(H)

1 goal

FAC2q

23.9.95

Eastwood Hanley(H)

1 goal

BHP

30.9.95

Cheltenham Tn(A)

1 goal

FAC3q

7.10.95

Sandwell Boro (A)

2 goals

BHP

14.10.95

Gresley Rovers(A)

1 goal

FAC4

21.10.95

Purfleet (A)

 

FAC4r

24.10.95

Purfleet (H)

1 goal

BHP

28.10.95

Merthyr Tydfil (A)

1 goal

DMC1/1

1.11.95

Kings Lynn (H)

1 goal

HSCQF

7.11.95

Long Buckby (H)

 

FAC1

11.11.95

Cardiff City (H)

 

BHP

15.11.95

VS Rugby (A)

 

BHP

18.11.95

Gravesend&Nflt(A)

1 goal

BHP

21.11.95

Burton Albion (H)

1 goal

BHP

25.11.95

Atherstone Utd(H)

4 goals

BHP

28.11.95

Baldock Town (H)

1 goal

BHP

2.12.95

Crawley Town (A)

1 goal

DMC1/2

5.12.95

Kings Lynn (A)

as sub

BHP

9.12.95

Dorchester Tn (A)

 

BHP

12.12.95

Gloucester City(H)

2 goals

BHP

16.12.95

Hastings Town(H)

 

BHP

23.12.95

Ilkeston Town (H)

 

BHP

13.1.96

Atherstone Utd(A)

2 goals

FAT1

20.1.96

Purfleet (H)

 

HSCSF

30.1.96

Raunds Town (H)

1 goal

BHP

3.2.96

Worcester City(H)

1 goal

BHP

10.2.96

Gravesend&Nflt(H)

1 goal

BHP

13.2.96

Baldock Town (A)

2 goals

BHP

17.2.96

Cheltenham Tn(H)

 

BHP

24.2.96

Newport (A)

 

BHP

5.3.96

Sudbury Town (H)

1 goal

BHP

16.3.96

Cambridge City(A)

1 goal

BHP

19.3.96

Halesowen Tn (A)

 

BHP

23.3.96

Ilkeston Town (A)

 

HSCF

26.3.96

Rothwell Town (A)

 

BHP

30.3.96

Halesowen Tn (H)

 

BHP

4.4.96

Dorchester Tn (H)

 

BHP

6.4.96

Cambridge City(H)

1 goal

BHP

8.4.96

Sudbury Town (A)

 

BHP

13.4.96

Newport (H)

1 goal

BHP

16.4.96

Gresley Rovers(H)

1 goal

BHP

20.4.96

Gloucester City(A)

1 goal

BHP

24.4.96

Salisbury City (A)

1 goal

BHP

27.4.96

Stafford Rgrs (A)

 

BHP

4.5.96

Merthyr Tydfil (H)

1 goal

1996/1997

SLCS

10.8.96

Nuneaton Boro (H)

2 goals

Conf

17.8.96

Altrincham (A)

1 goal

Conf

20.8.96

Slough Town (A)

 

Conf

24.8.96

Northwich Vic (H)

1 goal

Conf

26.8.96

Hayes (A)

 

Conf

31.8.96

Stalybridge Cltc(H)

 

Conf

3.9.96

Macclesfield Tn(H)

 

Conf

7.9.96

Halifax Town (A)

1 goal

Conf

9.9.96

Northwich Vic (A)

 

FAC1q

14.9.96

Westfields (A)

 

Conf

17.9.96

Farnborough (H)

 

Conf

24.9.96

Stevenage Boro(H)

 

FAC2q

28.9.96

Gresley Rvrs (H)

1 goal

Conf

30.9.96

Hednesford Tn (A)

 

Conf

5.10.96

Welling Utd (H)

 

SC1

8.10.96

Dover Athletic (A)

 

FAC3q

12.10.96

Bilston Town (H)

1 goal

Conf

14.10.96

Kidderminster (A)

 

Conf

19.10.96

Gateshead (H)

 

FAC4q

26.10.96

Bognor Regis (H)

2 goal

Conf

2.11.96

Southport (A)

 

Conf

9.11.96

Dover Athletic (H)

 

HSC2

12.11.96

Kettering Town (A)

 

FAC1

16.11.96

Boreham Wood(A)

 

SC1

19.11.96

Stevenage Boro(H)

1 goal

Conf

23.11.96

Morecambe (A)

 

FAC1r

26.11.96

Boreham Wood (H)

1 goal

Conf

30.11.96

Bath City (H)

1 goal

Conf

7.12.96

Telford Utd (A)

2 goals

Conf

14.12.96

Bromsgrove Rvrs(H)

 

SC3

16.12.96

Kidderminster (A)

 

Conf

21.12.96

Kidderminster (H)

 

FAT1

18.1.97

Farnborough Tn(H)

 

Conf

25.1.97

Farnborough Tn(A)

 

Conf

1.2.97

Morecambe (H)

 

Conf

8.2.97

Hednesford Tn (H)

 

Conf

15.2.97

Macclesfield Tn(A)

 

Conf

22.2.97

Gateshead (A)

 

Conf

1.3.97

Slough Town (H)

as sub

Conf

8.3.97

Kettering Town (A)

as sub

Conf

29.3.97

Dover Athletic (A)

as sub

Conf

31.3.97

Hayes (H)

1 goal

Conf

5.4.97

Southport (H)

 

Conf

12.4.97

Bath City (A)

 

Conf

21.4.97

Stevenage Boro(A)

 

Conf

26.4.97

Halifax Town (H)

 

Conf

29.4.97

Woking (H)

1 goal

Conf

3.5.97

Altrincham (H)

 

1997/1998

Conf

16.8.97

Northwich Vic (H)

 

Conf

20.8.97

Farnborough Tn(A)

 

Conf

23.8.97

Leek Town (A)

 

Conf

25.8.97

Hednesford Tn (H)

1 goal

Conf

30.8.97

Gateshead (H)

1 goal

Conf

2.9.97

Slough Town (A)

1 goal

Conf

6.9.97

Cheltenham Tn (A)

 

Conf

13.9.97

Farnborough Tn(H)

 

Conf

20.9.97

Yeovil Town (A)

1 goal

Conf

27.9.97

Southport (A)

 

Conf

4.10.97

Woking (H)

 

SC1

7.10.97

Hayes (A)

 

Conf

11.10.97

Hereford Utd (H)

1 goal

Conf

18.10.97

Kidderminster (A)

 

FAC4q

25.10.97

Boreham Wood(H)

 

FAC4qr

28.10.97

Boreham Wood(A)

 

Conf

1.11.97

Slough Town (H)

 

Conf

8.11.97

Welling Utd (A)

 

Conf

15.11.97

Kidderminster (H)

1 goal

HSCQF

18.11.97

Brackley Town (A)

3 goals

Conf

22.11.97

Morecambe (A)

 

Conf

25.11.97

Kettering Town (H)

1 goal

Conf

29.11.97

Hayes (H)

 

Conf

6.12.97

Northwich Vic (A)

2 goals

Conf

13.12.97

Dover Athletic (H)

2 goals

Conf

20.12.97

Hayes (A)

1 goal

Conf

26.12.97

Stevenage Boro(H)

 

Conf

1.1.98

Stevenage Boro(A)

1 goal

FAT1

10.1.98

Farnborough Tn(H)

2 goals

Conf

17.1.98

Southport (H)

1 goal

FAT2

31.1.98

Cheltenham Tn (A)

1 goal

Conf

7.2.98

Halifax Town (H)

2 goals

Conf

14.2.98

Gateshead (A)

1 goal

Conf

21.2.98

Kettering Town (A)

 

Conf

28.2.98

Stalybridge Cltc(H)

1 goal

Conf

7.3.98

Cheltenham Tn (H)

1 goal

Conf

23.3.98

Hednesford Tn (A)

 

Conf

28.3.98

Morecambe (H)

2 goals

Conf

4.4.98

Telford Utd (A)

1 goal

Conf

13.4.98

Stalybridge Cltc (A)

3 goals

Conf

18.4.98

Leek Town (H)

 

Conf

21.4.98

Yeovil Town (H)

1 goal

Conf

25.4.98

Hereford Utd (A)

1 goal

Conf

28.4.98

Welling Utd (H)

 

Conf

2.5.98

Telford Utd (H)

2 goals

1998/1999

Conf

15.8.98

Forest Green (A)

 

Conf

18.8.98

Welling Utd (H)

2 goals

Conf

22.8.98

Barrow (H)

 

Conf

25.8.98

Kingstonian (A)

1 goal

Conf

29.8.98

Southport (A)

1 goal

Conf

31.8.98

Hayes (H)

2 goals

Conf

5.9.98

Yeovil Jct (A)

 

Conf

8.9.98

Dover Athletic (A)

 

Conf

12.9.98

Telford Utd (H)

1 goal

Conf

19.9.98

Doncaster Rvrs (A)

 

Conf

26.9.98

Hereford Utd (H)

1 goal

Conf

10.10.98

Farnborough Tn(A)

1 goal

FAC3q

17.10.98

Forest Green (H)

1 goal

Conf

24.10.98

Morecambe (H)

1 goal

Conf

7.11.98

Hednesford Tn (A)

 

FAC4q

9.11.98

Leatherhead (A)

 

FAC4qr

11.11.98

Leatherhead (H)

1 goal

FAC1

14.11.98

Shrewsbury Tn (H)

 

Conf

28.11.98

Cheltenham Tn (A)

 

FAC2r

15.12.98

Doncaster Rvrs (H)

 

FAT4

6.2.99

Woking (A)

 

FAT4r

9.2.99

Woking (H)

 

Conf

13.2.99

Kidderminster (A)

 

Conf

16.2.99

Welling Utd (A)

1 goal

Conf

20.2.99

Hednesford Tn (H)

1 goal

Conf

23.2.99

Southport (H)

 

Conf

6.3.99

Hayes (A)

 

Conf

9.3.99

Stevenage Boro(H)

2 goals

Conf

13.3.99

Leek Town (H)

1 goal

Conf

16.3.99

Dover Athletic (H)

 

Conf

20.3.99

Morecambe (A)

 

Conf

27.3.99

Kettering Town (A)

 

Conf

3.4.99

Cheltenham Tn (H)

 

Conf

5.4.99

Woking (A)

 

Conf

20.4.99

Kingstonian (H)

 

Conf

24.4.99

Hereford Utd (A)

1 goal

Conf

26.4.99

Forest Green (H)

1 goal

Conf

1.5.99

Kettering Town (H)

 

1999/2000

MCF

31.7.99

Northampton Tn(H)

as sub

Conf

14.8.99

Morecambe (A)

as sub

Conf

28.8.99

Sutton Utd (A)

2 goals

Conf

30.8.99

Welling Utd (H)

 

Conf

4.9.99

Northwich Vic (A)

1 goal

Conf

7.9.99

Hayes (H)

 

Conf

11.9.99

Woking (H)

 

Conf

18.9.99

Southport (H)

1 goal

Conf

25.9.99

Hednesford Tn (A)

 

Conf

28.9.99

Hereford Utd (A)

 

Conf

2.10.99

Altrincham (A)

 

Conf

9.10.99

Kingstonian (H)

1 goal

FAC4q

16.10.99

Sutton Utd (H)

1 goal

Conf

23.10.99

Scarborough (A)

1 goal

FAC1

29.10.99

Scunthorpe Utd(H)

 

Conf

2.11.99

Nuneaton Boro (A)

 

Conf

6.11.99

Dover Athetic (H)

 

Conf

13.11.99

Yeovil Town (A)

 

FAC2

20.11.99

Ilkeston Town (A)

 

NT2

23.11.99

Telford Utd (A)

 

FAT2

27.11.99

Havant & W (H)

1 goal

FAC2r

30.11.99

Ilkeston Town (H)

1 goal

Conf

4.12.99

Hayes (A)

 

FAC3

12.12.99

Sheffield Utd (A)

 

Conf

18.12.99

Telford Utd (A)

 

FAC3r

21.12.99

Sheffield Utd (H)

 

Conf

27.12.99

Stevenage Boro(H)

1 goal

Conf

3.1.00

Stevenage Boro(A)

1 goal

FAT3

15.1.00

Bath City (A)

 

Conf

22.1.00

Forest Green (A)

 

Conf

29.1.00

Northwich Vic (H)

1 goal

FAT4

5.2.00

Billericay Tn (A)

 

FAT4r

8.2.00

Billericay Tn (H)

 

Conf

15.2.00

Forest Green (H)

as sub

2 goals

Conf

19.2.00

Doncaster Rvrs(A)

 

Conf

7.3.00

Yeovil Town (H)

as sub

FAT6

11.3.00

Sutton Utd (A)

 

FAT6r

14.3.00

Sutton Utd (H)

 

Conf

28.3.00

Kettering Town (H)

as sub

Conf

1.4.00

Nuneaton Boro (H)

as sub

Conf

4.4.00

Morecambe (H)

as sub

Conf

29.4.00

Scarborough (H)

as sub

Conf

1.5.00

Welling (A)

as sub

Conf

6.5.00

Doncaster Rvrs(H)

 

2000/2001

Conf

8.10.00

Boston Utd (H)

as sub

NWT2

24.10.00

Stevenage Boro(H)

 

 

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