[4] On the following Tuesday, 9 September, Collins was called into the squad to play at Bloomfield Road in an Anglo-Scottish Cup quarter-final first-leg tie against Kilmarnock.
In a later interview, Collins recalled the events leading up to the match:"That Monday I was just back to my normal jobs, getting all the coaches' kit ready, cleaning the players' boots.
[7] He continued to play regularly for the reserves, but being short (5 ft 6 in – 1.68 m) and lightweight (8 st 3 lb – 52.2 kg), he lacked the muscle to force himself into the first team.
[8] Whilst with the Saints, Collins was called up to join the Republic of Ireland squad for the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship held in the Soviet Union from August to September 1985.
Collins left Portsmouth in April 1989, moving on to Colchester United to be re-united with Alan Ball, who was then the assistant to Jock Wallace.
After eleven league appearances (plus four in various cup competitions), and a loan spell with Farnborough Town, Collins left Exeter in the summer of 1993 and dropped down to Non-League football.
Collins returned to Devon where he spent the early part of the 1993–94 season with Crediton United, before moving to join Elmore in February 1994.
[12] On his departure, chairman Andy O'Callaghan expressed his hope that Collins would change his mind, saying; "We've left the door open for Eamonn to come back.
[17] Amongst his clients is his nephew Nathan Collins[18] and Keith Fahey, who was transferred from St Patrick's to Birmingham City in January 2009.
[citation needed] In July 2024, Collins was publicly alleged to have made sexual advances to women players while a coach.