[1] Born in Moss Side, Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, Collinson was a right-handed batsman, who scored 58 runs in total, with a best of 34 against Gloucestershire, for an average of 19.33.
Collinson also appeared in two non first-class matches for Yorkshire against Durham in 1896, scoring 82 at Feethams, Darlington.
In the late 1890s Collinson studied in Zürich, at the chemical engineering department at the Federal Polytechnic School.
They had found a place to play their games, although the Zurich commons was by no means ideal.
The Anglo American Football Club won the match 10–0, with their center forward Robert Collinson alone scoring 8 goals.
In the final play-off group the majority of the English players from Lausanne Football and Cricket Club refused to play the match against BSC Old Boys because it was scheduled for a Sunday thus forfeiting victory for the Old Boys.