Anthony Norman Collins (19 March 1926 – 8 February 2021) was an English football player, manager and scout, who played as a left winger.
[2] A promising schoolboy footballer, he played for local club Acton United and was due to sign for Brentford until he was called up for military service during the Second World War.
[3] During his three years of wartime service stationed in Padua, Italy, Collins was spotted in Army football matches and recommended to Sheffield Wednesday.
He made his Football League debut for York City in the Third Division North after joining them in July 1949, and was then transferred to Watford in August 1950.
While at Watford, Collins was linked with a representative call-up after being watched by a selector from The Football Association, and the club chairman was quoted as saying in response to transfer speculation, "£12,000 won't buy him.
[2] He served Manchester United in a similar capacity from 1982 to 1988, helping the club to find future stars including Paul McGrath and Lee Sharpe.
[3][7] Although non-white players were a rarity in English football during his era, contemporary reports made few references to his colour, and Collins himself said he was not affected by prejudice.
[11] This led to Collins, by then 90 years old and living in a care home in Moston, Manchester, to be interviewed by BBC North West Tonight and ITV News about his life and career.