jr
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,198
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Post by jr on Dec 31, 2019 13:41:15 GMT
I would like to thank Jamie for his amazing efforts over the past 5 years and wish skip well in the future. Hopefully he can still come down to the Lane on a regular basis.
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jr
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,198
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Post by jr on Dec 31, 2019 13:45:00 GMT
Sutton club captain and coach Jamie Collins has announced his retirement from the game. He will be part of the coaching team for the New Year’s Day game against Woking and the visit to Chesterfield before moving to take up a full time job outside the game.
Jamie, who was 35 in September, was signed in January 2015 after being released by Eastleigh, making his debut in the 3-2 defeat at Weston-super-Mare, and went on to captain the side to the National League South championship the following season and through the memorable FA Cup run that followed, scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the fourth round defeat of Leeds United (above). He was voted Player of the Year in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. In all he has made 243 appearances, the last of which was in the FA Trophy replay defeat at Dagenham, and scored 35 goals, including three in the National League this season.
Jamie said: I’ve been thinking about my future outside football for a couple of years now, as we all know football isn’t the most secure of occupations, and, while it’s happened a bit more quickly than I thought, I’ve been offered a job which at this stage of my career I couldn’t turn down. It’s been the hardest decision I’ve had to make, as I’ve had the best five years of my footballing career here and have met some great people who will be friends for life, but for family reasons it’s the right decision to make.’’
Manager Matt Gray said: ”I was very sorry to hear the news when Jamie told me, but we respect that he has to consider his future after football, and it’s the best decision for him and his family. He has been a hugely influential member of the squad throughout his time at the club, and a massive help to me as a member of the coaching staff since I became manager, as well as a good friend, and for those reasons I’m chatting to him about the possibility of him still being around at games as and when he is available.”
Club chairman Bruce Elliott paid tribute to Jamie’s time at the club. ”Jamie has been an outstanding club captain through a momentous period for the club, and has been a magnificent ambassador for the club. We are obviously sorry that he is to leave us, but as Matt says we completely understand and respect his decision, and hope he will still be able to maintain some involvement with us if he can.’’
Jamie will give an interview to SUFCtv at the New Year’s Day game against Woking, reflecting on his five years at the club and the decision he has made.
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Post by sol on Dec 31, 2019 13:56:35 GMT
A real good chap.
Always wears that cheeky smile.
I wish him the best and hope he still plays a part at SU.
JC will be missed.
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Post by Del on Dec 31, 2019 14:56:08 GMT
Fantastic team player & Club Captain. He will be sorely missed by us all. I wish him good luck in his next venture.
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Post by garethl on Dec 31, 2019 15:02:28 GMT
Am sure he’ll go down as one of the best in our history. Was always likely to be closing in on the end in the next year or 2 but has come a bit quicker than we may have thought. Wish him all the very best. We’ll prob need some cover at centre back. The 2 young uns have done superbly in his absence and long may that continue. Would be lovely if we can retain John and Goodliffe for next season.
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Post by brisfitboy on Dec 31, 2019 15:14:44 GMT
If there’s one thing that will stay in my mind it’s that penalty against Leeds, Jamie Collins you will live forever in our hearts for that. Good luck for the future and thank you for being a true professional and gentleman and do please stay in touch.
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amberchoc
1st team Player
Blessed is the person who having nothing to say abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.
Posts: 1,501 
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Post by amberchoc on Dec 31, 2019 16:34:12 GMT
I would like to thank Jamie for his amazing efforts over the past 5 years and wish skip well in the future. Hopefully he can still come down to the Lane on a regular basis. You could have announced the news a bit more gently! Bit of a shock to the system that was! I’d like to echo everybody else's thoughts. A great club man whose experience will be sorely missed. I wish him all the best in the future. I hope there’ll be some kind of pre-match gesture tomorrow (a small informal ceremony prior to kick-off perhaps), to give the fans the opportunity to say thank you and goodbye. I'm sure there'll be something. |
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,319
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Post by markf on Dec 31, 2019 17:27:39 GMT
This club has been fortunate over the years to have had some wonderful players within its ranks. A few have gone onto become club legends whether that be for number of appearances made or goals scored. Jamie won't make the top of either lists but it is the way he has conducted himself on the pitch, off it and in front of the camera that sticks in my mind and therefore places him alongside so many great names from this club's illustrious past.
A superb reader of the game with brilliant positional sense and timing made him a fine defender.
His time at SUFC will be defined by a puff of the cheeks and a swing of that left boot to help create club history. But his time at Sutton was much more than that. Leadership on the pitch, a wonderful conduit between players and management and great with the fans (shall always remember him coming to us after a 3 0 defeat at Solihull and apologising just a week after that Leeds match). There was no need but he did it anyway.
He deserves all the plaudits and best wishes for the future. I hope he can stay in the game in some capacity as football needs characters like him.
Club legend? Of course he is.
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amberchoc
1st team Player
Blessed is the person who having nothing to say abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.
Posts: 1,501
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Post by amberchoc on Dec 31, 2019 19:39:30 GMT
Nice tweet by Dos:
Jamie Collins was quite simply our best signing during mine and Bairdy’s time. Fantastic leader of a dressing room, superb reader of a game and a wand of a left foot, his signing was pivotal in our success. Captain fantastic. |
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Post by Amber Aleman on Dec 31, 2019 20:07:50 GMT
I can't add much to what's been posted above, other than that when the weather warms up I shall dig out and wear the t-shirt that bears the image of Jamie scoring that penalty against Leeds. I know I'm not the only Sutton supporter who owns one.
Thanks for everything JC and all the best for the future.
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Post by os on Dec 31, 2019 23:57:52 GMT
JC is proof that the word legend is over used, there are many legends but there is, and Will only ever be one 'CAPTAIN FANTASTIC'
In my world Jamie ranks alongside Tony Adams as a true great - TOP PLAYER - TOP MAN - TOP LEADER.
Good Luck JC
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Post by georgieboy on Jan 1, 2020 17:51:45 GMT
Great player, fantastic captain. Thanks for everything JC. You will be missed.
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Post by Andy K on Jan 2, 2020 8:42:19 GMT
Aside from "that moment" against Leeds, being a league title winning captain made him a legend way before that cup run!
Thank you for everything Jamie, your place in our history is assured!
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