Lee Collins

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Born in Telford, Shropshire, Collins was promoted to Wolverhampton Wanderers' first-team squad for the first time in January 2007, signing his first professional forms the next month. Though regularly on the bench, he never made a first-team appearance. However, he played regularly for the club at reserve level and with the under-18s, for whom he was captain. He joined Hereford United on 14 November 2007 on an initial month's loan, and made his league debut on 17 November 2007 in a 3–2 win at Stockport County. After impressing, his loan was extended to the end of the season, during which Hereford won promotion to League One.

Port Vale

Collins went on loan to League Two side Port Vale at the start of the 2008–09 season, and became a first-team regular. Vale then signed him on a 2+1⁄2-year deal on 16 January 2009 after Wolves agreed to release him from the rest of his deal at Molineux. He gained his first senior goal in a 1–1 home draw with Wycombe Wanderers on 25 April 2009. With 42 appearances to his name in his first season with the club, he was described as the most consistent performer of the season. He remained in the first team for the start of the 2009–10 campaign. He was transfer listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat. Despite this he remained a key member of the defence, alongside Gareth Owen and John McCombe. Playing regular…

Collins was called up to the England under-19s but did not earn a cap. Despite this, he did not rule out one day playing for the Republic of Ireland, which he qualified for through his Irish father.

Collins could play anywhere in defence, though preferred to play at centre-back. Port Vale manager Micky Adams claimed that Collins always gave his all in training, and was a "remarkable athlete... [in] terms of fitness." In February 2010, teammate Marc Richards said that "he reads the game well, he's fast, he's strong...[and has] strength and pace, and he's got vision as well."

Collins attended Thomas Telford School as a youth alongside fellow professionals such as Elliott Bennett and Danny Guthrie. Also attending the school was future Port Vale teammate Sam Morsy. Collins and his partner had three daughters, born in 2010, 2016 and 2017. Collins was convicted of assault in April 2013 after punching and kicking a man at a pub in Wellington, Shropshire the previous year. He was given a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work, 12 weeks of curfew and a fine of £2,500.