A quite extraordinary season

  • by Staff Writer
  • Thursday, 7th July 2016

James Collins' long and arduous season finally came to an end in Lyon last night - 349 days after it began in Malta.

West Ham United's experienced central defender, who celebrates his 33rd birthday next month, would almost certainly have laughed in your face had you told him he'd end the campaign playing in the semi finals of Euro 16.

But that's exactly how it transpired with Collins, sporting his now famous, fiery red beard playing a starring role in Wales' 2-0 defeat against Portugal in last night's last four encounter with Christiano Ronaldo & Co.

The season started in inconspicuous fashion for Collins way back on 23 July 2015, with West Ham needing penalties to see off the challenge of Maltese outfit Birkirkara in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.




However his - and West Ham's - Europa League journey was to end in disappointing fashion; the defender received his marching order's in a 2-2 first leg draw at the Boleyn Ground before the Hammers succumbed 2-1 in the reverse leg in Romania.

Having finally received assurances that the club wished to retain his services, following much speculation regarding his future, Collins starred in West Ham's 2-1 win at Manchester City in September.

However that was to be his only Premier League appearance until the Hammers drew 2-2 at Sunderland at the start of October, when he began to play a greater role in the first team.

Although he was dismissed in a 2-0 defeat at Watford in October, Ginge was a regular in Slaven Bilic's side up until the beginning of March when he sustained a hamstring injury during the 1-0 win over Tottenham.

Collins would play only one more time for the Hammers before the end of the league campaign - a 3-1 win over Watford in April - but he was back in action for Wales in a pre-Euro 16 friendly against Sweden on 5 June.




And having had to wait patiently for an opportunity - much as he had at his club earlier in the season - the Newport-born star came off the bench to feature in Wales' stunning 3-1 win over Belgium in the quarter finals before making his first start of the tournament in last night's defeat to Portugal.

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