Wembley-winning Cumbrian goalkeeper Adam Collin has called time on his playing career.
The former Carlisle United and Workington Reds No1 is hanging up his gloves at the age of 37.
Collin, whose career included Johnstone’s Paint Trophy glory with the Blues in 2011 and play-off success at the national stadium with Rotherham in 2014, says it is time to devote himself to his aspiring coaching career.
He is head of academy goalkeeping at League Two club Mansfield Town, and runs his own goalkeeping business.
Collin was latterly playing for non-league club Basford Town but said it is now the right time to concentrate on the next phase of his career.
Confirming his decision on Twitter, he said: "The time has come to announce my retirement from playing football.
"This was a tough decision to make, but I have had an amazing career and from when I started as a young kid in Penrith Cumbria, to where I got to today has been truly fantastic and have made some amazing memories.
"I would like to thank everyone who I have worked with and played for over the years and to all the fans of each club who have been superb. I have an amazing job at Mansfield Town and coaching company AC1 Goalkeeping to get stuck into now.
"Big thanks to everyone, it's been a hell of a ride!2
Speakng to the News & Star, Collin added of the decision: “It’s down to a culmination of a few factors.
“I’m 37 for one, I’ve got a four month-old son and the new role at Mansfield is a big one for me.
“I was playing at Basford, but things changed a little bit, and without going too much into it, I just felt it was right for me to walk away and really focus on coaching, and be at home a bit more rather than being on the road and being out all night training so much.
“I feel I’m fit enough to play, and feel I could still probably play in the League, but it’s the right time to focus on other things.
“The time was right to commit to something 100 per cent and coaching is going to be there much longer than the playing side for me now.”
Collin, from Great Salkeld near Penrith, was with Blackburn Rovers as a boy before moving to Newcastle United.
He came through the ranks at St James’ Park and made the bench for a Champions League game at Juventus, where he understudied the likes of Shay Given and Steve Harper, and faced stars like Alan Shearer, Gary Speed and Nobby Solano in training.
After being released, he returned to Cumbria and joined Workington Reds, making 220 appearances in an impressive five-year spell as he rebuilt his career in non-league.
His performances for the Borough Park club included three penalty saves in a play-off shoot-out against Farsley Celtic which helped Reds win promotion to Conference North.
After going on trial with Carlisle in 2006, he eventually earned a move back into the professional game with United in 2009.
His first full season saw Collin quickly force his way into the side, and the keeper played a starring role in the Blues’ run to Wembley in the JPT, saving two penalties from Leeds in the dramatic northern final second-leg shoot-out at Brunton Park.
He was United’s best player in their 4-1 final defeat to a star-studded Southampton – before keeping a clean sheet against Brentford 12 months later as Peter Murphy’s goal secured the trophy for the Blues at Wembley.
Collin made 159 appearances for Carlisle between 2009-2013, then went on to Rotherham, where his shoot-out saves against Leyton Orient in the 2014 League One play-off final saw the Millers promoted to the Championship.
After a loan spell with Aberdeen and a permanent switch to Notts County, he rejoined Carlisle in 2018 and went on to enjoy an outstanding 2018/19 campaign under John Sheridan and Steven Pressley, where he won a string of player-of-the-season accolades.
He then captained the Blues under Pressley and Chris Beech the following term, and left in the summer of 2020 having added another 91 appearances to his United tally.
Collin joined Kettering and then switched to Basford this summer, whilst running his AC1 Goalkeeping coaching business in the east Midlands. He also has a goalkeeping gloves business.
The Cumbrian added: “I do reflect quite a bit on my career when I speak to young goalkeepers who I coach now.
“I try to use all my experiences and pass on different bits.
“When I look back, think about where I started and where I got to, it’s been a really enjoyable and interesting journey.”
* Adam Collin reflects on his career in detail in an interview with the News & Star tomorrow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here