Stubbs v Collins

[Mo Gull]

Anyone see them both play?

Who was better?

[wivelgull]

I didn't see Collins, but surely no-one could be better than Robin.

[bringbackthecowshed]

Saw Sammy Collins when I was 7 but can't remember much about him but his goal scoring record speaks for itself having said that Robin Stubbs was the master as far as I was concerned

[Phipsy]

Saw Sammy Collins for three seasons 1954 till 1957 seasons.
Saw Stubbsy in nearly all his games here.
They were very different players. Collins was a great goalscorer but not a scorer of great goals. Stubbs was the opposite of that, he scored goals that stick in the memory. Like running past the opposition from the half way line and rocketing a shot into the roof the net from the edge of the area.
Sam was very good in the air whereas Robin was not especially good in that area.
Sam was a prolific score re of penalties, from memory only remember him missing one against Malcolm Finlayson of Milwall.
On the other hand can't remember Robin taking penalties .

[portugull]

I saw both players during the same period. I agree with Phipsy on most of his comments.

Sammy had a great partnership with Ronnie Shaw and scored a lot of goals with headers from right wing crosses sent over by Ronnie.

I saw Robin score 5 in one match possibly one Boxing Day when we won 8-3. A long time ago!

Ronnie Shaw, Sammy Collins, Tommy Northcott, Don Mills and Tony Collins. Still remember them with affection. In those days 8 to 10,000 gates were the norm.

[gateman49]

Agree with Phipsy, you can't compare them as they had different skills but each was brilliant in his own right.

My recollection of the Newport match was that it was an evening game and just 2-1 at half time. I wasn't at Christmas (we beat them 3-0 away to do the double that season)

[stefano]

Saw Sammy Collins for three seasons 1954 till 1957 seasons.
Saw Stubbsy in nearly all his games here.
They were very different players. Collins was a great goalscorer but not a scorer of great goals. Stubbs was the opposite of that, he scored goals that stick in the memory. Like running past the opposition from the half way line and rocketing a shot into the roof the net from the edge of the area.
Sam was very good in the air whereas Robin was not especially good in that area.
Sam was a prolific score re of penalties, from memory only remember him missing one against Malcolm Finlayson of Milwall.
On the other hand can't remember Robin taking penalties .

He did for a while. Took 2 or 3 and scored. Then on 2 January 1965 he did a David Beckham and blasted one over the bar at the Babbacombe End so high it probably reached the beach. That was in a 4-2 defeat to Doncaster Rovers at Plainmoor. A week later he fell in the penalty area and Billy Atkinson stepped up to put us 1-0 up against Tottenham Hotspur.... and we all know what happened next

[stefano]

Agree with Phipsy, you can't compare them as they had different skills but each was brilliant in his own right.

My recollection of the Newport match was that it was an evening game and just 2-1 at half time. I wasn't at Christmas (we beat them 3-0 away to do the double that season)

It was a Saturday afternoon game about this time of year October / November and you are right it was 2-1 with about 25 minutes to go, then it all went crazy! That game was in a sequence of 12 successive home league and FA Cup games where we scored 48 goals ... averaging 4 a game and Robin getting the bulk but never forgetting the contributions of Tommy Northcott and Reg Jenkins. Robin eclipsed it mind with 6 in a 7-1 win against Cheltenham Town. It was in the Western Counties Floodlt League, which was regarded as a first team competition although squads varied considerably. Cheltenham of course were non-league cannon fodder then. Much as we are now I suppose!

[wivelgull]

The Newport County match in which Robin scored five was a Saturday afternoon in early November 1963. I was there!!
Reg Jenkins! Now there's a name. I liked Reg although, as I recall, he wasn't always popular with the masses. He was loved at Rochdale, though.

[Sesimbra]

Sammy Collins was my all time favourite. I am trying to recall the full team at that time. Included were Sam Collins, Ronnie Shaw, Don Mills, Bert Head, Dennis Lewis, Conley, Calland, Phil Joslin. I thought Tommy Northcott was a little later. I recall that Don Mills was purchased from QPR for 18k a club record but what a player.

[frenchgull]

Also saw both play and I agree, very different players,Sammy a true goal scorer in and around the box and Robin the more spectacular goalscorer.I guess the big difference was that Robin had the charisma,Torquays own David Bekham if you like,,Sammy was a true team player, both in their own way great Torquay players.
The team I started watching was Mervyn Gill(gk) John Smith and Harry Smith (fb) Denis Lewis Griff Norman and Jimmy James (hbl) Ronnie Shaw Sammy Collins Ted Calland Don Mills (best player Torquay ever had imo )Tony Collins.No subs in those days but we had Graham Bond inside forward,Peter Wakeham gk and an ageing Harold Dobbie who could score a goal or two plus not to forget big George Northcott,a centre half that would take a week to go around.A great team that would match any that came after imo.

[frenchgull]

Out of interest was Tony Collins,Torquays number11, the first black player to play for Torquay.He was a tall thin outside left and put a lot of crosses in for our forwards,we liked him and our nickname for him was liquorice.Very politically incorrect in todays parlence but as a twelve year old we did not know any better.

[tomogull]

Also saw both play and I agree, very different players,Sammy a true goal scorer in and around the box and Robin the more spectacular goalscorer.I guess the big difference was that Robin had the charisma,Torquays own David Bekham if you like,,Sammy was a true team player, both in their own way great Torquay players.
The team I started watching was Mervyn Gill(gk) John Smith and Harry Smith (fb) Denis Lewis Griff Norman and Jimmy James (hbl) Ronnie Shaw Sammy Collins Ted Calland Don Mills (best player Torquay ever had imo )Tony Collins.No subs in those days but we had Graham Bond inside forward,Peter Wakeham gk and an ageing Harold Dobbie who could score a goal or two plus not to forget big George Northcott,a centre half that would take a week to go around.A great team that would match any that came after imo.

I think I go back a season or two before you, Frenchgull. My earliest memories were George Webber (no relation to manager Eric) and Bill Hayes playing in goal and I recall a useful full back (left I think) called Ron Stitfall. Eric Webber, player-manager, was centre half and a bliddy good centre half and Ernie(?) Edds was on the left wing before Tony Collins. I think Edds went to Plymouth (or was it Tony Collins who went to Plymouth?). I seem to recall that Ernie Edds was also coloured but I may be mixing the two up. It was a frighteningly long, long time ago ..... but happy memories.

[tomogull]

CORRECTION !!! Ron Stitfall never played for Torquay - he was a Cardiff player and Welsh international. I meant Harry Parfitt. Stitfall was quite a renowned and respected player. We played Cardiff in a cup match I think and Stitfall lined up in a wall to face a Ted Calland free kick. Now, Ted had a thunderous drive and his shot hit Stitfall and knocked him out cold. Bit of pointless trivia that sticks in the memory ......

[Phipsy]

Wouldn't like to argue to much tomogull but I have feeling the Ted CALLAND free kick was blasted at Alf Sherwood , Welsh international full back.
Also Tomy Collins never went to Plymouth I think Ernie Edds did.