John Collins

<header class="entry-header">Scotland legend John Collins blogs on how a dedication to physical preparation throughout his illustrious career aided his rise to the top of the game.

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Growing up, I was always the smallest player in every team which meant players were stronger and quicker than me.Thankfully my dad instilled a confidence from a young age that skill and good co-ordination was key.I began to view my low centre of gravity as an asset rather than a weakness. It was never a negative for me, even if it was for some scouts and coaches. That was the philosophy back then which, unfortunately, still exists in some parts of Scottish football.

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I did realise early on that I would have to be fitter and stronger than most if I was to make it in the tough, physical Scottish game. It helped that at home, my parents couldn’t afford fizzy drinks – something which I tell every young player I meet to avoid completely.

At 15 I joined Hibs where I was lucky to meet a superb fitness coach. It was drilled into us that fitness wasn’t simply about work in the gym, it was a lifestyle choice. It wasn’t about muscles, it was about being strong enough to allow your technique to excel. On top of a hard training regime, you must eat well and sleep well. It’s not complicated. I ate chicken and vegetables mainly but of equal importance was to remain hydrated. To be able to train hard, over long hours, which I did away from the training ground too, you must have the correct lifestyle. Your body simply will not withstand intense training sessions if it is not fed and hydrated well. All the work in the gym is for nothing if you do not provide your body with the right nutrients.

It comes down to attitude. I never viewed my physical preparation as hard work. I looked upon it as a pleasure. I was first at the training ground and last to leave. A lot of people used to pull my leg and say I was sooking up to coaches and managers. In pre-season, players would ask me who I was trying to impress. I used to laugh at them. One message I always give to young players is that you train for yourself and play for the team. You have to be single minded in your approach to self improvement and ignore the detractors.My mind-set when I went on the training pitch was that I was there for business. I was never there to pass the time. Any exercise, be it shooting, passing, possession, running, weights, whatever – I wanted to be the best at everything.

When I went to France, I met players with incredible physiques. I saw players with less bodyfat and more athletic shapes than in Scotland. They were not born like that. This was a result of dedication to self-development at a young age. In my day, talented players often got away with letting themselves go at the weekends through nights out on the alcohol. Thankfully I think that has changed here. There were strict eating regimes of pasta, rice and chicken. No butter, no fizzy drinks, no cakes and puddings. You could see the results. When it came to the last 15 minutes of the games, the extra fitness won you football matches, along with the skill.
In Scotland now, I do think the tide has turned. It is more about being a good professional.

In the old days, players would try to sweat off their alcohol intake. They would more often than not succumb to injuries during and after their playing career. Tears and strains come from a lack of preparation, they’re dehydrated or they are tired. In training, most injuries come near the end when players tire. I’ve been encouraged by the Scottish FA’s Performance School programme. I think it is the big hope of Scottish football where the best 12-year-olds are training in a best-v-best environment. I took a session at Braidhurst High School recently and liked what I saw. The players are getting all of the information available they require to be professional players. They are getting excellent advice from sports scientists and have excellent coaches. All of the important messages are being drilled into them.

However, at the end of the day, players must absorb the information. These players are pushing themselves to the limit so they really must learn how to take care of themselves physically – the first step is in the mind.

Good article from last year from John Collins. He will probably need to hand-cuff himself to Commons to keep him away from coca cola, cakes and butter though

 

Good interview that. Really interesting to hear some of the different drills they're going through in training.

 

Liking what I have just seen and heard. Really excited for the coming season.

 

Anyone else got a massive crush on JC?

 

working on it haha :smiley-laughing002::smiley-laughing002::smiley-laughing002:
hes certainly saying and doing all the right things. Its great to see a player that looks as if hes just delighted to be home. Its infectious and thats got to be a good thing.

 

Just a bit.

Always enjoyed his work as a pundit the last few years, seems like one of a select few ex-Celts who still talk positively about the club. Over the moon that he's here now and I'm loving everything I'm hearing from him and Ronny.

 

Promising that he was talking about the high standard of the young players.

 

It's his tight trackie bottoms and tucked in top that do it for me.

 

A fine specimen of a man

 

:frilly:

EDIT: Just realised this was my post #1967. Yaldi.

 

Seen one or two interviews with JC and even more pleased that his on board than I was before. Great addition to the Coaching staff.

 

Been very impressed with John Collins so far, very committed and determined to improve the style of play.

Another point, is it just me or do you think in these training videos Tony Watt looks like he can't be arsed?

 

Quite cool, on Instagram ProDirectSoccer are advertising the new preds and have John Collins in the background as he was the first player to score a goal in top flight football with them on.



A wee video showing the goal
http://instagram.com/p/rZM82RQlv5/?modal=true

 

like that hes here seems the type of guy who wont take *,think him and diela are good match.both look and sound like the type of people who dont suffer from fools.

 

TuffGong likes John Collins.

 

:smiley-laughing002: Very clever.

 

I wonder what input he has in this set up. Surely he could have told RD that he was making lots of mistakes.

 

Scored some great goals against the huns and was a classy player. Seen him showing some real passion this season and again today, looks like he's loving at Celtic working with Ronny. A good Celtic man and one of my favourite Celtic players when I was growing up.

Hail Hail!! John Collins, 20 years on and he's still putting the huns in their place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVmqGgVgsFE