Billy Collings

Billy Collings (originally from Glasgow) is a Scottish ex footballer who played for Greenock Morton, Dumbarton, Berwick Rangers, Cambuslang Rangers, Queen of the South, Stranraer and Gretna.^[2]

Greenock Morton, Dumbarton & Berwick Rangers

Billy Collings started his senior career as a teenager playing for Greenock Morton. At the same time he served his apprecticeship as a bricklayer working at Greenock shipyards.

Billy Collings then joined Dumbarton where he picked up the only sending off of his senior career.

Next on Collings' travels was Berwick Rangers after which he stopped playing completely.

Cambuslang Rangers

Billy Collings was playing snooker in Bridgeton YMCA when he was approached by Davie McLachan to play for Cambuslang Rangers in the West of Scotland junior league. Collings agreed to join.

At Cambuslang with Collings was ex Queen of the South trainer Jimmy McGuire and ex Queens left back Charlie Hammill.

Despite being a marked man as an ex pro, Collings remembers his Junior League time with affection. Cambuslang Rangers won the West of Scotland Junior League and also made it to the Scottish Junior Cup Final. In the semi final played at neutral Firhill Collings picked up an injury that essentially ended his involvement in the fixture. Struggling to run he was moved to left wing where he finished the game. After the game he was at home when police came to the door to tell him that he was required to attend hospital immediately. At hospital he was told that his earlier diagnosis was inadequate as it had since been recognised that there was issue that hadn't been noticed. Collings was subsequently diagnosed as having a broken rib and a punctured lung. Collings played in the final after taking an injection from a specialist. The final was won by Johnston Burgh.

Queen of the South

Billy Collings was signed by Queen of the South manager George Farm^[3] when the Dumfries club were in Scotland's top division. Collings was paid a retainer of £5 per week for remaining with Cambuslang ahead of joining Queens in the close season to start his career as a full-time footballer. Things worked out differently. Farm was sacked as manager in January^[3] and Queens were relegated at the season's end.^[4] Collings was facing the part-time Second Division football of which he had had enough of when he was at Berwick. Before the new season's start Collings approached club official Jimmy McKinnell Junior to request a free transfer - the request was rejected.

Now aged 24, Billy Collings made his debut for Queens on 8 August 1964 against Montrose in the Scottish League Cup. Collings netted a debut goal in the 2-0 home victory.

Collings was an attacking midfielder of the old school – one who was as happy exchanging lumps with opposing defenders as sticking the ball in the net. He earned £8 a week when he broke into the Queens first team.^[5]

In Queens first 2 seasons after Billy Collings' breakthrough (1964/65 and 1965/66) they missed out on promotion back to Scotland's top flight by one place by finishing third. Queens again finished third in Collings' last season at the club (1969/70).^[4][6] Over six seasons Collings scored 31 goals in his 247 appearance for Queens excluding friendlies.

Billy Collings' last game for Queens was in the 2-0 away win against East Fife on 25 April 1970.

Stranraer & Gretna

Billy Collings left Queens in 1970 signing for Stranraer. Collings scored for Stranraer in a 5 - 5 draw against Queens at Stair Park when Queens came back from 5 - 2 down. Collings also scored to put Stranraer 1-0 ahead against Celtic in the League Cup at Stair Park in 1972.^[7]

At Stranraer the player of the year title was awarded by Willie Marshall of Marshall's buses. After having been presented with the title on the Saturday evening of the season end dinner and dance Collings was told on the following Monday that he was being released by the club.

Collings joined non-league Gretna where he finished his playing days where again as an ex pro he was a marked man.

After football

After retiring as a footballer Billy Collings worked as manager of a Peugeot car sales operation.

Billy Collings has three children and six grandchildren and has stayed in Dumfries since his days as a Queens player. Collings enjoys his retirement watching Queen of the South and playing golf with former club mate and now Queens honorary director Allan Ball.

References