Date / Year of birth: 3rd July 1972

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 1998/99

Season of last appearance: 2002/03

Also played for: Cray Wanderers, Sheppey United, Chatham Town, AFC Egerton, Dartford and Welling United

Powerful, determined striker born in Farnborough, Kent who started his senior career with Cray. Phil joined the club for the 1992/93 season and scored over 20 goals during the campaign.

He moved on to Sheppey in the summer of 1994 and scored around 30 goals for them before linking up with Chatham for the start of the 1995/96 season.

In October 1995 Phil rejoined Cray and scored 23 goals before the end of 1995/96. His tally included five in a 6-1 home win over Faversham on 23.12.95.

A few weeks into the 1996/97 campaign Phil dropped into the Kent County League and signed for AFC Egerton but he returned to Cray early in 1997 for his third spell with the club. By the end of 1996/97 he'd scored 55 goals in 81 appearances for Cray.

In the summer of 1997 Phil joined Dartford and on 15.10.97 he was sent off in the last minute of a 1-0 home win over Margate after a clash with Iain O'Connell who was also dismissed. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said it was a "totally unnecessary brawl". Phil had only scored once in his first 13 appearances for the Darts by then and before the end of 1997/98 he went back to Cray yet again.

In August 1998 Phil featured in two friendlies for Margate and scored in a 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge. Later in August he was signed by manager Chris Kinnear and made his debut in a 1-1 draw at Ashford in an FA Cup tie on 5.9.98. On 8.9.98 Phil played in the replay against Ashford at Hartsdown Park but his home debut turned sour when he was sent off in the 2nd half after the referee adjudged him to have butted future Margate defender Graham Porter. To many observers it seemed like a very harsh decision and Margate ended up losing the tie 2-1.

Phil had to serve a four match ban in the wake of his dismissal and when he returned to the side in October 1998 he struggled to win over the Margate fans. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "untiring" in a 1-1 home draw with Erith & Belvedere on 13.10.98 but Phil's lack of goals in his early appearances led to him being singled out for criticism from the terraces. On 17.10.98 Phil found the net for the first time in his sixth game for Margate - a 2-0 win at Cirencester - and the Thanet Times said he "continued to impress with some hard work and quick moves". The paper added that "he was a good partner for Paul Sykes" and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Phil "showed yet again what an excellent acquisition he has been, with several shots on goal and general all-round hard work". Responding to the criticism of Phil from some supporters Chris Kinnear said "It takes time for people to settle in properly. But he's scoring now; you can't fault him".

On 24.10.98 Margate lost 2-0 at home to Raunds and during the first half Phil again came in for abuse from a section of the home fans. This led to Paul Sykes intervening in his own unique style. As the rest of the players left the field at half-time Sykes ran over to the Hartsdown Road terrace where the majority of the Margate supporters were standing and launched into an astonishing impassioned defence of Phil, calling on people to get behind him. It was a remarkable act of support for his strike partner and in the Thanet Times a few days later assistant manager Kevin Raine said of Phil "he's not playing particularly badly at the moment".

On 28.11.98 Phil got his first goals at Hartsdown Park when he scored twice after coming on as a sub in a 6-0 demolition of Corby. The Thanet Times praised him for "swivelling superbly" before firing in his second with a low drive into the corner of the net. Phil repeated his 'super-sub' act on 12.12.98 when he crashed home a 25-yarder in a 5-0 home win over Bashley and he celebrated by standing in front of the Margate fans with his hand cupped to his ear, as if to ask what had happened to the abuse he'd suffered. On 19.12.98 he played from the start in a game at St.Leonards and scored in a 6-1 win but after that Phil didn't start a match for three months.

He became a regular substitute and the Thanet Times said he "caused nightmares for the defence...producing numerous chances" after coming on in a 2-0 win over Tonbridge at Hartsdown Park on 9.1.99. On 26.1.99 Phil came off the bench to score in a 2-1 home win over Ashford and when he finally returned to the starting line-up for a game at Erith & Belvedere on 20.3.99 he marked the occasion with a goal in a 2-0 win. He then enjoyed a run in the side, starting each of the next five matches and scoring in a 2-1 win over St.Leonards at Hartsdown Park on 27.3.99 although the Thanet Times said Phil was "guilty of squandering several first half chances" before finding the net. He made his last appearance of the season in a 1-0 home win over Folkestone on 5.4.99 but then suffered knee ligament damage which ruled him out of Margate's last seven games of the campaign. He'd scored eight goals in 26 appearances (11 as sub) before missing the run-in that secured Margate's promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. Towards the end of the season Phil provided a quote for Margate's matchday programme that read "Thanks for your support. NOT!! See you next season (maybe)" which summed up his uneasy relationship with some fans.

He had an eventful summer ahead of the 1999/00 campaign. In a friendly at Sittingbourne in July Phil was substituted at the referee's request after he'd been involved in a flare-up with a Brickies player and in a home friendly against Dagenham & Redbridge he collided with former Crystal Palace keeper Perry Suckling who suffered two broken ribs. Phil then scored with what the Isle of Thanet Gazette called a "superb 30-yard strike" as Margate beat his old club Dartford 1-0 in a friendly at Purfleet on 4.8.99.

Phil opened his goalscoring account for the season proper when he struck twice in a 3-0 home win over Gloucester on 21.8.99 and on 28.8.99 he got two more in 3-2 win over Ilkeston at Hartsdown Park. The Thanet Times said he was "in prime form up front" and by then Phil was rapidly winning over any Margate fans who still had doubts about his value to the club. The paper then said he was "all hustle and bustle and generally excellent" in a 2-1 home win over Clevedon on 11.9.99. The Times' report on a 3-0 win at Taunton in the FA Cup on 2.10.99 said that Phil "deserved a goal for his efforts" and although he didn't find the net that day he was soon back on the goal trail and got two in a 4-1 win over Rothwell at Hartsdown Park on 23.10.99. Phil got his tenth goal of the season in a 3-3 draw at Havant & Waterlooville on 26.10.99 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "combative as ever" in a 3-2 home win over Tonbridge on 2.11.99.

The Thanet Times' report on a 0-0 draw with Dartford at Hartsdown on 27.11.99 said that Phil "won his fair share in the aerial battle" and on 4.12.99 he got both goals in a 2-1 home win over Newport. Phil was on target in Margate's next three games too and in the third of them - a 4-2 win over Baldock at Hartsdown Park on 21.12.99 - he scored twice in the last ten minutes after coming on as a substitute having been left out of the starting line-up. His first goal was a brilliant 25-yard volley and Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "I wanted to give Phil a rest but once he is on the pitch he is totally committed. He treats every game exactly the same".

Around the turn of the year Phil had a barren run in front of goal and didn't score for seven games but on 1.2.00 he ended the spell with what the Gazette said was a "fierce first-time shot" in a 5-2 win at Fleet. On 5.2.00 Phil notched up his 20th goal of the season in a 2-1 home win over Boston and at the end of February / start of March he scored in three consecutive games. The run included a superb 25-yarder in a 3-1 defeat at Hastings on 29.2.00. On 1.4.00 Phil clashed with team-mate Jay Saunders after the final whistle of a 1-1 draw with Dorchester at Hartsdown Park but Chris Kinnear explained to the Thanet Times "They were both disappointed, and it just shows how much they care". He continued "They were both alright in the changing rooms afterwards. It was all down to frustration and how much they wanted to win". Phil got his 28th and final goal of the campaign in a 3-1 home win over Halesowen on 6.5.00 and the Thanet Times said his performance was "excellent". He won both the players' and supporters' 'Player of the Year' awards for a season in which he made 54 appearances (one as sub) and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said it was an "amazing turnaround" in view of Phil's struggle to be accepted during the previous campaign.

A few days after the season ended the Thanet Times published an extensive article on Phil that was headlined 'Collins silences his critics' with a sub-heading of 'Jeers have turned to admiration for prolific attacker'. The author wrote "Had Margate manager Chris Kinnear canvassed supporters over who should stay or go at the end of last season, it's possible striker Phil Collins would have topped the poll of those to leave. Without a regular place in the side, Collins was restricted to second half appearances and struggled to find the net. Yet the jeers which accompanied him at the end of last season are now long forgotten after a remarkable turn in fortunes. Now, the fans would be distraught to see him leave...his big-hearted commitment won over the fans" and Phil said "The supporters have been fantastic, it's been a hard season but the side has done really well and the crowd has been behind us. It's very difficult when you come on for the last 20 minutes or so, and I tried too hard. I had not been left out of a team before and it was becoming quite difficult. But I was really determined that I would stay. Our target is now to get to the Conference. That would be fantastic for me, the club and the fans". The Times' review of the campaign said of Phil "the main man...never dropped his blood-and-thunder approach and rattled up the goals".

He was as competitive as ever during Margate's pre-season games in the summer of 2000 and on 29.7.00 the referee instructed assistant manager Kevin Raine to substitute Phil after he'd clashed with a visiting Kingstonian player in a game Margate won 4-2. A year earlier the same thing had happened in a friendly at Sittingbourne. Phil didn't score in the first three games of the 2000/01 campaign and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "guilty of wasting several chances" in a 1-0 defeat at Welling on 22.8.00. He opened his account for the new season with two goals in a 5-0 thrashing of Fisher at Hartsdown Park on 28.8.00 and Phil scored regularly from then on. He bagged both goals in a 2-0 home win over Cambridge City on 5.9.00 and the Gazette said Phil's second was an "unstoppable half-volley". He notched up another brace in a 3-2 win at Havant & Waterlooville on 16.9.00 and his second goal was a dramatic injury time winner. The Thanet Times report on the match mentioned Phil's "heavyweight battle" with home centre-back and future Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish. Phil had to wait over a month for his next goal after failing to find the net in four games and then missing two due to his wife having a baby but after scoring in a 6-0 home win over Sittingbourne on 31.10.00 he embarked on an impressive spree. After being on the mark in a 3-1 win over King's Lynn at Hartsdown Park on 4.11.00 Phil got two goals in a 4-0 home win over Tonbridge on 14.11.00 and then scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 3-2 win over Welsh visitors Merthyr Tydfil on 18.11.00. A few days later Phil was scheduled to play for the Southern League against an FA X1 but the match was cancelled. On 16.12.00 he scored another hat-trick in a 4-1 win at King's Lynn and Phil's third goal was a spectacular strike from outside the penalty area.

He carried his form into the new year and on 13.1.01 Phil was on target with a brilliant first-time effort with the outside of his boot as Margate pulled off a famous 2-1 win at Woking in the FA Trophy. Leon Braithwaite got the other goal and by then he'd developed an excellent partnership with Phil. The two of them got a goal each for an FA X1 in a 6-1 win over the Combined Services at Bishop's Stortford on 30.1.01 in a match that was a trial for the England semi-professional team and future Margate players Nick Roddis and Lee Shearer also scored in the match.

On 10.2.01 Phil got his 20th goal of the season to secure a 1-0 win at Salisbury and that was the start of a run of four consecutive games in which he scored. The sequence also included a goal in a 2-1 defeat at Dover on 13.2.01, two in a 3-0 win at Ilkeston on 20.2.01 and the only goal of the game as Margate beat Tamworth at Hartsdown Park on 24.2.01. Phil then notched up back-to-back goals in home wins over Moor Green (4-0) and Bath (2-0) on 20.3.01 and 24.3.01 respectively before getting two in a 3-0 win over visitors Crawley on 16.4.01. He bagged another double in a 3-2 win over Dorchester at Hartsdown Park on 24.4.01 and Phil's second was his 30th of the campaign. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he'd "had a fantastic game" and that one of his goals - a powerful volley - was a "contender for goal of the season". By then Margate were closing in on the Southern League Premier Division title and Phil got two goals in each of the next two matches. After scoring both in a vital 2-0 win at Cambridge City on 26.4.01 he repeated the feat in an equally crucial 3-0 home win over Worcester on 28.4.01 and both Phil's goals that day came from the penalty spot. Although he didn't score in Margate's last two matches of the campaign and had a penalty saved in a 2-0 final day defeat at Burton on 5.5.01 it mattered little as Phil's 34 goals had played a huge part in securing Margate's promotion to the Conference. He made 46 appearances and was a joint winner of the 'Supporters Player of the Year' award along with Paul Lamb and Lee Williams. Phil also finished up as the leading goalscorer in the Southern League Premier Division.

In the summer of 2001 he signed a new two-year contract and Phil also had a groin operation. His recovery was hampered when he picked up a back injury and Phil missed the early part of the 2001/02 season as a result. Early in September 2001 he told the Thanet Times "I'm dying to get back out there." and by then Phil had played in a few reserve team games as he tried to regain match fitness.

On 11.9.01 Phil finally made his first senior appearance of the campaign, and his first in the Conference, when he lined up alongside Leon Braithwaite as Margate won 1-0 at Woking. Unfortunately Phil had to go off at half-time after failing to recover from a crunching Nick Roddis challenge during the first period. Roddis signed for Margate later in the season. Phil was a regular in Margate's matchday squad for the next few months but sometimes had to make do with a place on the subs bench as Braithwaite was played as a lone striker.

In its report on a 1-0 win over Hayes at Hartsdown Park on 2.10.01 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Phil "improved as the game went on, getting more involved" and added "he is clearly starting to find the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in non-league football last season". A few days later he was named as the non-league 'Striker of the Year' at the TeamTalk awards in London.

On 6.10.01 Phil belatedly scored his first goal of the season in a 3-0 win at Chester and he also struck in a 1-1 draw with Doncaster at Hartsdown Park on 13.10.01. However Phil was still not back to his best and in its report on a 2-0 defeat at Grays in the FA Cup on 27.10.01 the Thanet Times said he "looked to be lacking fitness" whilst noting that "the game had passed the striker by for long spells". He was a substitute in Margate's next two games and the Thanet Times said he "added some muscle" to the attack after coming on during the second half of a 3-3 draw at Forest Green on 3.11.01. He also came off the bench in a 1-1 draw with visitors Nuneaton on 10.11.01 and after that match Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "He's got the desire to play, but he's had problems with a twisted ankle and being ill. It's just a matter of him getting the pace up for the whole 90 minutes."

Phil returned to the starting line-up for a Kent Senior Cup tie at home to Bromley on 13.11.01 and scored in a 3-1 win which led to him wearing the number ten shirt in Margate's next four matches. On 1.12.01 he was sent off in the last minute as Margate drew 1-1 with Boston at Hartsdown Park and in doing so became the 100th Margate player to receive his marching orders since World War II. Phil's dismissal came after he blasted a shot wide at the Coffin End and around 20 Boston supporters surged to the front of the terrace to abuse him for the miss. There were some suggestions that he was spat at and Phil swore at the fans before making what The Non-League Paper described as an "unmistakable gesture" which the Thanet Times said led to "ugly scenes" as the Boston supporters reacted furiously. In his last outing before serving a two match ban Phil scored in a 2-2 draw at Leigh on 8.12.01 and in his second game back in the side he got his fifth goal of the season as Margate beat Hayes 3-1 in an FA Trophy tie at Hartsdown Park on 12.1.02. After that game Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "Phil Collins is looking sharp."

Over the course of the next few weeks Phil was hampered by a thigh problem and a 0-0 draw with visitors Chester on 9.2.02 marked his last start of the campaign. He was used as a sub in three of the next four matches but after coming on in a 2-1 win at Braintree in the FA Trophy on 5.3.02 an achilles injury ended Phil's season and he missed Margate's last 15 games. He'd scored five goals from 26 appearances (seven as sub) before his campaign was curtailed.

In July 2002 Phil underwent a hip operation and missed the start of the 2002/03 season. Towards the end of August he played in some reserve team games before finally returning to first team duty on 7.9.02 as Margate took on Stevenage in a Conference game at Dover. It was just over six months since Phil's last senior outing and the Thanet Times said he was "given a huge hand by the crowd" as he came on as a second half substitute. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and the Nationwide football website said Phil's introduction "fired Margate up" whilst noting that "his link-up play with (Leon) Braithwaite worried the Boro defence". Over the course of the next few weeks Phil made three further sub appearances and the Isle of Thanet Gazette referred to him as being "ever-popular" in its report on a 1-0 defeat against Dagenham & Redbridge at Dover on 24.9.02. The paper said Phil's performance after coming off the bench was "encouraging" and that he "looked close to full fitness". Chris Kinnear agreed and said "Phil looked lively when he came on. It looks like he's got his old enthusiasm back and he's got a smile on his face, which can only help."

On 8.10.02 Phil made his first start of the season as Margate lost 4-1 at Farnborough and then enjoyed a good run in the side. The Thanet Times said he was "impressive" in a 2-2 draw at Halifax on 12.10.02 and on 19.10.02 Phil got his first goal for over nine months to secure a 1-0 win over Southport at Dover. The Nationwide website said he "led the line marvelously" whilst the KM Extra newspaper said supporters saw "a glimpse of striker Phil Collins in the sort of form that had Hartsdown mesmerized in seasons past" . The paper added it was "a first class display from Margate's favourite front man that had the faithful singing verse after verse of Walking in a Collins Wonderland". The Thanet Times was just as impressed and ran a "Super Collins Ends Injury Nightmare" headline above a report which praised Phil's "superbly-taken winner". He cleverly curled the ball home and the paper said Phil "quickly reminded fans of the attributes which made him such a favourite" noting that "an unflinching work rate was combined with an icy-cool nerve in front of goal". Chris Kinnear said "Phil was a bit down at the start of the season because of the injury problems but instead of sulking he worked really hard. He took the goal really well and I am very pleased for him."

Phil was on target again in his next outing on 26.10.02 as Margate won 2-1 at Gravesend & Northfleet in an FA Cup tie but he then went seven games without scoring. His barren run included a 1-1 draw at Orient in the FA Cup on 16.11.02 and a 1-0 win over the Londoners in the replay at Dover on 26.11.02. On 7.12.02 Phil had a golden chance to put Margate ahead 15 minutes into an FA Cup tie against Cardiff at Dover but smashed his shot against the bar. The Sunday Mirror described it as a "glaring miss" whilst The Independent said Phil's effort "almost split the crossbar". Margate went on to lose 3-0 but The Independent praised him for being "ever-willing".

On 14.12.02 Phil was back on the scoresheet as Margate won 3-1 at Stevenage and his next goal came in a 4-2 win over Gravesend & Northfleet at Hartsdown Park on 1.1.03. Phil smashed the ball home after being set up by Jean-Michel Sigere. On 18.1.03 Phil was on target in an epic 4-4 draw with Northwich at Hartsdown and in its report on a 2-0 win at Worcester in the FA Trophy on 1.2.03 the Thanet Times said his "power worried the home defence all afternoon". Phil got another goal in a 2-0 win over Leigh at Dover on 8.2.03 before enduring a run of six matches without scoring up to and including a 3-0 reverse at Morecambe on 11.3.03. He missed Margate's next two games with a shoulder injury suffered at work and then a neck problem picked up in training before returning as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat at Doncaster on 25.3.03. The Nationwide site said his introduction "seemed to galvanise Margate".

Phil started the next match at Hereford on 29.3.03 and scored an amazing goal from some 50 yards out as Margate won 3-2. The Non-League Paper described his effort as a "speculative punt" as Phil hooked the ball over his shoulder and hoisted it towards goal. Hereford's manager Graham Turner said "It was one of the most freakish goals I've ever seen." Margate's new coach Kevin Hales agreed and said it was "one of the funniest and freakiest goals I have seen. The ball looked like it was on its way to the moon, but landed up in the back of the net. It was really quite comical."

Phil had to sit out Margate's next three games with a hamstring problem but returned for a 0-0 draw with Farnborough at Dover on 19.4.03 and then featured in a 1-0 defeat at Telford on 21.4.03. On 30.4.03 he was part of the Margate side that won 2-1 at Welling to lift the Kent Senior Cup but it turned out to be Phil's final game for the club. Having scored seven goals - the last of them his stunner at Hereford - from 37 appearances (six as sub) he was released at the end of the season. Despite his injury problems in the latter part of his Margate career Phil left the club with a superb record of exactly a goal every other game, excluding his substitute appearances.

In June 2003 he joined Welling and Phil scored over ten goals for the Wings during 2003/04 before leaving the club in September 2004 to rejoin Cray.

On 11.10.04 Phil scored in his first appearance back at Cray as they beat Aveley 3-1 in an FA Trophy tie and on 19.2.05 he marked his 100th career appearance for the club by scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Fleet. The goals took his overall tally for Cray to 61 and Phil ended up with nine goals for 2004/05.

In June 2005 he announced that he'd decided to take time out of football due to family and work commitments but Phil remained registered with Cray and said that he'd turn out for the club in emergencies. Cray manager Ian Jenkins said "Phil looks like he may hang up his boots. I love Phil, he is great in the dressing room, a good mate of mine, but he will keep training to keep ticking over and will be signed on for the new season." In the event Phil didn't feature at all for Cray during 2005/06 and his career was at an end.

On 30.4.06 Phil made a return to Hartsdown Park when he scored in the 'Syko Challenge' game to raise funds for his tragically deceased former Margate strike partner Paul Sykes but despite only being 33 at the time Phil told supporters that he didn't miss playing at all. He was never tempted out of retirement.

He returned to Hartsdown once more on 12.5.12 to play in Bill Edwards' testimonial match.