Former West Ham star James Collins ripped up his own Aston Villa contract just a few minutes into his first training session.
But he told Peter Crouch and co. in an episode of the That Peter Crouch Podcast that it wasn’t without justifiable reason.
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Collins made over 300 appearances in the Football League and the Premier League, and he also played 51 times for Wales.
He played a pivotal role in Cardiff City’s promotion to the Premier League in 2013 and similarly lifted West Ham United to the top flight in 2012.
During Collins’ time at West Ham, he was affectionately named by the Hammers faithful, the ‘Ginger Pele’.
This was due to his red hair and for giving everything on match day, talk about a reputation.
His first chapter at Aston Villa began in 2009, when he signed a four-year deal from West Ham on the last day of the summer transfer window.
Collins made his league debut for Villa in September, contributing to a clean sheet in the Second City Derby against Birmingham City.
After returning to West Ham in 2012, Collins attempted a second stint at Aston Villa in December 2019, but the experience devolved into an unexpected turn of events.
“Dean Smith got the Villa job, and John Terry was his assistant coach. They said, ‘Come up and train, and we’ll have a look at you,’” Collins explained.
“So I felt good, I did a bit of training, and they offered me a contract. It was something like a two-month or three-month contract.
“This is how mad it is as a footballer; I had to sign it on Thursday to be on the bench for Saturday.
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“I signed it on Thursday at about twenty past ten. So I’m signing, doing it all, and by the time I’ve signed the contract and gone out for training, the boys have started their warm-ups and they’re doing sprints.
“I thought I’d just go straight into the sprints. I did a sprint and popped my calf.
“I’ve just signed this contract for Aston Villa, so I went over to Dean Smith and JT and said, ‘Boys, I’ve just popped my calf,’ because I’ve done my calf before and I knew it was quite bad. I said I’d run inside quickly and rip the contract up.
“I knew I’d only signed for like three months; I loved my time at Villa and they were really good to me. I thought I couldn’t sign a short contract and be injured for two.”
“I was technically a Villa player. I told Dean Smith I can’t do that to you. I could be out for two months.
“I ran back to Sharon, the secretary, and I asked her, ‘Have you sent that contract off?’ She said no, I said we’re going to have to rip it up; I’ve pulled my calf.”
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Peter Crouch interjected: “Wow, fair play to you mate. Quite a lot of people would have just sat there for four months.”
Collins continued: “I could have sat there; I knew my calves. It could have been a two or three month injury. So I went back, got fit from that, and ended up at Ipswich.”
In January 2019, Collins signed a contract with Ipswich, making his debut in a hard-fought 1-0 home victory against Rotherham United that same month.
He was released at the end of the 2018-19 season after making just six appearances for the club.
Collins parted ways with the club at the end of the 2018-19 season, ultimately hanging up his boots in October 2020.
