Jack Collison

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Lore & Background

Jack Collison's rise at West Ham United was marked by determination and resilience. After joining the club in 2005, he impressed Academy director Tony Carr enough to earn a first year scholarship. He became reserve team captain at the start of the 2007–08 season and made his first-team debut on 1 January 2008, coming on as a substitute for the injured Freddie Ljungberg in a 2–0 Premier League defeat away to Arsenal. His first league start came on 11 April 2008 in a 1–0 defeat away to Bolton Wanderers, replacing the injured Mark Noble. Collison scored his first goal for West Ham on 8 November 2008, an 18-yard strike in a 3–1 defeat at home to Everton, coming on as a substitute for the injured Matthew Upson on his home debut. His good form earned him a new five-year contract extension in December 2008, keeping him at the club until summer 2013. On Boxing Day 2008, he scored the equaliser at Portsmouth and had a hand in the next two goals in a 4–1 win. He scored his third goal of the season on 1 March 2009, the only goal in a 1–0 win at home to Manchester City. Collison ended the 2008–09 season having made 24 appearances in all competitions and was named Young Hammer of the Year by Tony Carr. A serious knee injury kept Collison out for 14 months, but he made his first-team return in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on 7 May 2011. In the 2011–12 season, he scored a crucial 25-yard winner away at Leicester City to keep West Ham's automatic promotion hopes alive, and then scored twice in a 2–0 win away at Cardiff City in the first leg of the play-off semi-final. He played the full 90 minutes in the play-off final as West Ham defeated Blackpool 2–1 at Wembley Stadium, securing an instant return to the Premier League. Off the pitch, Collison faced unimaginable grief: on 23 August 2009, he played 89 minutes of a 2–1 home defeat to Tottenham, only to learn afterwards that his father had been killed in a motorcycle accident while travelling to the game. Two days later, he started a League Cup match against Millwall, a display of raw fortitude that became part of his legend.

In Their Own Story

The night before the play-off semi-final first leg at Cardiff City, the West Ham squad was tense. They had finished third in the Championship with 86 points, and the automatic promotion place had slipped away on the final day. Now it was all or nothing. Jack Collison, who had battled back from 14 months out through injury, was in the starting lineup. At the Cardiff City Stadium, with the score at 0-0, Collison picked up the ball 25 yards out. He didn't hesitate. The first strike arrowed into the bottom corner. The second, a composed finish from close range, killed the tie. He scored both goals in a 2–0 win that put West Ham in control. The second leg at Upton Park was a 3–0 victory, a 5–0 aggregate scoreline that sent them to Wembley. At Wembley, Collison played the full 90 minutes, his relentless running and sharp passing helping West Ham grind out a 2–1 win over Blackpool. For a player who had spent over a year wondering if he'd ever kick a ball in anger again, it was a moment of pure vindication.

Reader's Guide

Jack Collison's career at West Ham United spanned seven seasons, from 2007 to 2014, during which he made 121 appearances and scored 14 goals. He was a versatile midfielder who could play in central midfield or on the left side of a midfield diamond. His early promise under manager Gianfranco Zola saw him become a regular in the first team, scoring crucial goals and earning a five-year contract extension. However, a serious knee injury suffered in a 1–0 win away at Wigan Athletic on 4 March 2009, when he dislocated his kneecap attempting to chest down a long ball, sidelined him for six weeks initially, but the cartilage damage never fully healed. After missing most of September 2009 due to recurrence of the injury, he underwent knee surgery in May 2010 and was ruled out for around nine months. Collison returned to action on 7 May 2011 in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn Rovers after 14 months out. He signed a new long-term deal with West Ham in August 2011 and played a key role in the 2011–12 promotion campaign. His 25-yard winner away at Leicester City on the final away game of the season kept West Ham's automatic promotion hopes alive, and his two goals in the play-off semi-final first leg against Cardiff City helped secure a 5–0 aggregate victory. He played the full 90 minutes in the play-off final win over Blackpool at Wembley. In his final season at West Ham, Collison went on loan to AFC Bournemouth in October 2013, making his debut in a 2–1 defeat away to Leeds United, and later to Wigan Athletic in March 2014, where he played in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley, taking a penalty that was saved in the shoot-out. He was released by West Ham at the end of the 2013–14 season, having played 121 games in all competitions for the club, scoring 14 goals.

Did You Know?

• Jack Collison scored his first goal for West Ham on 8 November 2008, an 18-yard strike in a 3–1 defeat at home to Everton, coming on as a substitute for the injured Matthew Upson on his home debut.
• On 23 August 2009, Collison played 89 minutes of a 2–1 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur, before learning that his father had been killed in a motorcycle accident while travelling to the game. Two days later, he started a League Cup match against Millwall.
• Collison scored twice in a 2–0 win away at Cardiff City in the first leg of the 2011–12 Championship play-off semi-final, helping West Ham to a 5–0 aggregate victory and a place in the final at Wembley.
• He was capped 15 times for Wales, making his senior debut in a friendly win away at Iceland on 29 May 2008.
• Collison is related to John Gwilliam, a former captain of the Wales rugby union team, through his maternal grandfather.