Leeds stars in final Minster farewell to Bobby Collins

Collins’ funeral will take place at midday next Thursday, January 30, at Leeds Minster, formerly known as Leeds Parish Church.

Many of the Scot’s old team-mates will be attending along with current United management, staff and players.

A club spokesman said: “It will be an emotional day for everybody connected with Leeds United.

“Bobby was one of our greatest players and we’re sure next Thursday will be a fitting tribute to him.”

The spokesman added that training times were being changed so that management and players could attend.

Collins died last Monday at the age of 82 after a battle with illness. A midfielder, he signed for Leeds from Everton in 1962 and went on to make 167 appearances in five years for the Whites, scoring 26 goals.

He was manager Don Revie’s on-field general as United began their rise from Second Division strugglers to the top of the European game. He also had a distinguished spell with Celtic.

Glasgow-born Collins stayed in Leeds after his retirement, spending some time coaching at schools in Hunslet. In an interview just before his 65th birthday, he described his move to United as “the best thing that ever happened to me”.

Next week’s funeral will take place in the same church used for the farewell to another United legend back in 2004.

Famous names paying their respects to John Charles on that day included Collins himself as well as a host of other Leeds heroes.