Tony was English football’s first black manager, and took lowly Rochdale to the final of the League Cup in 1962. In addition, he was chief scout for Leeds United in their glory years in the 1970s and also for Manchester United in the 1980s, and then the England team under Don Revie.

Tony Collins’ contribution to English football was forgotten for decades, and he died in 2021 aged 94. Latterly his career has been recognised by the football establishment, and he now has his own display in the National Football Museum.
 
This film tells his story with tributes from Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Jordan, Chris Hughton, Leon Mann and others.  

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SKY TV 30mins

Dark Matters TV 
Director Geoff Small  

Producers Salim Salam  
DoP: Ian Watts