Tonbridge Angels striker Frannie Collin has told KSN how he wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to return to the football league in the future.

The 24 year old former Gillingham and Dover Athletic striker has been in fine form this season, being the leading marksman with sixteen goals in the Conference South.

That form has seen him linked with a number of clubs and following Charlie Sheringham’s move to Bournemouth last month, speculation has surrounded Collin, with rumours that Dartford were keen to sign him along with some Football League clubs.

Angels manager Tommy Warrilow has already stated his desire to keep the striker and Collin told KSN how he is more than happy to stay at the Longmead Stadium:

“I’m not desperate to get back into the Football League, although I’m twenty four now and if an opportunity were to come along then I’d be stupid to turn it down.”

“For the last couple of years I’ve put it to the back of my mind. When I left Gillingham it was a case of how quickly I can get myself back in the league, but I think I have just decided to enjoy my football and not let it get to me.”

“That’s taken the pressure of me and I think I’ve played better because of it.”

Collin started out his professional career at Gillingham when he signed a deal in October 2005 and scored on his debut against Crawley in the Football League Trophy later that month aged just eighteen.

The Chatham born forward went on to score once more for The Gills before being released by Ronnie Jepson in May 2007.

From there Frannie was snapped up by then Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler and he went on to become a fan’s favourite at The Crabble, hitting 57 goals in three seasons that saw the Whites win back to back promotions.

After surprisingly being released by Hessenthaler in the summer of 2010, shortly before he himself left Dover to return to Gillingham, Collin signed for Tonbridge Angels where he has been in impressive form scoring 21 goals in his first season for the club.

Despite being released by both Gillingham and Dover, Collin insists he enjoyed his time at both clubs and is relishing life with the Angels now:

“We had a managerial change in my time at Gillingham and some managers like you and some don’t. It was the biggest knock back in my career being released.”

“It was the first time I’d had any real rejection and it did take me a while to get over it. I was gutted as Gillingham were my home town club and that made it that bit harder.”

“That’s in the past now though and it’s given me the chance to drop down the leagues and play some football. I think in the four years since I left Gillingham I’ve become a much better player.”

“In my final year at Dover I didn’t play as much as I’d like and when I did play it was out of position. I’d like to think that when I’ve been playing up top and have been given a run of games I’ve scored goals and performed. I’ve been really happy since I joined Tonbridge.”

Playing for Tonbridge Angels is a part-time job for Collin like most other non league players and the striker supplements his income working with his father:

“I’m a plasterer now. When I left Gillingham and joined Dover I bummed around for about a year and did nothing, but my dad’s a plasterer and told me to get my arse in gear and to get out and get working.”

“It’s nice working with my dad, but there’s nothing more that he’d like than to see me playing full-time as he likes to come and watch.”

Tonbridge Angels have surprised a lot of people this season in the Conference South having been promoted to the league via a 4-3 play-off win over Lowestoft Town in May.

A decent run of late has seen the Angels climb to tenth in the table and just five points outside the play-off places and Collin believes the side have what it takes to finish in the top five this season:

“It’s gone a lot better than we thought it would at the start of the season. Having just gone up we were trying to consolidate as a side and as a team we’re pleased as to how the start of this season has gone so far.”

“Every week we chalk a game off and look at that fifth spot. We’re getting close to Christmas now and we’re not a million miles away from it.”

“Maybe a month ago we were quite a few points adrift, but we’ve put quite a good run together and we’re right up there.”

“I think we’ve played the majority of the teams in the league now and we feel that we are as good as most others in this league.”

Collin will be back in action for the Angels this weekend as they look to put last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Truro behind them as they travel to Bishop’s Stortford in the FA Trophy.

 

“I don’t get the chance to go as much as I’d like to because of my games. Funnily enough the last one I went to was The Gills game against Dover in the cup last season as I had a free Saturday.”

“I’ve still got a few friends there at The Gills, some of the Dover boys went there in the summer and of course Hessy is now there, so I always look out for their results. They have put together a good run of late and hopefully they can get promoted this year.”