The Army Football Association is delighted to learn that Major Joe Collins is the recipient of the 2024 Army Sport Lifetime Achievement Award.

Joe’s contribution to Army Football in a significant 36-year military career (Regular and Reserve) has been immense. He has been at the heartbeat of Army football throughout his career.

An exceptional player, the best of his Army generation records was set from the outset. Initially selected to represent Royal Signals aged 16 whilst an Army Apprentice in Harrogate his impressive performances at Corps level led to Army, Youth and Combined Service (CS) selection in the 1988/89 season; one of only two players who have achieved this fantastic accolade.

Player, captain, and manager at every level of Army Football he made 200 Corps appearances, 169 Army matches and 50 for the CS. He won five Kentish Cups (CS), five Inter Service titles and four Massey Trophies (Corps). A frequent Player of the Season at all levels. Running alongside Army football he had a successful semi-professional career, both on and off the pitch.

He also coached all disciplines of the Army representative teams from Army Under 23 development, Men’s Head Coach, Reserve and Masters to whom he led to the inaugural Billy Thomson Inter Service Trophy in 2023. Within Reserve Unit football as Player/Coach he led 4 LANCS to the Army Reserve Challenge Cup for the first time and winning the Army Super Cup, beating Regular Army Cup winners in 2019 and 2021, becoming the first Reserve team to be crowned to do so.

Joe has touched the lives of countless individuals in the Army and wider Armed Services in a positive manner. An outstanding Ambassador he cannot be commended highly enough for his commitment to Service Sport. He is a deserving candidate to be a recipient of Army Sport Lifetime Achievement Award.

Joe is only the second recipient of an Army Sports Awards following on from the 2016 Award of Official of the Year to WO2 Andy Halliday MBE.
Joe was a guest on our Army FA Podcast in partnership with ROAR Sports recently. To listen to the edition please click below:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2MZURuIX79SbMEIZhg6nJ8

Joe will receive his award at the 2024 Army Sports Awards evening on 14th November at RMA Sandhurst.