A DISPLAY featuring memorabilia from the career of Scotland football legend John Collins has been unveiled in the refurbished Gala Fairydean Rovers boardroom.

Brought up in Langlee, Collins was snapped up by Hibernian and was given his debut by Pat Stanton as a 16-year-old in a friendly against Manchester City.

He quickly became a first team regular and made 195 appearances for the Easter Road club, scoring 21 goals.

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He was also named PFA Scotland’s Young Player of the Year in 1988 before moving to Celtic two years later for a reported fee of £1m.

The Borderer scored 55 goals in 273 appearances for the Hoops and won a Scottish Cup winner’s medal in 1995.

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The following year he moved to AS Monaco on a free transfer under the Bosman rule and helped the club to the French title in 1997 and also to the semi-final of the Champions League, defeating Manchester United in the quarter final.

In 1998 he completed a transfer to Everton for £2m and captained the club before moving to Fulham and helping them to promotion to the Premier League in 2001.

Collins won 58 international caps and scored 12 goals for Scotland.

He played for his country at Euro 96 and scored a goal in the opening match of the 1998 World Cup with a penalty against Brazil.

Speaking at the unveiling – which took place on December 16 ahead of the game against Linlithgow Rose – Collins said: “Every time I come back to Netherdale it feels like I am coming home to my family.

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“I was born and brought up in the scheme just a stone's throw away from the stadium.

“This was my dad's local so ever since I was a wee boy I was here playing football behind the goals.

“Every time I come to a game here I am made to feel really special.

“This is a proper football club run by volunteers who do a tremendous amount of work for the club and community without a single penny taken.

“They put in hours and hours of work week in, week out to improve the club.

“It is a really nice place to come and watch football.

“The guys have done a terrific job transforming this place.”