Sky Sports documentary on former Dale manager Tony Collins to air Friday night

A new Sky Sports documentary focusing on Tony Collins, Rochdale AFC’s former player and manager, is set to air tonight (Friday 4 October).

Tony made history as the first black manager in English Football League history when he took charge of Rochdale in 1960, leading the club to the League Cup final two years later.

The documentary will be broadcast at 10.30pm across multiple Sky Sports channels, following the live match between Sunderland and Leeds United. The programme is expected to offer a deep dive into Collins’ career and lasting impact on football, particularly his time at Rochdale.
 

Read more: Tribute paid in Parliament to late Rochdale manager Tony CollinsPublished: 24 February 2021

Long-time Rochdale fan Geoff Kindon was involved in the making of the documentary, alongside several other supporters who contributed memories, photographs, and footage of Collins’ tenure at the club. Rochdale AFC expressed their gratitude to the fans for their contributions, which helped bring the documentary to life.

Born in Kensington in 1926, Tony began his professional playing career at Sheffield United before going on to represent York City, Watford, Norwich City, Torquay United, and Crystal Palace.

He joined Rochdale as a player in 1959, but it was his transition into management that secured his place in football history.

After just one season at Spotland, he was appointed as player-manager, becoming the first black manager in English league football.

He managed Rochdale from 1960 to 1967, a period that saw the club reach the 1962 League Cup final, a remarkable achievement as one of only two appearances by a fourth-tier side in the history of the competition.

 

 

Beyond his time at Rochdale, Tony also held positions as assistant manager and caretaker manager at Bristol City. He later worked as a scout for prestigious clubs such as Leeds United and Manchester United, further contributing to the game behind the scenes.

In recognition of his groundbreaking achievements, Collins was honoured on the Football Black List in 2017, receiving the prestigious Keith Alexander Award. That same year, he was presented with the League Managers’ Association (LMA) Service to Football Award at the LMA’s 25th Annual Awards Dinner.

The upcoming documentary offers a rare opportunity to celebrate Tony Collins’ pioneering contributions to both Rochdale and English football at large.