END OF AN ERA

By Colin Macmillan

Coach Steven (Duck) Collins (Pictured on the right) of the Clyde Valley Hawks American Football Club has decided to hang up his boots and call it a day.

Steven interest in American football stretches back in 1984 when he watched it on Channel Four TV. After some enquiries Steven found out that there was a Glasgow team in Glasgow called the Lions.

He joined up and quickly realised that he had a talent for the game. Steven played on the defence as a defensive end.

His claim to fame was that he was a part of the legendary Black Death Defence; they were renowned for there hard hitting.

After 9 years Steven decided that it was time to retire from the playing and give his experience back to coaching.

He began his coaching career with East Kilbride Pirates. In 2000 he decided to pass on his coaching talents to the younger players.

He set up Clyde Valley Hawks youth team for boys aged 16-19 The Hawks, under Steven's guidance, soon became known for their hard nose style of football and some really good defence. Stevens’s philosophy was ‘if they touch the ball they pay the price.’

In 2001 they joined the Northern conference of the BYAFA league .With a squad of complete rookies it was all going to be about learning and they finished the season
with a 1 win: 5 loss ratio.

2002 seen a vast improvement and with the boys learning from there mentor Coach Collins it wasn’t long until they were feared by other teams.

Playing against Glasgow Tigers, Dundee Inverness and Inverclyde, the Hawks posted a 5 win and 1 draw and won the Northern League for the first time.

2003 saw a dream season with the Hawks going right through the Northern Division unbeaten, then winning the play off to go to the British finals where they defeated Lancashire Wolverines to be crowned British Champions.

It was the perfect season with 10 wins and no losses

In 2004 Hawks lost a lot of key players but were still strong enough to win the Northern Conference title again but lost in the play offs to the Rams.

The season e nded with 5 wins and 2 losses0

Unfortunately this season Coach Collins found it difficult to balance work, family life, GB coaching and the Hawks all at one time. Coach Collins felt it was time to step aside and give his family some time back and he resigned from the Hawks as general manager and head coach. This will be a great loss to the team.

The players, coaches and committee alike would like to wish Coach Collins and his wife Linda all the best for the future.

Steven’s accolades include

3 Capital bowls
3 northern championships
3 British finals
Playing for Scotland
Playing for Great Britain
Hot Iron’s Team of the Year award
South Lanarkshire Sport Council’s Coach of the year award
Coaching with Youth Team Scotland
Coaching with Great Britain Seniors
Coaching the Hawks to 3 Northern Conference championships
Coaching the Hawks to a British Championship
Coaching with the Claymores
Coaching his son Lee to a high enough standard to play in America at both High School and college level.