Nathan Collins, the captain of Brentford and the Republic of Ireland, is setting his sights high, dreaming of Europe with his club and the World Cup with his country.
Collins is featured in ‘The Football Interview’ series, which includes in-depth conversations with prominent figures in sport and entertainment. The interviews explore mindset, motivation, defining moments, and personal reflections. This week’s interview will be broadcast on BBC One from 23:30 BST on Saturday, 14 March (and in Scotland at 00:30 on Sunday).
Brentford’s Strong Season Despite Changes
Despite the summer departures of manager Thomas Frank and strikers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa, Brentford are currently seventh in the Premier League.
World Cup Hopes for Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland are hoping to qualify for their first World Cup tournament since 2002 and are preparing for the play-offs later this month. Collins reflected on the team’s victory against Hungary in November, sealed with a goal in the last moments of the game.
Collins’ Early Footballing Days
Collins, now 24, moved to England aged 15 and comes from a football family. His dad played for Oxford United.
Collins recounts his early sporting life, recalling playing both football and Gaelic football as a child. He trained twice a week with each team, and played a match for each on the weekend.
Collins recalls a specific memory of scoring his first goal around the age of four or five, taking it around the keeper to score. He admits there were potentially no witnesses.
Family Support
Collins tells Kelly Somers in the Football Interview what it meant for his family to see him win a senior cap for the national team. He reveals his mum flies in for every Brentford match.
According to Collins, growing up he was never able to sit still. His parents would drive him to his match, watch the match, go home quickly to eat, and then go straight back out the door.
Collins on His Early Drive
Collins says he grew up with a football and everything he has done throughout his whole life was with a football, or any kind of ball really.
Collins is taking everything in his stride.