Colin Hawkins a central defender who epitomises the league of Ireland. Full of endeavour and quality, someone who I believe is overlooked and should enter the conversation as one of the great defenders to play in the League Of Ireland.
This week’s Eircom Man.
August 1994 with Riverdance number 1 in Ireland for 3 months straight. Hawkins, still in secondary school, makes a debut for Sathhill Devon In a 4-0 defeat to Athlone. Hawkins gets an underage deal with Coventry City joining the likes of Robbie Keane.
Early in Hawkins career he played a starring role in the famed “Kerr’s Kids” in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championships reaching 3rd place. This really put Hawkins in the shop window after being released from his contract at Coventry City.
Hawkins was a hot commodity in the summer of 1997 with plenty of clubs in the UK angling for his signature But Hawkins chose St Patricks Athletic who at the time were looking to compete at the top of the table and in Europe with an exciting side managed by Liam Buckley. One Particular Result in the early rounds of the champions league qualification holding a star studded Glasgow Celtic to a 0-0 draw in paradise keeping the likes of Larsen out.
He was rewarded with the League of Ireland Player of the Year Award and the Players’ Young Player of the Year Award in 1998, Helping St Pats to the title in his second season again, at this stage Hakins was being admired across the water with some calls to be included in the National Team set up, and then repeating the success with another league title for St Pats.
He left pats to join Doncaster for the 199/00 season after being signed by Ian Sodin who was subsequently sacked being replaced by Steve Wignall who initially did not fancy Hawkins but with true grit and determination Hawkins became a regular starter. With the financial constraints on Donny at the time Hawkins contract had to be cancelled (a foreshadow for what’s to come).
He joined another ambitious team in Bohemins for the 2002 season, never setting the world alight but always a dependable figure in the blackline winning the league for the third time in 2003. Never really capturing the gra from the Bohs faithful, often the other end of the bounce of the ball and the vocal point of supporters’ disappointment. Hawkins departed, joining title rivals Shelbourne ahead of the 2004 season.
Shels were becoming a real force in Irish Football, Hawkins being an integral part of this, this is where I started viewing the league of Ireland closely and very impressed with Shels especially the dynamic 2006 team who won the title, Making this Hawkins 4th league title, He partnered fellow Eircom man Dave Rogers a brick wall in front of the excellent Dean Delany.
Hawkins would again test himself in the English Football league with a return to Coventry in January 2007 following the conclusion of his Shels deal. Hawkins was a pivotal part of Coventry avoiding relegation to League One. His time in Coventry was interrupted due to an achilles injury. Future Wales National Team manager and Netflix fame Chris Coleman (getting in a scrap on Sunderland Till I DIE) was appointed Coventry manager and deemed Hawkins surplus to requirements. A two year spell at Brighton then followed before the return to the League of Ireland.
A short spell at doomed club Sporting Fingal where his contact was cancelled due to the clubs financial situation *where have we heard this before!. Hawkins Joins Dundalk where I got to see him the most in person and it was clear the professionalism and footballing IQ was there to see.
In the 2012 season Hawkins joins Shamrock Rovers, where he took a player/coach role and called time on a fruitful career.
Being a part of the youth set up at Shamrock Rovers to being the manager of the infamous Shamrock Rovers B team Hawkins is admired and respected and well that he is!
Currently doing a fine job at St Mothas as director of football.
In 2023 Hawkins was diagnosed with myeloma, a blood cancer, which had spread across his back and neck. What stunned me is his openness and bravery from his interviews with LOI Central and in the Independent with Dan McDonell both were really touching, also showed the real community spirit The League Of Ireland Has with plenty of people giving support to Colin during this difficult time.