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Neill Collins made his name as a gangling teenage centre-half shivering through winter nights playing for Dumbarton in the shadow of the Rock.

These days at 33 he sweats it out alongside former Chelsea ace Joe Cole starring for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the sweltering heat of America’s United Soccer League.

And the former Sheffield United, Sunderland and Wolves stopper has shown he has the write stuff to make it in the States, penning one of the most entertaining football blogs out there on his road trips.

As he drives over the stunning Skyway Bridge to training each morning the veteran Troon-born defender admits he still feels like he is on holiday every day.

(Image: Getty)

He said: “It was strange when I first heard the rumours of Joe coming here, then I just became desperate for it to happen.

“Joe’s played at the top level in English football yet he walked into the locker room with no airs or graces.

“If anything he’s more the victim of the banter than the one dishing it out. He has won the Premier League three times and played in the Champions League Final with Chelsea so the way he is around this place says a lot about him.

“He scored an overhead kick from 20 yards for us that everyone loved on YouTube and it shows you he is still world class at times.”

Under the guidance of former Leicester and Scotland Under-21 midfielder Stuart Campbell the Rowdies have guaranteed a place in the USL play-offs this season.

As the business end of the campaign beckons Collins soaks up every experience, often reflecting on his US adventure in his blog which has grown in popularity since he first dared to publish.

(Image: Coventry Telegraph)

The holder of a sport in the community degree from Strathclyde University, the educated defender tackles every issue with the heart-on-sleeve commitment he has always shown on the field.

He said: “I’ve read every football book I could get my hands on and my favourites weren’t those you would think like Sir Alex Ferguson’s.

“I loved those from players some might term journeymen like Steve Claridge in England and Des McKeown in Scotland.

“Their tales were of the game I knew, I’d read them avidly and think of all the tales I could tell.

“I spoke to my dad and let him read one of my first drafts and he said he loved it and I should get it out there.

“Reactions from my fellow pros have been great and I was pleased because I know how brutal they can be!

“I’ve had Marc McNulty and Billy Sharp, who I played with at Sheffield, and media people like Adrian Durham at TalkSport being really positive about it.”

After a rocky start to the USL season the resurgent Rowdies sealed their play-off spot with time to spare with Collins, Cole and Wolfsburg icon Marcel Schafer providing a spine to a side that’s the envy of the league.

But Neill admits it’s hard to compare the USL – the tier below the MLS – to home.

He said: “It’s impossible to compare the standard because of the climate and culture here. There’s some fantastic players in the USL.

“At the Rowdies we’re lucky to have Joe and Marcel. They are mixed with some top college players and it’s hard to judge how they’d fare in Britain because they haven’t been exposed to that culture.

“But the standard of the USL would surprise people back home. Every player is an athlete.”

Collins’s big challenge will come when he retires and tries to convince wife Amanda to leave Florida.

He grinned: “My wife’s told me in no uncertain terms that we’re staying.

“We’ve just moved into a new house, we’re 60 yards from the swimming pool and when we have a day off I still feel like I’m on holiday.

“I used to play at the Rock for Dumbarton on winter nights. I look around and think life’s changed a wee bit!”

Follow Neill on Twitter @neillycollins3