THE nephew of Colchester United promotion winner Eamonn Collins has become the most expensive Irish player ever - again.

Nathan Collins has broken his own record as the most expensive Irish footballer in history, after joining Brentford from their Premier League rivals Wolves for a club record fee.

The 22-year-old defender arrives in West London after spending just one season at Molineux, having previously played for Stoke and Burnley and has 45 Premier League appearances to his name.

 

The Republic of Ireland international started out at Cherry Orchard in Dublin, which also produced former U's player and boss Joe Dunne.

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His uncle Eamonn helped the U's win promotion from the GM Vauxhall Conference back to the Football League, 31 years ago.

He played in 33 of Colchester's 42 Conference matches under Roy McDonough in that memorable 1991-1992 season.

Eamonn joined the U's in May 1989 when Alan Ball, whom he had played under at Southampton and Portsmouth, arrived as Jock Wallace's assistant at Layer Road.

 

He also won an FA Trophy medal with Colchester in 1992, although he suffered heartache on final day after he was a non-playing substitute against Witton Albion, at Wembley.

Eamonn, now 57, left Colchester in the summer of 1992 and is a successful football agent in Dublin.

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His nephew Nathan Collins, who cost Brentford a reported £23million, is now aiming to help the club build on their highest-ever league finish after they ended the 2022-23 term in ninth place.

 

"I talked with the manager and a few of the backroom staff about the project here," he said.

"It's a club on the rise and I can see where they want to go. It's exciting to be here.

"I like to play football. I want to dribble, play and create. It starts at the back. I can play long balls and short balls. But, at the end of the day, I'm a defender and I have to head the ball, win it and win my challenges."