Wayne Collard
United Kingdom
Wayne Collard is the leading name behind the Miami Dolphins fan community in the United Kingdom, turning lifelong passion into a movement that has united thousands of fans while raising significant funds for charity. His leadership, resilience, and dedication to growing the Dolphins community overseas make him a true example of what it means to be an International Fan of the Year.
Wayne's journey as a Dolphins fan began in 1980 when, at seven years old, he first watched NFL highlights on UK television. Instantly captivated by the energy of the game, he proudly supported the aqua and orange from afar, staying up late to follow scores and highlights as American football slowly gained popularity in the UK. From that moment on, the Miami Dolphins became a key part of his life.
In 2017, when the Dolphins played in London at Wembley Stadium, Wayne organized a pre-game charity event to bring UK Dolphins fans together for the first time on a large scale. What began as a small gathering quickly grew into an unforgettable event, with more than 800 fans attending. Through raffles of nearly 100 autographed items, the event raised £3,000 each for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, creating lifelong friendships and laying the foundation for a growing fan community.
In 2020, Wayne completed a 160-mile charity walk across England, walking a marathon each day for six consecutive days and raising over $5,000 for cancer charities. A few days later, he collapsed and was hospitalized, where doctors discovered a bleeding cancerous tumor that may have otherwise gone undetected. After nearly three months in the hospital, including time on life support, Wayne recovered and credits the Dolphins community for giving him strength and purpose during his recovery.
Motivated by that experience, Wayne founded the Fins Nation UK Fan Club, now an officially recognized Miami Dolphins fan club with more than 3,000 members nationwide. Over the past eight years, the group has raised more than $75,000 for charitable causes while continuing to grow the game and introduce new fans to Dolphins football across the United Kingdom.
Wayne proudly travels to the United States each season to support the team in person, representing UK fans with passion and pride. For Wayne, being a Dolphins fan is more than football; it is about community, resilience, and family that he continues to share with fans across the UK and beyond.