Chris Allen (footballer born 1989)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Martin "Chris" Allen (born 3 January 1989) is an English footballer who played in the Football League
for Swindon Town
. A midfielder
, he currently plays for Conference National
side Forest Green Rovers
.
, Wiltshire
, and began his junior career with his local Devizes under-9s team before joining the youth set-up at Swindon Town
. Allen captained Swindon's youth team to the quarter-final stages of the 2007 FA Youth Cup, in which they were eliminated by Newcastle United
after Allen was sent off near the beginning of extra time. Manager Paul Sturrock
offered Allen a two-year professional deal which was signed in May 2007. He made his Swindon Town debut in the 4–1 win against Brentford
in the Football League Trophy
in September 2007, and made his Football League debut three months later, on 8 December in the starting eleven for an away game against Southend United
which Swindon won 2–1. He made 16 appearances in first-team competitions before being released in May 2009.
He trained with Exeter City
before the 2009–10 season, but no deal was forthcoming, and he signed for Conference South
club Weymouth
on non-contract terms in August 2009.
After leaving Weymouth, Allen signed for Southern Football League Premier Division side Swindon Supermarine
. He played a key role in their FA Cup run when they were eventually knocked out in the second round by Football League oufit, Colchester United
.
In December 2010 he signed for Conference National
outfit Forest Green Rovers
. An agreement was struck between Forest Green and Swindon Supermarine that the player would be registered with both clubs. Allen made his full debut on the 3 January 2011 in a 3-0 home loss against Crawley Town
. Allen was offered an extension to his stay at Forest Green at the end of the season with the offer of a new contract from Dave Hockaday
to stay with the club for the 2011-12 season.
Allen agreed to stay with Forest Green by signing a new one year contract at The New Lawn in June 2011.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. A midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, he currently plays for Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
.
Career
Allen was born in DevizesDevizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and began his junior career with his local Devizes under-9s team before joining the youth set-up at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. Allen captained Swindon's youth team to the quarter-final stages of the 2007 FA Youth Cup, in which they were eliminated by Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
after Allen was sent off near the beginning of extra time. Manager Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
offered Allen a two-year professional deal which was signed in May 2007. He made his Swindon Town debut in the 4–1 win against Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
in September 2007, and made his Football League debut three months later, on 8 December in the starting eleven for an away game against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
which Swindon won 2–1. He made 16 appearances in first-team competitions before being released in May 2009.
He trained with Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
before the 2009–10 season, but no deal was forthcoming, and he signed for Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
club Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
on non-contract terms in August 2009.
After leaving Weymouth, Allen signed for Southern Football League Premier Division side Swindon Supermarine
Swindon Supermarine F.C.
Swindon Supermarine F.C. are a football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Currently they are members of the Southern League Premier Division...
. He played a key role in their FA Cup run when they were eventually knocked out in the second round by Football League oufit, Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
.
In December 2010 he signed for Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
outfit Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
. An agreement was struck between Forest Green and Swindon Supermarine that the player would be registered with both clubs. Allen made his full debut on the 3 January 2011 in a 3-0 home loss against Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
. Allen was offered an extension to his stay at Forest Green at the end of the season with the offer of a new contract from Dave Hockaday
Dave Hockaday
David "Dave" Hockaday is an English former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He is currently first team manager at Conference National club Forest Green Rovers.-Playing career:...
to stay with the club for the 2011-12 season.
Allen agreed to stay with Forest Green by signing a new one year contract at The New Lawn in June 2011.