Craig Allen (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Craig Allen is a former Guernsey
association football striker
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
of the North American Soccer League
and gained a contract offer. Over three years, he played three NASL outdoor and two NASL indoor seasons with the Surf. In 1981, he moved to the New Jersey Rockets
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. After one season, he moved to the Cleveland Force where he played for six seasons. In 1988, the Force lost to the San Diego Sockers in the MISL championship. In Jun 1988, the Force released Allen. By this time he had played 254 league games, scored 275 goals and added 180 assists with Cleveland.
in their 10-0 win against Alderney
in the semi-final of the Muratti Vase. This was his first Muratti-appearance since 1978. (Although he failed to find the net in the final as Guernsey lost 1-2 against Jersey
).
Division One Player of the Year for 2008-09.. He currently plays for Guernsey F.C.
in the Combined Counties Football League
Division One. In his first seven games in the league he scored 13 goals. In August 2011 he was allegedly scouted by Swindon Town
.
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
association football striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
Professional
In 1979, the nineteen year old Allen came to California on vacation. While in California, he attended an open tryout with the California SurfCalifornia Surf
The California Surf were a soccer club based in Anaheim, California who played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1981. Their home field was Anaheim Stadium.They originally were the St. Louis Stars...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and gained a contract offer. Over three years, he played three NASL outdoor and two NASL indoor seasons with the Surf. In 1981, he moved to the New Jersey Rockets
New Jersey Rockets
The New Jersey Rockets were an indoor soccer team based out of East Rutherford, New Jersey that played in the Major Soccer League for the 1981 season. Their home arena was the Brendan Byrne Arena, now known as the Izod Center...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. After one season, he moved to the Cleveland Force where he played for six seasons. In 1988, the Force lost to the San Diego Sockers in the MISL championship. In Jun 1988, the Force released Allen. By this time he had played 254 league games, scored 275 goals and added 180 assists with Cleveland.
National team
In March 1993, Allen scored a record 7 goals for GuernseyGuernsey national football team
The Guernsey official football team is the official football team for the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which is not part of the United Kingdom but is a possession of the crown. They are not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA, and therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Football...
in their 10-0 win against Alderney
Alderney national football team
The Alderney official football team is the official football team for Alderney, the third largest of the Channel Islands. They are not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA....
in the semi-final of the Muratti Vase. This was his first Muratti-appearance since 1978. (Although he failed to find the net in the final as Guernsey lost 1-2 against Jersey
Jersey national football team
The Jersey official football team is the official football team for the Bailiwick of Jersey. They are not affiliated with FIFA nor UEFA, and therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Football Championship...
).
Personal Life
Allen's son Ross is also a competitive footballer, and was named Guernsey Football AssociationGuernsey Football Association
The Guernsey Football Association, also simply known as the Guernsey FA, is the body that co-ordinates and organises the sport of football in Guernsey. It is not a member of either UEFA or FIFA, but is a member of the Football Association and has the status of an English county, despite that...
Division One Player of the Year for 2008-09.. He currently plays for Guernsey F.C.
Guernsey F.C.
Guernsey F.C. is a football club located in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The club was formed in 2011 and became a member of the Combined Counties Football League Division One for the 2011–12 season...
in the Combined Counties Football League
Combined Counties Football League
The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey...
Division One. In his first seven games in the league he scored 13 goals. In August 2011 he was allegedly scouted by 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...
.