George Allen (footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Henry Allen is an English former professional footballer who played more than 250 games in the Football League
.
, Birmingham
. A strong-tackling left-back, he joined Coventry City
as an amateur whilst in the army without making any first-team appearances. In November 1952, he joined Birmingham City
on a free transfer, making his league debut the following season on 19 April 1954 in a second division game against Nottingham Forest
at St Andrew's
which ended 2–2. The form of established full-back pairing Ken Green
and Jeff Hall
meant Allen was unable to establish himself as a regular in the side, making only 30 appearances in his first seven years at the club. When Green sustained the injury which eventually forced his retirement, Allen took his place and kept it until suffering a fractured skull in 1961. On his recovery, he could not regain his place in the side, mainly due to the form of Graham Sissons
. After almost ten years at the club, and 165 games in all competitions, he joined Torquay United
in January 1962, following in the footsteps of Birmingham team mate Gordon Astall
who had made the same move six months earlier.
He made his Torquay debut in a 4–2 home win over Hull City
on 20 January 1962 and was ever-present for the remainder of the season. The following season, he missed just one game as Torquay finished sixth in Division Four. He began the 1963–64 season out of the side, Frank Austin
beginning the season at left-back in his place. However, after three games of the season, Allen regained his place, with Austin switching to right-back in place of Colin Bettany
. Allen went to play in 40 league games that season, as well as all three of Torquay's cup ties. He began the 1964–65 season as a regular, but lost his place to Tony Hellin late in the season.
In 1965 he moved to north Devon
side Bideford, who played in the Western League
. He had played 134 league games for Torquay, and failed to score for either of his league clubs.
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...
.
Playing career
Allen was born in Small HeathSmall Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 ....
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. A strong-tackling left-back, he joined Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
as an amateur whilst in the army without making any first-team appearances. In November 1952, he joined Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on a free transfer, making his league debut the following season on 19 April 1954 in a second division game against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
at St Andrew's
St Andrews (stadium)
St Andrew's is an association football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England. It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century....
which ended 2–2. The form of established full-back pairing Ken Green
Ken Green (footballer)
Kenneth "Ken" Green was an English footballer born in West Ham, London, who played as a full back. He played for Birmingham City from 1943 to 1959, making 443 appearances in all competitions and scoring 3 goals, and played in the 1956 FA Cup final which Birmingham lost to Manchester City 3-1...
and Jeff Hall
Jeff Hall (footballer)
Jeffrey James "Jeff" Hall was an English footballer who played as a right back for Birmingham City and England....
meant Allen was unable to establish himself as a regular in the side, making only 30 appearances in his first seven years at the club. When Green sustained the injury which eventually forced his retirement, Allen took his place and kept it until suffering a fractured skull in 1961. On his recovery, he could not regain his place in the side, mainly due to the form of Graham Sissons
Graham Sissons
John Graham Sissons, known as Graham Sissons, is an English former footballer who played as a defender. He made over 250 appearances in the Football League for Birmingham City, Peterborough United and Walsall, and played in both legs of the 1961 final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which...
. After almost ten years at the club, and 165 games in all competitions, he joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in January 1962, following in the footsteps of Birmingham team mate Gordon Astall
Gordon Astall
Gordon Astall is a former English professional footballer. He played as an outside right and represented the Football League, the England B team and played twice for the full England side. At club level he made over 450 appearances in the Football League.Astall was born in Horwich, near Bolton,...
who had made the same move six months earlier.
He made his Torquay debut in a 4–2 home win over Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on 20 January 1962 and was ever-present for the remainder of the season. The following season, he missed just one game as Torquay finished sixth in Division Four. He began the 1963–64 season out of the side, Frank Austin
Frank Austin
John Frank Austin was an English professional footballer. He played as a full-back and represented England as a schoolboy. He was born in Stoke-on-Trent....
beginning the season at left-back in his place. However, after three games of the season, Allen regained his place, with Austin switching to right-back in place of Colin Bettany
Colin Bettany
Colin David Bettany is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Crewe Alexandra and Torquay United....
. Allen went to play in 40 league games that season, as well as all three of Torquay's cup ties. He began the 1964–65 season as a regular, but lost his place to Tony Hellin late in the season.
In 1965 he moved to north Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
side Bideford, who played in the Western League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
. He had played 134 league games for Torquay, and failed to score for either of his league clubs.
Statistics
| Season | Team | Division | League Apps | League Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952–53 | Birmingham City | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953–54 | " | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954–55 | " | 2 | 13 | 0 |
| 1955–56 | " | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956–57 | " | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 1957–58 | " | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 1958–59 | " | 1 | 27 | 0 |
| 1959–60 | " | 1 | 36 | 0 |
| 1960–61 | " | 1 | 39 | 0 |
| 1961–62 | " | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 135 | 0 | ||
| 1961–62 | Torquay United | 3 | 19 | 0 |
| 1962–63 | " | 4 | 45 | 0 |
| 1963–64 | " | 4 | 40 | 0 |
| 1964–65 | " | 4 | 30 | 0 |
| Total | 134 | 0 | ||
| Career totals | 269 | 0 | ||