Ronnie Allen
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen (15 January 1929 – 9 June 2001) was an English international
football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League
, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team. He later became a manager at clubs in England
, Spain
, Portugal
, and Greece
. His son, Russell
, also played professional football throughout the 1970s.
Starting his career in 1946 with Port Vale
, he spent four years with the club, before making a record breaking transfer to West Bromwich Albion
. He was one of the best strikers of the 1950s, playing over 400 games, with a ratio of a goal every two games. He lifted the FA Cup
in 1954
, and helped the club to the FA Community Shield
in 1954
, and a second place finish in the First Division
in 1953–54. In 1961 he signed with Crystal Palace
, where he spent the final four years of his playing career. He helped Palace win promotion out of the Third Division
in 1963–64.
His management career began in 1966 with Wolverhampton Wanderers
, as he led Wolves out of the Second Division
in 1966–67. In 1969 he took up the reigns at Spanish club Athletic Bilbao
, leading the club to a second place finish in La Liga
in 1969–70 and Copa del Rey
glory in 1969. In 1972 he was appointed manager of Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, after one season with the club he moved back to England to manage Walsall
for a brief period. In 1977 he spent a short time as manager of West Bromwich Albion. After a spell advising the Saudi Arabia national team
, he took charge of Greek club Panathinaikos for a short time in 1980. His last management position was back at West Brom in 1981–82, following which he served the club as a coach and scout.
, Stoke-on-Trent
, Allen attended Hanley High School. Despite playing for the school rugby team, his preferred sport was football, and he turned out for his local Boys' Brigade
team and later, Wellington Scouts
. He then moved on to Northwood Mission where he played at outside-right
, alongside Bill McGarry
and Basil Hayward
, who would later become his team-mates at Port Vale
. Allen scored 57 goals for the Mission in the 1943–44 season.
in August 1945, and in March 1946 signed as a part-time professional, for which he received a £10 signing-on fee. The 1946–47
season was the first full season of competitive football in England following the end of the Second World War; Allen made his Football League
debut on 7 September 1946 in a 2–1 defeat to Exeter City
. Due to his national service
commitments, he only made 18 appearances during that season, scoring five goals. He was the club's top scorer in the 1947–48 season
with 13 goals.
Allen joined the Royal Air Force
early in 1947 and represented their football team on several occasions. He was demobbed
on 1 June 1949. In total he played 156 games for the club (including wartime appearances), scoring 40 goals.
on 2 March 1950 for £20,000, a club record fee for both clubs at the time. This was more than double the previous Albion record, set when Jackie Vernon
was brought to the club three years earlier. Allen scored on his debut two days later to secure a 1–1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers
in a First Division
match. The attendance of 60,945 remains a record for a league game at The Hawthorns
. Though only 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) and barely 11 stones (69.9 kg), he emerged as a talented striker, helping to define the modern role of target man. Signed by Jack Smith
, he was soon converted from a wide player into a centre-forward. Allen also benefited from the ultra-modern training techniques of Jesse Carver
, who served Albion as manager for a brief time in the 1952–53 campaign. Carver's successor, Vic Buckingham
, also had a Total Football
philosophy, and appreciated the technical skill Allen possessed, allowing him to play as a deep-lying attacker with room to dribble at will – a revolutionary position and tactic.
Davy Walsh
, the club's top-scorer since the war, was sold on to Aston Villa
in December 1950 for a £25,000 fee. Allen managed to fill attacking void, and formed a deadly partnership with Johnny Nicholls
, feeding poacher Nicholls many of the 58 league goals he scored between 1951 and 1957. Allen became the club's top-scorer for three successive seasons, hitting ten goals in 1950–51, 32 goals in 1951–52, and twenty goals in 1952–53. His run was interrupted by Nicholls, who became the top-scorer in 1953–54, as the club recorded a second pace finish in the league. During the campaign, Allen scored against former club Port Vale in the FA Cup
semi-final and then scored twice against Preston North End
in the 1954 final
, which Albion won 3–1. He then scored a hat-trick in the 1954 FA Charity Shield
at Molineux
, ensuring a 4–4 draw with league champions and Black Country rivals
Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was First Division
top scorer in 1954–55 with 27 goals, though the "Baggies" struggled in the league, finishing a disappointing seventeenth.
He became the club's top-scorer for a fifth and final time in 1955–56, hitting the net seventeen times. Allen's transfer record was broken in March 1956, when the club paid Fulham
£25,000 for Bobby Robson
. The club reached the FA Cup semi-finals again in 1956–57, only to lose out to eventual winners
Aston Villa, following a replay. Albion managed to improve their league form in 1957–58, finishing fourth, as Robson and Derek Kevan
's strike partnership replaced that of Allen's and Nicholls'. Though Nicholls departed, Allen remained a key member of the first team, as West Brom finished fifth in 1958–59; he further enhanced his legendary status at Albion by scoring the equaliser late in the game against Aston Villa to send Albion's biggest rivals down. New manager Gordon Clark
led West Brom to a fourth place finish in 1959–60, which was followed by a tenth place finish in 1960–61.
He scored a total of 234 goals in 458 appearances for the West Brom, making him the second highest scorer in the club's history
, behind Tony Brown. This record also makes him eighth in the club's all-time appearance charts.
for a £4,500 fee in May 1961. Under Arthur Rowe
's stewardship, the "Eagles" finished 1961–62 fifteenth in the Third Division
. Dick Graham the took the reigns for the rest of Allen's time at Selhurst Park
, as the club struggled in mid-table in 1962–63, only to win promotion as runners-up in 1963–64. After scoring a Second Division
goal in 1964–65, he became the only player to score a Football League goal in the first twenty seasons of post-war football. He left Crystal Palace in March 1965 at the age of 36, having scored 34 goals in 100 league games for the club.
debut at the age of 23, in a 3–0 friendly win against Switzerland
in Zurich
on 28 May 1952. He had to wait almost two years for his second cap
, which came against Scotland
on 3 April 1954, the same day that his club West Bromwich Albion were playing rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers
in a vital First Division match. Allen scored with a header in the second half to help England beat the Scots 4–2 in the match at Hampden Park
, and also had another headed goal disallowed. He also appeared against Yugoslavia
, and was included in England's initial squad for the 1954 World Cup
, but did not make the final travelling party. He nevertheless earned two further caps, the first of which was a 3–2 win against Wales
in a British Home Championship
game, and the last of which was against West Germany
on 1 December 1954. Allen scored from six yards out in a 3–1 Wembley win against the World champions. He was again overlooked in the selection for the 1958 World Cup
. He was seen to be too far ahead of his time. On his lack of England caps, Allen himself said, "No two people see the game the same way and everyone is entitled to his own judgement". Albion teammate Frank Griffin
stated that "There was too much emphasis put on height for England strikers. They all had to be like Lawton
and be over 6ft. He should have played for England more, there was no doubting Allen's sheer skill. That should have been enough."
In addition to scoring two goals in five full internationals, he also appeared twice for the England B team
; both matches took place in 1954. He also scored twice for England B when they beat a Sheffield XI 5–4 in October 1957, although this match is not included in the England B records compiled by rsssf. Allen travelled with England to the 1958
and 1982
World Cups as the team's official interpreter.
.
as senior coach, working under manager Andy Beattie
. Following Beattie's departure, Allen replaced him as manager in September 1965, just after their relegation to the Second Division
. He signed quality players, bringing names such as Derek Dougan
and Mike Bailey
to Molineux
. He guided them to promotion in 1966–67, and Wolves consolidated their top-flight status in 1967–68. However he was sacked in November 1968, and replaced by former Port Vale teammate Bill McGarry
.
Allen took up the post of manager at Spanish
club Athletic Bilbao
in March 1969, leading Bilbao to a 1–0 victory over Elche CF
in the 1969 Copa del Rey
final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
. He also led Bilbao to runners-up spot in La Liga
in 1969–70, as they finished one point behind Atlético Madrid. Under his only full season in charge of the "Lions", 1970–71, they finished fifth, eight points behind champions Valencia CF
. He remained at the club until November 1971.
He was appointed manager at Portuguese
side Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of the three giants of Portuguese football, for the 1972–73 campaign. He was sacked before the end of the season due to a poor showing in the Primeira Liga – the club ended up in the fifth place, equalling their worst ever finish, despite the goalscoring form of Héctor Yazalde
. Champions S.L. Benfica won 28 of their 30 league games. In spite their league form, new manager Mário Lino did lead Sporting to their ninth Taça de Portugal
success, after defeating Vitória
3–2 at the Estádio Nacional
.
He returned to the Midlands to take up the management reigns at Walsall
in July 1973. However he spent just six months in charge at Fellows Park
. The "Sadders" finished the 1973–74 campaign fifteenth in the Third Division
. He returned to West Bromwich Albion
as a scouting advisor in January 1977, before being installed as manager six months later. He stepped down in December, to take up the financially lucrative post as advisor to the Saudi Arabia national football team
. He returned to management in June 1980, this time at Greek club Panathinaikos. Again he enjoyed only a short reign, and was gone within six months. In his absence, the "Greens" finished fifth in the Superleague Greece.
He returned to the Hawthorns
as manager again in July 1981, succeeding Ron Atkinson
– who had just moved to Manchester United
. Two of Albion's finest players, Remi Moses
and Bryan Robson
, soon joined Atkinson at Old Trafford
and this had a negative effect on Albion's previously good league fortunes. Albion did well in the cup competitions, reaching the semi-finals of both the FA Cup
and the League Cup
, although they suffered an early exit from the UEFA Cup. But Allen was unable to put together a good run of form in the First Division
, and Albion only stayed up after winning their final game of the season. He then ended his managerial career in May 1982, choosing instead to work as the club's general manager. He stepped down from this post in June 1983, though continued to coach and scout for the club during his retirement, until 1996. He even played in a testimonial match
at Cheltenham
in 1995, at the age of 66.
, who started his career at West Brom, before playing close to 300 league games at Tranmere Rovers
and Mansfield Town
between 1971 and 1981.
Ronnie Allen died in June 2001. West Bromwich Albion's pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao later that summer was designated as the "Ronnie Allen Memorial Match", in recognition of his contribution to both clubs. A minute's silence was held before kick-off and proceeds from the match donated to the Alzheimer's Society
, a disease he had been diagnosed with in later life. In 2004 Allen was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.
with England
with Crystal Palace
with Wolverhampton Wanderers
with Atlético Bilbao
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League
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...
, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team. He later became a manager at clubs in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. His son, Russell
Russell Allen (footballer)
Russell Allen is an English former footballer who played as a forward for West Bromwich Albion, Tranmere Rovers, Mansfield Town, and Boston United.He was the son of England international striker Ronnie Allen.-Playing career:...
, also played professional football throughout the 1970s.
Starting his career in 1946 with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, he spent four years with the club, before making a record breaking transfer to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. He was one of the best strikers of the 1950s, playing over 400 games, with a ratio of a goal every two games. He lifted the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1954
1954 FA Cup Final
The 1954 FA Cup Final was a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End, played on 1 May 1954 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. It was the final match of the 1953–54 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup...
, and helped the club to the FA Community Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
in 1954
1954 FA Charity Shield
The 1954 FA Charity Shield was the 32nd FA Charity Shield, a football match between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup titles...
, and a second place finish in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1953–54. In 1961 he signed with Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, where he spent the final four years of his playing career. He helped Palace win promotion out of the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1963–64.
His management career began in 1966 with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, as he led Wolves out of the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1966–67. In 1969 he took up the reigns at Spanish club Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
, leading the club to a second place finish in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
in 1969–70 and Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
glory in 1969. In 1972 he was appointed manager of Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, after one season with the club he moved back to England to manage Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
for a brief period. In 1977 he spent a short time as manager of West Bromwich Albion. After a spell advising the Saudi Arabia national team
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
, he took charge of Greek club Panathinaikos for a short time in 1980. His last management position was back at West Brom in 1981–82, following which he served the club as a coach and scout.
Youth teams
Born in FentonFenton, Staffordshire
Fenton is one of the six towns of the Stoke-on-Trent conurbation which were federated in 1910. It is situated in the south-east of the city. Arnold Bennett called his fictionalised version of Stoke on Trent the "Five Towns", and Fenton has been dubbed the town Arnold Bennett...
, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, Allen attended Hanley High School. Despite playing for the school rugby team, his preferred sport was football, and he turned out for his local Boys' Brigade
Boys' Brigade
For the 80s New Wave band from Canada, see Boys Brigade .The Boys' Brigade is an interdenominational Christian youth organisation, conceived by William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values...
team and later, Wellington Scouts
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
. He then moved on to Northwood Mission where he played at outside-right
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
, alongside Bill McGarry
Bill McGarry
William Harry "Bill" McGarry was an English international football player and manager.A right-half as a player, he joined Port Vale following the end of World War II, and spent the next six years with the club. He then moved on to Huddersfield Town in 1951, where he would spend the next ten years...
and Basil Hayward
Basil Hayward
Carl Basil Hayward was an English footballer player and manager. He was the younger brother of Doug and Eric Hayward....
, who would later become his team-mates at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. Allen scored 57 goals for the Mission in the 1943–44 season.
Port Vale
Allen signed amateur forms with Port Vale in December 1944. He made his full debut on 2 April 1945 in a 2–2 draw against Wrexham in the Football League North, playing at outside-right and laying on one of Vale's goals. At this point in his life he was a mere 4 in 10 in (1.47 m) and weighed under 8 stone (50 kg). He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–3 win against Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in August 1945, and in March 1946 signed as a part-time professional, for which he received a £10 signing-on fee. The 1946–47
1946–47 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1946–47 season was Port Vale's thirty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their second full season in the Third Division South. It was their first full season following the outbreak of war in Europe, they thus continued where they left off in 1938–39, albeit after seven seasons...
season was the first full season of competitive football in England following the end of the Second World War; Allen made his Football League
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...
debut on 7 September 1946 in a 2–1 defeat to 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...
. Due to his national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
commitments, he only made 18 appearances during that season, scoring five goals. He was the club's top scorer in the 1947–48 season
1947–48 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1947–48 season was Port Vale's thirty-sixth season of football in the Football League, and their third full season in the Third Division South. Gaining just three of their sixteen victories away from home, they were very much a club of two teams. Manager Gordon Hodgson continued his policy of...
with 13 goals.
Allen joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
early in 1947 and represented their football team on several occasions. He was demobbed
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
on 1 June 1949. In total he played 156 games for the club (including wartime appearances), scoring 40 goals.
West Bromwich Albion
Allen was transferred to West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 2 March 1950 for £20,000, a club record fee for both clubs at the time. This was more than double the previous Albion record, set when Jackie Vernon
Jackie Vernon (footballer)
John Joseph Vernon also referred to as Jackie Vernon, is a former Irish footballer who played for, amongst others, Belfast Celtic and West Bromwich Albion. Vernon was a dual international and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI...
was brought to the club three years earlier. Allen scored on his debut two days later to secure a 1–1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in a First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
match. The attendance of 60,945 remains a record for a league game at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
. Though only 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) and barely 11 stones (69.9 kg), he emerged as a talented striker, helping to define the modern role of target man. Signed by Jack Smith
Jack Smith (footballer born 1911)
Arthur John Smith, commonly known as Jack Smith was a Welsh footballer and football manager.In 1948 he became West Bromwich Albion's first full-time manager....
, he was soon converted from a wide player into a centre-forward. Allen also benefited from the ultra-modern training techniques of Jesse Carver
Jesse Carver
Jesse Carver was an English footballer, best remembered for his enlightened management of some of Europe's finest clubs.-Biography:...
, who served Albion as manager for a brief time in the 1952–53 campaign. Carver's successor, Vic Buckingham
Vic Buckingham
Victor Frederick Buckingham was an English footballer whose approach as a manager was a precursor of the Total Football philosophy....
, also had a Total Football
Total Football
"Total Football" is the label given to an influential tactical theory of association football in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team. It was pioneered by Dutch football club Ajax from 1969 to 1973, and further used by the Netherlands National Football...
philosophy, and appreciated the technical skill Allen possessed, allowing him to play as a deep-lying attacker with room to dribble at will – a revolutionary position and tactic.
Davy Walsh
Davy Walsh
David Joseph Walsh , commonly referred to as Davy Walsh or Dave Walsh, is a former Irish footballer who played as a centre forward for, among others, Linfield, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa. Walsh was a dual international and played for both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI...
, the club's top-scorer since the war, was sold on to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in December 1950 for a £25,000 fee. Allen managed to fill attacking void, and formed a deadly partnership with Johnny Nicholls
Johnny Nicholls
John Nicholls , better known as Johnny Nicholls or sometimes Jack Nicholls, was an English footballer who played as a forward. During his professional career he represented West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City and Exeter City.- Biography :Nicholls was born in Wolverhampton...
, feeding poacher Nicholls many of the 58 league goals he scored between 1951 and 1957. Allen became the club's top-scorer for three successive seasons, hitting ten goals in 1950–51, 32 goals in 1951–52, and twenty goals in 1952–53. His run was interrupted by Nicholls, who became the top-scorer in 1953–54, as the club recorded a second pace finish in the league. During the campaign, Allen scored against former club Port Vale in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final and then scored twice against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in the 1954 final
1954 FA Cup Final
The 1954 FA Cup Final was a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End, played on 1 May 1954 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. It was the final match of the 1953–54 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup...
, which Albion won 3–1. He then scored a hat-trick in the 1954 FA Charity Shield
1954 FA Charity Shield
The 1954 FA Charity Shield was the 32nd FA Charity Shield, a football match between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup titles...
at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, ensuring a 4–4 draw with league champions and Black Country rivals
Black Country derby
The Black Country derby is most commonly the local derby between the English football teams West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The term 'Black Country derby' can also be given to a match between either of these teams and Walsall F.C., though such matches are less common as a result...
Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
top scorer in 1954–55 with 27 goals, though the "Baggies" struggled in the league, finishing a disappointing seventeenth.
He became the club's top-scorer for a fifth and final time in 1955–56, hitting the net seventeen times. Allen's transfer record was broken in March 1956, when the club paid Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
£25,000 for Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....
. The club reached the FA Cup semi-finals again in 1956–57, only to lose out to eventual winners
1957 FA Cup Final
The 1957 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 4 May 1957 at Wembley Stadium. The match was contested by Aston Villa and Manchester United. Villa won 2-1, with both of their goals scored by Peter McParland...
Aston Villa, following a replay. Albion managed to improve their league form in 1957–58, finishing fourth, as Robson and Derek Kevan
Derek Kevan
Derek Tennyson Kevan is a retired English footballer. He played for West Bromwich Albion as an attacker. He earned 14 caps for the England national football team, scoring a total of eight goals, including two in the 1958 FIFA World Cup. During his Albion career, he earned the nickname "The Tank"...
's strike partnership replaced that of Allen's and Nicholls'. Though Nicholls departed, Allen remained a key member of the first team, as West Brom finished fifth in 1958–59; he further enhanced his legendary status at Albion by scoring the equaliser late in the game against Aston Villa to send Albion's biggest rivals down. New manager Gordon Clark
Gordon Clark (footballer)
Gordon Vincent Clark was an English professional footballer who played as a full back. He later undertook various managerial, coaching and scouting positions....
led West Brom to a fourth place finish in 1959–60, which was followed by a tenth place finish in 1960–61.
He scored a total of 234 goals in 458 appearances for the West Brom, making him the second highest scorer in the club's history
History of West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion F.C. are an English football club based in West Bromwich. The history of West Bromwich Albion F.C. covers the years from the club's formation in 1878 to the present day. The club were founded as West Bromwich Strollers by workers from Salter's Spring Works in West Bromwich, and...
, behind Tony Brown. This record also makes him eighth in the club's all-time appearance charts.
Crystal Palace
Allen was sold on to Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
for a £4,500 fee in May 1961. Under Arthur Rowe
Arthur Rowe
Arthur Sydney Rowe was the first manager to lead Tottenham Hotspur football club to the First Division Championship title in 1951...
's stewardship, the "Eagles" finished 1961–62 fifteenth in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. Dick Graham the took the reigns for the rest of Allen's time at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
, as the club struggled in mid-table in 1962–63, only to win promotion as runners-up in 1963–64. After scoring a Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
goal in 1964–65, he became the only player to score a Football League goal in the first twenty seasons of post-war football. He left Crystal Palace in March 1965 at the age of 36, having scored 34 goals in 100 league games for the club.
International career
Allen made his EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
debut at the age of 23, in a 3–0 friendly win against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
on 28 May 1952. He had to wait almost two years for his second cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, which came against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on 3 April 1954, the same day that his club West Bromwich Albion were playing rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in a vital First Division match. Allen scored with a header in the second half to help England beat the Scots 4–2 in the match at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, and also had another headed goal disallowed. He also appeared against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
, and was included in England's initial squad for the 1954 World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
, but did not make the final travelling party. He nevertheless earned two further caps, the first of which was a 3–2 win against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in a British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
game, and the last of which was against West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
on 1 December 1954. Allen scored from six yards out in a 3–1 Wembley win against the World champions. He was again overlooked in the selection for the 1958 World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
. He was seen to be too far ahead of his time. On his lack of England caps, Allen himself said, "No two people see the game the same way and everyone is entitled to his own judgement". Albion teammate Frank Griffin
Frank Griffin
Frank Albert Griffin was a professional football player. He played as a winger and his most notable achievement was scoring the winning goal in the 1954 FA Cup Final.-Football career:...
stated that "There was too much emphasis put on height for England strikers. They all had to be like Lawton
Tommy Lawton
Thomas "Tommy" Lawton was an English association footballer who rose to fame a short time before the outbreak of the Second World War and enjoyed a successful career which lasted until well into the 1950s....
and be over 6ft. He should have played for England more, there was no doubting Allen's sheer skill. That should have been enough."
In addition to scoring two goals in five full internationals, he also appeared twice for the England B team
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
; both matches took place in 1954. He also scored twice for England B when they beat a Sheffield XI 5–4 in October 1957, although this match is not included in the England B records compiled by rsssf. Allen travelled with England to the 1958
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
and 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
World Cups as the team's official interpreter.
Style of play
Allen was a skilful and intelligent forward player, who used his speed rather than his physique to get the better of opposition defenders. He was an accomplished passer of the ball, able to make pinpoint through passes at both short and long range. He had fantastic vision on the ball, and could play with both feet. He also had a powerful shot, was an accomplished penalty taker, and could volley the ball with ease. The official West Brom website describes Allen as "the complete footballer", and compares him to the Hungarian legend Ferenc PuskásFerenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
.
Management career
In March 1965 Allen joined Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
as senior coach, working under manager Andy Beattie
Andy Beattie
Andrew "Andy" Beattie was a Scottish professional football player and manager. He was the first manager of the Scottish national team.- Playing days :...
. Following Beattie's departure, Allen replaced him as manager in September 1965, just after their relegation to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. He signed quality players, bringing names such as Derek Dougan
Derek Dougan
Alexander Derek Dougan was a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers....
and Mike Bailey
Mike Bailey (footballer)
Michael Alfred Bailey is an English former international footballer who played in the Football League for Charlton Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hereford United, and in the North American Soccer League for the Minnesota Kicks. He represented England twice...
to Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
. He guided them to promotion in 1966–67, and Wolves consolidated their top-flight status in 1967–68. However he was sacked in November 1968, and replaced by former Port Vale teammate Bill McGarry
Bill McGarry
William Harry "Bill" McGarry was an English international football player and manager.A right-half as a player, he joined Port Vale following the end of World War II, and spent the next six years with the club. He then moved on to Huddersfield Town in 1951, where he would spend the next ten years...
.
Allen took up the post of manager at Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
in March 1969, leading Bilbao to a 1–0 victory over Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
in the 1969 Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is an all-seater football stadium in Madrid, Spain. It was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 and is owned by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. It has a current capacity of 85,454 spectators....
. He also led Bilbao to runners-up spot in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
in 1969–70, as they finished one point behind Atlético Madrid. Under his only full season in charge of the "Lions", 1970–71, they finished fifth, eight points behind champions Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
. He remained at the club until November 1971.
He was appointed manager at Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
side Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of the three giants of Portuguese football, for the 1972–73 campaign. He was sacked before the end of the season due to a poor showing in the Primeira Liga – the club ended up in the fifth place, equalling their worst ever finish, despite the goalscoring form of Héctor Yazalde
Héctor Yazalde
Héctor Casimiro Yazalde was an Argentine footballer who played as a striker....
. Champions S.L. Benfica won 28 of their 30 league games. In spite their league form, new manager Mário Lino did lead Sporting to their ninth Taça de Portugal
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
success, after defeating Vitória
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
3–2 at the Estádio Nacional
Estádio Nacional
The Estádio Nacional , also known as Estádio do Jamor, is the Portuguese national football ground. It is located in the Jamor sports complex, in Oeiras, near Lisbon. It was designed by Jacobetty Rosa and the building works started in 1939, with its inauguration happening on 10 June 1944 by the...
.
He returned to the Midlands to take up the management reigns at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
in July 1973. However he spent just six months in charge at Fellows Park
Fellows Park
Fellows Park was a football stadium in Walsall, England. It was the home ground of Walsall F.C. from 1896 till 1990, when the team moved to the Bescot Stadium....
. The "Sadders" finished the 1973–74 campaign fifteenth in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. He returned to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
as a scouting advisor in January 1977, before being installed as manager six months later. He stepped down in December, to take up the financially lucrative post as advisor to the Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
. He returned to management in June 1980, this time at Greek club Panathinaikos. Again he enjoyed only a short reign, and was gone within six months. In his absence, the "Greens" finished fifth in the Superleague Greece.
He returned to the Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
as manager again in July 1981, succeeding Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
– who had just moved to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Two of Albion's finest players, Remi Moses
Remi Moses
Remi Mark Moses is a former English football player whose main position was as a defensive midfielder.In 1981, Moses was transferred from West Bromwich Albion to Manchester United for £500,000...
and Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
, soon joined Atkinson at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
and this had a negative effect on Albion's previously good league fortunes. Albion did well in the cup competitions, reaching the semi-finals of both the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, although they suffered an early exit from the UEFA Cup. But Allen was unable to put together a good run of form in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, and Albion only stayed up after winning their final game of the season. He then ended his managerial career in May 1982, choosing instead to work as the club's general manager. He stepped down from this post in June 1983, though continued to coach and scout for the club during his retirement, until 1996. He even played in a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
in 1995, at the age of 66.
Personal life and legacy
He had a son, Russell AllenRussell Allen (footballer)
Russell Allen is an English former footballer who played as a forward for West Bromwich Albion, Tranmere Rovers, Mansfield Town, and Boston United.He was the son of England international striker Ronnie Allen.-Playing career:...
, who started his career at West Brom, before playing close to 300 league games at Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
and Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
between 1971 and 1981.
Ronnie Allen died in June 2001. West Bromwich Albion's pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao later that summer was designated as the "Ronnie Allen Memorial Match", in recognition of his contribution to both clubs. A minute's silence was held before kick-off and proceeds from the match donated to the Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer’s Society is a United Kingdom care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.It is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, a disease he had been diagnosed with in later life. In 2004 Allen was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.
Honours
with West Bromwich Albion- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runner-up: 1953–54 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19541954 FA Cup FinalThe 1954 FA Cup Final was a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End, played on 1 May 1954 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. It was the final match of the 1953–54 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup... - FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
winner: 19541954 FA Charity ShieldThe 1954 FA Charity Shield was the 32nd FA Charity Shield, a football match between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup titles...
(shared)
with England
- British Home ChampionshipBritish Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
winner: 19541954 British Home ChampionshipThe 1954 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1953–54 season which also provided the home nations qualifying tournament for the 1954 FIFA World Cup. Both England and Scotland qualified as first and second placed...
& 19551955 British Home ChampionshipThe 1955 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1954–55 football season. It was won by a strong England side which included players such as Johnny Haynes and Nat Lofthouse as well as future manager Don Revie...
with Crystal Palace
- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
runner-up (promoted): 1963–64
with Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
runner-up (promoted): 1966–67
with Atlético Bilbao
- La LigaLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
runner-up: 1969–70 - Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
winner: 1969
External links
- Englandstats.com profile
- Managerial career at leaguemanagers.com