Percy Allen (footballer)

Percy William Allen (2 July 1895 – 21 October 1969) was an English professional footballer who played predominantly as a right half. He was born in West Ham, Essex.

Percy Allen
Personal information
Full name Percy William Allen[1]
Date of birth (1895-07-02)2 July 1895
Place of birth West Ham, England
Date of death 21 October 1969(1969-10-21) (aged 74)[2]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Right half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1919–1923 West Ham United 80 (5)
1923–1925 Lincoln City 59 (4)
1925–1927 Northampton Town 44 (4)
Weymouth
Peterborough & Fletton United
Stamford Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A Lieutenant,[4] Allen served in the British Army during World War I, and played as an amateur before moving to West Ham United for the club's initial Division Two season. Having played for the club three times in the London Combination between December 1917 and October 1918, he made his full debut in a 2–1 home defeat to Birmingham on 1 November 1919,[5] at outside-right. He was also played at centre-forward, but became an ever-present at right-half during the 1921–22 season.[6] Allen lost his place in the team to Sid Bishop due to the reappearance of a blood ailment which he had suffered from during his time in the Army.[2]

Allen made 86 league and cup appearances for the Irons, scoring 5 goals.[5] He played his final competitive game for the club on 17 February 1923, against Barnsley.[7] He was part of the group that travelled to Austria and Hungary in May 1923,[8] but did not feature.[9]

Allen was transferred to Lincoln City in January 1924.[7] After 61 appearances for the Imps,[10] he joined Northampton Town in the summer of 1925,[11] leaving them at the end of the 1926–27 season.[12] He later played for Weymouth, Peterborough & Fletton United and Stamford Town.[1]

After retirement, Allen went on to work for West Ham Corporation, and later owned a newsagents in East Ham.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2012) [2002]. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-905891-61-0.
  2. ^ a b Marsh, Steve. "Percy ALLEN ... (1919–1923)". theyflysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. ^ "League clubs and their players for the coming season. Lincoln City". Athletic News. Manchester. 4 August 1924. p. 3.
  4. ^ "The Leagues". The Times. 3 November 1919. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Percy Allen". westhamstats.info. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. p. 17. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
  7. ^ a b "West Ham United v Barnsley, 17 February 1923". 11v11.com. Association of Football Statisticians. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  8. ^ Marsh, Steve (13 January 2015). "Hammerabilia: Timeline of the Hammers". Official Matchday Programme. Vol. 2014–15, no. 14 (Everton ed.). West Ham United F.C. p. 51.
  9. ^ Marsh, Steve. "West Ham United Club Tour in Austria-Hungary 1923". whu-programmes.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  10. ^ "The players". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Percy Allen". Daily Echo. Northampton. 26 August 1925. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Northampton Town". Athletic News. 8 August 1927. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.