Alan Spavin

Alan Spavin (born in Lancaster on 20th February 1942) is an English former footballer. A product of Preston North End's youth system, he featured in over 400 league games for the side.

After starring in the 1960 FA Youth Cup Final side he broke through to the first team at the start of the 1960/61 season, scoring against Arsenal on his debut on 30 August 1960 as an eighteen-year-old. He established himself as a first team regular over the following two seasons and won an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1963-64 as Preston lost the final 3-2 to West Ham United. He was named the club's Player of the Year as Preston won the Third Division championship in 1970-71.

He moved to America in 1973, but returned to Deepdale in 1977 for a spell as player/coach. In total he played 486 games for Preston (including 13 as substitute) and scored 32 goals.Alan returned to the States where he and Alan Kelly, the former PNE goalkeeper ran an indoor soccer school "The Corner Kick" in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Eventually they sold the business and Alan Spavin now lives in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Joined Dundalk F.C. in February 1976 [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0228/Pg003.html#Ar00301:06E0C51111221180C514B12209D17E0E71953741B03931CC3931B03AD1CC0C727B0F42903F3311420326]