Jimmy Allan (footballer born 1953)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jimmy Allan


fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1953|11|10
cityofbirth =
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
position = Goalkeeper
currentclub =
youthyears = ??
1971
youthclubs = Brora Rangers
Swindon Town
years = 1971-1984
1996
clubs = Swindon Town
Torrington
caps(goals) = 371 (0)
005 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
manageryears =
managerclubs = Torrington

Jimmy Allan (born 10 November 1953) is a former football (soccer) goalkeeper.

Allan began his football career as an apprentice for Brora Rangers before being invited to sign a youth contract with Swindon Town in 1971 by then manager Fred Ford.cite book | title=Swindon Town Football Club 100 Greats| last=Mattick| first=Dick| date=2002| pages=9| publisher=Tempus Publishing| location=Stroud| id=ISBN 0752427148] Impressing the club during his trial period, he was offered a professional contract and made his first team debut the same year against Queens Park Rangers, keeping a clean sheet.

Making only six more appearances in the first team in 1971 due to the presence of more experienced goalkeepers in the squad, he did get selected again until 1973 when Peter Downsborough was sold following internal disagreements.

A devout Christian, Allan became the first British professional footballer to refuse to play on a Sunday in January 1974, with manager Les Allen saying "Jimmy told me it would be against his religious beliefs to play on a Sunday and I respect his views." In spite of this statement, he was dropped from the first team until the beginning of the 1976-77 season.

His career was ended in October 1983 when his left arm was shattered during a challenge with Rochdale player Steve Johnson. The injury was so severe that Allan could never fully straighten the arm after the many operations her underwent.

He announced his retirement in 1986, completing 371 league appearances and 108 clean sheets for the club and was rewarded with a testimonial match against Chelsea in May of that year.

Allan then moved to Devon with his wife and three children and took up work in a box manufacturing company. In 1996 he assisted with coaching at local team Torrington and made a small number of appearances in goal, despite only being able to use one arm effectively.

References

External links

* [http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=ALLANJIM Swindon Town player profile]

Persondata
NAME= Allan, Jimmy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Football (soccer) goalkeeper and manager
DATE OF BIRTH= 1953-11-10
PLACE OF BIRTH= Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=