Rory Allen (born 17 October 1977) is an English former professional footballer. He now works for the Civil Service.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rory Allen | ||
| Date of birth | 17 October 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Beckenham, England | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1999 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | (2) |
| 1998 | → Luton Town (loan) | 8 | (6) |
| 1999–2002 | Portsmouth | 15 | (3) |
| Total | 44 | (11) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editEarly career
editA striker, Allen made his professional football debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 4 September 1996 as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat at Wimbledon (aged 18). He went on to score four times in 28 games for Spurs, and started the 3rd round FA Cup tie in 1997 against Manchester United alongside Neale Fenn. Two of his four goals came in the league, against Newcastle[2] and Manchester United,[3] also scoring a brace against Preston North End in the League Cup.[4] Allen was sent on loan to Luton Town in 1997, scoring 6 goals in 8 appearances in what was then Division Two (the third tier of English football).
Portsmouth
editPortsmouth paid Spurs a club record £1,000,000 for him in July 1999, as he became Pompey's first million-pound signing.[5] He scored his first goal for Portsmouth on 15 August 1999 in a match against Wolves.[6] The following week, he made it two goals in a week, scoring in a 2–0 victory at home to Stockport.[7] He injured his ankle in September 1999, lasting only 24 minutes of a league match against Ipswich.[8] He wouldn't play again until making an appearance as a substitute in March 2000.[9] Allen scored his third Portsmouth goal against QPR in May 2000, equalising in the 53rd minute but with Portsmouth finally losing the match 3–1.[10]
He struggled for match fitness,[11] and missed the whole of the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons due to knee problems.[12] He scored in a pre-season friendly match against Spanish side Alavés in August 2002,[12] but made no further competitive appearances. He left the club in November 2002, handing in a letter of resignation with eight months of his contract remaining.[13] Having already undergone eight operations to his ankles and knees over the course of his career, this signalled his retirement from football aged just 25.[14] Manager Harry Redknapp did not know that Allen was going to leave, receiving the resignation letter after Allen had already left the country to watch The Ashes in Australia.[1]
Personal life
editIn 2000, Allen was arrested and fined alongside Portsmouth goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan after he admitted to being abusive towards police officers following a drinking session.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b "The truth behind Rory Allen's disappearance: The ex-Spurs and Pompey striker who quit football to watch the Ashes".
- ^ Hey, Stan (7 September 1996). "Keegan strikes balance". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- ^ Rowbottom, Mike (12 January 1997). "Beckham's drive cuts at the heart of Spurs' faithful". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- ^ Wood, Greg (25 September 1996). "Allen provides key for Spurs". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- ^ Pompey swoop for Spurs striker, Andover Advertiser, 15 July 1999.
- ^ "Football: RORY'S GLORY". Sunday Mirror. 15 August 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ "Football: Rory hits warpath; Portsmouth 2 Stockport 0". The People. 22 August 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ "10-man Ipswich dig deep for reward; Portsmouth 1 Ipswich Town 1". Sunday Mercury. 12 September 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ "Giveaway Forest felled by Claridge late show; Portsmouth 2 Nottm Forest 1". Sunday Mercury. 12 March 2000. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ "Pompey sunk by super-sub Gallen; REST OF DIVISION ONE". The Birmingham Post. 8 May 2000. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ Curtis, John (17 October 2001). "Football: Promotion Nilsson's Premier Goal". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ a b Lea, Jenny (4 August 2002). "Football: RORY GLORY ENDS AGONY; Portsmouth 1 Alaves 1". The People. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ Hannigan, Mary (18 November 2002). "After all, it's only a game". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ Dart, James (14 February 2007). "The Knowledge". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
- ^ "Football: Uefa Cup Place for Worthington Victors". The Independent. 23 February 2000. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
External links
edit- Rory Allen at Soccerbase