Michael Allen (footballer)

Michael Allen (born 30 March 1949) is an English retired professional football left back who made over 230 appearances in the Football League, most notably for Brentford.

Michael Allen

Personal information
Full name	Michael Allen[1]
Date of birth	(1949-03-30) 30 March 1949
Place of birth	South Shields, England
Playing position(s)	Left back, Midfielder
Youth career
1966–1967	Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1967–1971	Middlesbrough	35	(0)
1971–1979	Brentford	205	(11)
	Whitby Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Middlesbrough

Born in South Shields, Allen began his career at Middlesbrough in 1966 and made his professional debut on 30 December 1967,[1] in a 2–1 Second Division defeat to Bolton Wanderers.[2] He scored his only goal for the club in a 1–1 FA Cup third round draw with Millwall on 4 January 1969.[2] Allen failed to break through into the first team, with his best tally being 15 appearances during the 1969–70 season.[2] He departed Ayresome Park a few months into the 1971–72 season, having made 38 appearances and scored one goal for Middlesbrough.[2]

Brentford

Allen dropped through the leagues to join Fourth Division high-flyers Brentford in October 1971, for a £10,000 fee.[3] Operating as a midfielder, his 33 appearances during the 1971–72 season helped the club to a third-place finish and promotion to the Third Division.[4] The Bees were relegated straight back to the Fourth Division and after moving to his preferred left back position in 1974,[4] Allen put in a Player of the Year award-winning season in 1975–76, when he missed only one league match.[3] Allen helped the club secure promotion back to the Third Division in 1977–78, with a fourth-place finish.[3] He made just seven appearances in the Third Division and departed Griffin Park at the end of the 1978–79 season.[3] Allen made 255 appearances and scored 13 goals during nearly 9 years with the Bees.[3]

Whitby Town

In 1979, Allen returned to his native northeast and ended his career with a spell as player-coach at Northern League club Whitby Town.[5]

Personal life

After retiring from football, Allen moved to Marton and worked for ICI Wilton.[6]

Honours

Brentford

• Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1971–72[4]
• Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1977–78[4]

Individual

• Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 1975–76[7]
• Brentford Players' Player of the Year: 1975–76[7]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Middlesbrough	1967–68[2]	Second Division	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	1968–69[2]		4	0	2	1	0	0	6	1
	1969–70[2]		15	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
	1970–71[2]		6	0	0	0	1	0	7	0
	1971–72[2]		4	0	—		0	0	4	0
	Total		35	0	2	1	1	0	38	1
Brentford	1971–72[4]	Fourth Division	30	3	2	0	—		32	3
	1972–73[4]	Third Division	26	4	1	1	1	0	28	5
	1973–74[4]	Fourth Division	32	2	1	1	1	0	34	3
	1974–75[4]		32	0	1	0	2	0	35	0
	1975–76[4]		45	1	4	0	3	0	52	1
	1976–77[4]		40	1	2	0	0	0	42	1
	1977–78[4]		21	0	2	0	2	0	25	0
	1978–79[4]	Third Division	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	Total		205	11	13	2	9	0	227	13
Career total			240	11	15	3	10	0	265	14

References

1. "Michael Allen". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
2. "Micky Allen". 11v11.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
3. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 9. ISBN 978-0955294914.
4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 391–395. ISBN 0951526200.
5. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 263.
6. "Where Are They Now? Brentford Division Four promotion-winners 1971–72". The League Paper. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
7. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the 70s. Legends Publishing. p. 295. ISBN 978-1906796709.