Rory Allen

Rory Allen (born 17 October 1977) is an English former professional footballer.

Rory Allen
Personal information
Full name Rory Allen
Date of birth (1977-10-17) 17 October 1977
Place of birth Beckenham, England
Playing 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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early career

A 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[1] and Manchester United,[2] also scoring a brace against Preston North End in the League Cup.[3] 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

Portsmouth paid Spurs a club record £1,000,000 for him in July 1999, as he became Pompey's first million-pound signing,[4] citing manager Alan Ball as a key factor in his decision to make the move.[5] He suffered an injury in pre-season training.[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]

Personal life

In 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]

gollark: Yes, about those.
gollark: Very confusing and inconsistent.
gollark: Well, that and my short-lived one. It's confusing.
gollark: Or that TJ09 wanted people to think that or didn't care.
gollark: Well. And the other reasons.

References
  1. Hey, Stan (7 September 1996). "Keegan strikes balance". London: The Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  2. Rowbottom, Mike (12 January 1997). "Beckham's drive cuts at the heart of Spurs' faithful". London: The Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  3. Wood, Greg (25 September 1996). "Allen provides key for Spurs". London: The Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  4. Pompey swoop for Spurs striker, Andover Advertiser, 15 July 1999.
  5. Bromsgrove, Alan (23 August 1999). "Ball's joy as Allen underlines his worth". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2013. – via Highbeam Research (subscription required)
  6. "Football: RORY'S GLORY". Sunday Mirror. 15 August 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  7. "Football: Rory hits warpath; Portsmouth 2 Stockport 0". The People. 22 August 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  8. "10-man Ipswich dig deep for reward; Portsmouth 1 Ipswich Town 1". Sunday Mercury. 12 September 1999. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  9. "Giveaway Forest felled by Claridge late show; Portsmouth 2 Nottm Forest 1". Sunday Mercury. 12 March 2000. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  10. "Pompey sunk by super-sub Gallen; REST OF DIVISION ONE". The Birmingham Post. 8 May 2000. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  11. 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. – via Highbeam Research (subscription required)
  12. Lea, Jenny (4 August 2002). "Football: RORY GLORY ENDS AGONY; Portsmouth 1 Alaves 1". The People. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  13. 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. – via Highbeam Research (subscription required)
  14. Dart, James (14 February 2007). "The Knowledge". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
  15. "Football: Uefa Cup Place for Worthington Victors". The Independent. 23 February 2000. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013. – via Highbeam Research (subscription required)
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