Harry Allen (footballer)

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Harry Allen
Personal information
Date of birth 19 January 1866(1866-01-19)
Place of birth    Walsall, England
Date of death    23 February 1895 (aged 29)
Place of death    Walsall, England
Playing position Centre Half
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*

1886-1894
Walsall Swifts
Wolverhampton Wanderers
00- 00 (-)
123 00(8)   
National team
1888-1890 England 005 00(0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Harry Allen (19 January 1866 - 23 February 1895) was a professional footballer, who played most of his career for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and was their captain.

Allen started his career with Walsall Swifts before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1886, making his senior debut - and scoring - in a 6-0 FA Cup win over Matlock Town on October 30, 1886.

He was part of the Wolves team that were founder members of the Football League in 1888, playing in their very first league game against Aston Villa. He also played in the 1889 FA Cup final, where Wolves went down 0-3 to league champions Preston North End. Despite this setback, he went one step further in 1893 as he scored the only goal to lift the FA Cup against Everton.

Allen's club form won his a call-up to the England team in 1888, as he made his debut in a 5-1 win over Wales on February 4, 1888. He won 5 caps in total, all in Home International fixtures spread over three years.

Illness and a back injury forced him to retire from the game though in October 1894. In total, he made 153 appearances for Wolves, scoring 8 goals. He became landlord of a pub in Wolverhampton, but died suddenly on February 23, 1895 aged 29.

[edit] Honours