Harry Allen (footballer)
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Harry Allen | ||
Personal information | ||
---|---|---|
Date of birth | 19 January 1866 | |
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 |
123 (8) |
- (-)
National team | ||
1888-1890 | England | 5 (0) |
1 Senior club appearances and 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.