Allen Jack Image 1 Manchester City 1921

Description

Moston, Manchester born left back Jack Allen began his football career with Higher Blackley in 1909 and played for Barrowfields in 1910 before joining Lancashire Combination club Hurst (now Ashton United) in 1912. He signed as an amateur for Second Division Glossop in September 1914, making his Football League debut against Fulham that December and playing 24 times for The Hillmen before the end of the season, including lining up in what proved to be Glossop’s final match as a League club at Hull City in April 1915 before the onset of the First World War forced the suspension of peacetime football.

During the War Allen served in the Armed Forces and after the War he signed for First Division Manchester City in 1919, making his debut for The Citizens against Newcastle United in April 1920. Initially a fringe player, playing 7 times as City finished as League runners up in 1920-21, and understudy to Eli Fletcher, he broke into the City team on a regular basis in September 1922 and made 27 of his 56 appearances for them in 1922-23, with a further 18 matches played in 1923-24 before he joined Southport in June 1924.

Allen played 36 times for The Sandgrounders in 1924-25 as they finished fourth in the Third Division (North). But he moved on to Crewe Alexandra in June 1925, making 34 appearances, before returning to Haig Avenue in July 1926, making a further 40 appearances for Southport in 1926-27. However again his stay lasted a single season before he joined non league Lancaster Town in the summer of 1927, where he subsequently played out his career before his eventual retirement.