McAllister Sandy Image 1 Sunderland 1899

Description

Kilmarnock, Lanarkshire born centre half Sandy McAllister began his football career with Kilmarnock junior club Dean Park in 1894, playing for Carrington Vale in 1895 and hometown Scottish League club Kilmarnock in 1896. In December 1896 he was signed by First Division Sunderland, and he made his Football League debut against Stoke in February 1897, playing 3 times in his debut season including in a Test Match win over Newton Heath (Manchester United) at the season end.

The following season he established himself as their “pivot” as Sunderland finished runners up in the League Championship, thereafter he missed only 3 matches in the following five seasons which included being ever present as Sunderland won the League Championship in 1901-02 having again been runners up the previous season, and in defence of their title they finished third in 1902-03 as they had in 1899-1900. He also played in February 1903 as Sunderland won The Sheriff of London Charity Shield beating The Corinthians 3-0 at White Hart Lane,

However he lost his place in January 1904 and joined Derby County that June after 4 goals in 222 appearances for The Wearsiders. He had a single season at The Baseball Ground, making 24 appearances, before joining still non league Oldham Athletic in 1905, returning to the north east to play for Spennymoor United in 1909 before his retirement from playing.

In 1918 he contracted food poisoning whilst serving with The Northumberland Fusiliers in France during the Great War and died shortly afterwards.