Players - George Allan

George Allan
Birthdate: 23 August 1875
Birthplace: Linlithgow Bridge, Scotland
Date of death: 17 October 1899
Other clubs: Vale of Avon, Linlithgow Athletic, Broxburn Shamrock (1891-93), Bo'ness (1893-94), Leith Athletic (1894-95), Celtic (1897-98)
Signed from: Leith Athletic / Celtic
Signed for LFC: 100 / 50, 12.06.1895 / 20.04.1898
International debut: 03.04.1897 vs. England
International caps: 1/0
Liverpool debut: 14.09.1895
Last appearance: 29.04.1899
Debut goal: 21.09.1895
Last goal: 22.04.1899
Contract expiry: 01.05.1897
Win ratio: 55.21% W:53 D:18 L:25
Games/goals ratio: 1.71
Honours: Second Division 1895/96
League games / goals: 79 / 48
Total games / goals: 96 / 56

Player Profile

"Dod" Allan, who was described as "a model centre; of fine physique, great speed and no fear," was Liverpool's first great goalscorer in the Football League and the first Liverpool player to be capped for Scotland on 3 April 1897. Allan's transfer to Liverpool was made under controversial circumstances as he had signed a contract with St Bernard's in Edinburgh as well. He was reported to the Scottish Football Association and on 14 October 1895 he was suspended till 30 November after which he was considered a bona fide Liverpool player. 5 ft. 10 ins. and 13 st. 6 lbs. (173 cm. and 86 kg.) Allan burst onto the scene in the 1895/96 season with a staggering 25 goals from only 20 league matches as the club won the Second Division and would have no doubt netted more if not for his eight-game suspension. He was Liverpool's top-scorer the following season with 17 goals from 34 games as Liverpool finished fifth in the First Division. 

Allan moved to Celtic in May 1897 where he helped the club to its fourth championship by scoring 15 goals in 17 league games. Liverpool still held his registration, but paid quite happily £50 to get him back before the 1898/99 season in which Liverpool finished second in First Division with Allan scoring 11 goals in 36 games. Allan had played seven games in his second spell at Liverpool when he was involved in a colorful incident with Sheffield United’s goalkeeper, William "Fatty" Foulke, which gained legendary status. Foulke was over 20 st. (125 kg.) and very difficult to say the least to charge him off the ball or into the goal as was allowed to do to goalkeepers in those days. 'I don't mind what they call me as long as they don't call me late for my lunch', he once said. Foulke once took to swinging on the crossbar in mid-game which resulted in him breaking it in two and on another occasion charged around butt-naked after a match searching for the referee to protest a controversial equaliser. The scene is set for 29 October 1898 when Liverpool and then League champions Sheffield United were playing at Anfield. Unlike his contemporaries Allan was not afraid of "Fatty" and it was reported that "Allan charged Foulke in the goalmouth, and the big man, losing his temper, seized him by the leg and turned him upside down." The referee wasn't too keen on Foulke's reaction and awarded Liverpool a penalty, from which Andy McCowie scored. Liverpool won the game 2-1, with none other than Allan scoring the other goal for Liverpool.

Prior to the 1899/00 season it was reported that Allan was too ill for training and he remained in Scotland. In September 1899 manager Tom Watson admitted full of sorrow: “Diseased lungs are not cured in a day. Allan’s absence is now beginning to be felt, and we are able to estimate him at his worth. Poor old George!” It had become apparent that Allan could not play top class football again, but his death from tubercolosis on 17 October 1899 at his mother's home in Fife was still unexpected and described as a 'thunderclap' for Liverpool fans."
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 79 13 0 0 4 96
1895-1896 20 2 0 0 4 26
1896-1897 29 5 0 0 0 34
1898-1899 30 6 0 0 0 36
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
8 720 WBA
7 630 Sheffield United
5 450 Aston Villa
5 450 Blackburn Rovers
5 450 Nottingham Forest
4 360 Burnley
4 360 Wolves
4 360 Derby
4 360 Stoke City
4 360 Sunderland
4 360 Newcastle United
4 360 Bury
4 360 Preston North End
3 270 Bolton Wanderers
3 270 Everton
3 270 Sheffield Wednesday
3 270 Burton Swifts
2 180 Loughborough
2 180 Rotherham Town
2 180 Grimsby Town
2 180 Notts County
2 180 Crewe
2 180 Birmingham City
2 180 Lincoln City
2 180 Manchester City
1 90 Manchester United
1 90 Arsenal
1 90 Port Vale
1 90 Millwall
1 90 Burton Wanderers
1 90 Darwen
Total Venue
47 Home
45 Away
4 Neutral
Total Competition
79 League
13 FA Cup
4 Test Match
Total W D L Win % Manager
70 33 16 21 47.1% Tom Watson
26 20 2 4 76.9% John McKenna
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 48 6 0 0 2 56
1895-1896 25 1 0 0 2 28
1896-1897 15 2 0 0 0 17
1898-1899 8 3 0 0 0 11
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 14.09.1895 Newcastle United Anfield League
50 16.01.1897 Stoke Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 40 21.09.1895 Loughborough Athletic Grounds League
50 87 28.01.1899 Blackburn Rovers Anfield FA Cup
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Related Quotes

"A model centre; of fine physique, great speed and no fear".

George Allan was so described by a journalist. He scored 56 goals in 96 games between 1895-1899. Allan died of tuberculosis only 24 years old.

In Liverpool they have one of the best centre forwards in the country. I may be mistaken, but I fancy Allan has to thank the tuition of James Ross for his advancement, for when I first saw him he was energetic, but decidedly clumsy. He is strongly built, and can stand the charge of the heaviest back with equanimity, whilst he passes most judiciously. Our Scottish friends might do worse than keep their selection optics on this young man.

Mr. J.J. Bentley liked the look of the Scotsman George Allan evident by what he wrote in the Edinburgh Evening News in January 1897:

Scrapbook
Brian Hall on George Allan
Brian Hall on George Allan
Home is the hero - Liverpool's first Scottish international
Home is the hero - Liverpool's first Scottish international
Scottish international
Scottish international
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Vale of Avon Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Linlithgow Athletic Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broxburn Shamrock Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Bo'ness Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Leith Athletic 1894-1895 Scotland Division 1 5 1 5 1
Leith Athletic 1895-1896 Scotland Division 2 1 0 1 0
Celtic 1897-1898 Scotland Division 1 17 14 17 14
Total 23 15 23 15