Malcolm Allen (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Allen is a Welsh
former professional footballer who played for Watford
, Aston Villa
, Norwich City
, Millwall
, Newcastle United
and Stevenage Borough
. Allen played 14 times for Wales
between 1986 and 1993.
After retiring from the professional game and moving into coaching and television punditry. He is a Welsh speaker.
final. He played and scored for the Hornets in their FA Cup
semi-final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur
in 1987, and in 19 cup appearances for Watford scored eight goals. He was loaned to Aston Villa
in September 1987 by new Watford manager Dave Bassett
, and joined Norwich for a fee of £175,000 in August 1988. Whilst with Norwich he scored four in their club record FA Cup victory, 8–0 against Sutton United
in the fourth round. This was one of the most successful seasons in Norwich's history, as they finished fourth in the league and were semi-finalists in the FA Cup.
In 1989, an incident between Allen and David O'Leary
sparked a mass brawl at Arsenal
's Highbury
stadium. O'Leary picked up Allen by the scruff of his neck and carried him some yards. Police officers needed to intervene, and Arsenal were fined £20,000.
Allen joined Millwall
in March 1990 for £400,000, spending three years there before moving to Newcastle United
for £300,000 in August 1993. He retired due in injury, aged 28, in December 1995.
at youth, B and full international level. He received his first full cap aged 18, after only playing a small number of games.
home, he was given a suspended sentence
and a ban for drink-driving after admitting drinking ten pints of beer.
, Iwan Roberts
and Dai Davies
. Malcolm also commentates on all Sgorio
and Sgorio Cymru live games.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
former professional footballer who played for Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
. Allen played 14 times for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
between 1986 and 1993.
After retiring from the professional game and moving into coaching and television punditry. He is a Welsh speaker.
Career
Allen began his career with Watford, signing apprentice terms in July 1983, before becoming professional in March 1985. He scored Watford's only goal in 1985 FA Youth CupFA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
final. He played and scored for the Hornets in their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in 1987, and in 19 cup appearances for Watford scored eight goals. He was loaned to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in September 1987 by new Watford manager Dave Bassett
Dave Bassett
David Bassett , also frequently known by his nickname of Harry, is an English football manager and a former player....
, and joined Norwich for a fee of £175,000 in August 1988. Whilst with Norwich he scored four in their club record FA Cup victory, 8–0 against Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
in the fourth round. This was one of the most successful seasons in Norwich's history, as they finished fourth in the league and were semi-finalists in the FA Cup.
In 1989, an incident between Allen and David O'Leary
David O'Leary
David Anthony O'Leary is an Irish football manager and former player. His managerial career began at Leeds United and later he managed Aston Villa. He most recently worked as the manager of Al-Ahli Dubai...
sparked a mass brawl at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
stadium. O'Leary picked up Allen by the scruff of his neck and carried him some yards. Police officers needed to intervene, and Arsenal were fined £20,000.
Allen joined Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in March 1990 for £400,000, spending three years there before moving to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for £300,000 in August 1993. He retired due in injury, aged 28, in December 1995.
International career
Allen represented WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
at youth, B and full international level. He received his first full cap aged 18, after only playing a small number of games.
Arrests
In August 2006, Allen was in court charged with assault. In April 2008, charged from his WatfordWatford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
home, he was given a suspended sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
and a ban for drink-driving after admitting drinking ten pints of beer.
Sgorio
He is a regular pundit on the programme alongside John HartsonJohn Hartson
John Hartson is a former Welsh international footballer who played as a striker, best known for his spells with West Ham and Celtic. Hartson also featured prominently for Wales, earning 51 caps until his international retirement in 2006...
, Iwan Roberts
Iwan Roberts
Iwan Wyn Roberts is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a striker for a number of English league clubs. The most notable period of his club career was with Norwich City...
and Dai Davies
Dai Davies
William David Davies, better known as Dai Davies , is a former professional footballer, who played in goal between 1969 and 1987...
. Malcolm also commentates on all Sgorio
Sgorio
Sgorio is a Welsh football television programme broadcast in Wales on S4C and produced by Rondo Media. It is currently presented by Nic Parry...
and Sgorio Cymru live games.