Malcolm Allison
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Alexander Allison (5 September 1927 – 14 October 2010) was an English
football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar
, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.
Allison's managerial potential become apparent while in his youth at West Ham United
, where he became a reliable defender
and acted as a mentor to the younger players including future England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore
. His playing career was cut short in 1958 when he had to have a lung removed because of tuberculosis.
As a coach he is remembered for assisting manager Joe Mercer
in the transformation of the team he supported as a young boy - Manchester City
. And during the 1960s and early 70s, he won seven trophies in seven years with Joe Mercer
. After Mercer left, he went on to manage the club on two occasions whilst offering his managerial services for a third time in 1989. He went on to manage several more English sides, as well as three in Portugal and the Kuwait national team
.
in September 1927. Allison was educated at state schools rather than grammar school after deliberately failing the entry exam so he could play football, not rugby
.
, however he struggled to make a difference on the pitch, playing just twice in 6 years. Matters off the pitch led to his transfer, after letting club coaches know that their training methods - which was normally nothing more than running up and down the terracing, were outdated.
Allison joined West Ham United
in February 1951, after seven seasons at Charlton Athletic
. Here he gained experience not only as a footballer but also as a future coach, and often stayed behind after training with anyone interested in football to discuss and devise new tactics.
A promising career as a centre-half was ended prematurely by a bout of tuberculosis
as he fell ill after a game against Sheffield United
on 16 September 1957 and had a lung removed in hospital. This turned out to be his last senior game for West Ham, and although he battled on in their reserve team he struggled with the inability to achieve full fitness. For a period he left football altogether, and worked first as a car salesman, then as a professional gambler and nightclub owner. He came back to football to play a final season for non-league Romford
in 1963.
– he took charge of coaching sessions and acted as mentor to a young Bobby Moore
and was a leading figure in the establishment of the academy principles
at the club.
After gaining further experience of coaching at Cambridge University, Allison moved into management at non-league Bath City
. He replaced the veteran Bob Hewson, who had retired. One of his first moves was to double the number of training sessions. The players, who held full-time jobs outside football, were required to train four times every week. Allison's first season as a manager was a moderate success; he led the club to a third-place finish in the league, and to a third round F.A.Cup tie with First Division Bolton Wanderers. City were leading 1–0 at Twerton Park until a late equaliser from the penalty spot. They lost the replay 3–0.
At the end of the English season Allison accepted an offer to coach in North America over the summer, with Toronto City
. After a matter of weeks he was back in England. His success at Bath had alerted a number of Football League clubs, and in May 1964 he joined Plymouth Argyle
, where he had been offered a £3,000 per annum salary. He soon returned to Bath to sign full-back Tony Book
. However, Allison knew the Argyle board would be reluctant to permit the purchase of a player with no League experience, who was approaching his thirtieth birthday. Allison encouraged Book to doctor his birth certificate, making him appear two years younger.
was named Manchester City
manager in July 1965. As ill health had hindered him in his previous job as manager of Aston Villa
, Mercer sought a younger, energetic man to be his assistant. He offered the position to Allison, who he knew from coaching courses at Lilleshall
. Allison was due to meet Raich Carter
to discuss a position at Middlesbrough
, but Mercer was able to arrange a meeting the day before, and persuaded Allison to accept his offer.
The Mercer-Allison era is believed to be strongest in Manchester City's history – they were surprise winners of the First Division in 1967–68 against the odds, some at long 200-1 for City to win the league at the start of the season. The following season they 1969 FA Cup
, the 1970 League Cup
and Cup Winners' Cup, with a team including Colin Bell
, Mike Summerbee
and Francis Lee
. Allison turned down an offer to manage Juventus on the understanding that Mercer would move aside and let him become full-time Manchester City manager – however, Mercer steadfastly refused to stand down. Their relationship disintegrated and eventually Allison won the power struggle – Mercer was sidelined and quit to take over at Coventry City
in the summer of 1972. Allison was left in sole charge at City, but the team struggled, the fans became hostile, and in March 1973 he resigned.
was a rollercoaster ride for Palace supporters.
On 31 March 1973 Malcolm was appointed Palace manager after previously holding the role at
Bath City, Plymouth Argyle
and Manchester City where he helped the club to top domestic honours along with Joe Mercer
. Despite his arrival the Eagles were relegated, losing five out of their last seven games.
Allison immediately instigated a huge stylistic shift both on and off the field, raising Palace's profile with his charismatic media appearances, rebranding the club’s rather homely nickname ‘The Glaziers’ as ‘The Eagles’, and ending the club’s 68-year association with claret-and-blue kits. Palace’s highly recognisable red-and-blue striped home kit was introduced, and later, the all-white strip with red and blue sash, changes which still reflect in the character of the club today.
The following season, 1974, was even more disastrous because of a second successive relegation.
Allison completely restructured the side in an attempt to halt the club's decline and he angered many fans with his decision to replace favourite John Jackson
in the Palace goal. Allison's larger than life image was a mixed blessing in Division Three
for it raised hopes and aspirations of supporters while also serving to motivate other clubs when they visited SE25. Palace defender Jim Cannon said: "Malcolm Allison put Palace on the map. No other man could single-handedly take a club from the First Division to the Third Division and still become an instant hero".
However 1975–76 was the most successful season for Allison at Selhurst Park
as he spurred his side on to an FA Cup
semi-final appearance. Brilliant victories against higher league opposition in the shape of Leeds United
, Chelsea
and Sunderland
led to the club's first FA Cup
semi-final appearance but unfortunately eventual winners Southampton
proved too strong in the match which was played at Stamford Bridge
. The cup run was also notable for the first appearance of Allison's trademark fedora hat during a third round game at Scarborough
and his use of the sweeper system in football which, at the time, was a relatively new idea.
With the team failing to reach Wembley and win promotion (despite building up a big lead in the league table in the early part of the season) Allison resigned in May 1976. He returned to the club in 1980–81 for a two-month period in a doomed attempt to avoid relegation from the top flight.
although the club had been doing reasonably well under long-term manager Tony Book
, finishing 2nd in the league in 1976 and runners-up in the League Cup in 1974.
Allison was given a sizeable war chest to build his team - this time without Joe Mercer
. Allison controversially sold crowd favourites such as Peter Barnes
and Gary Owen
and replaced them with players such as Michael Robinson and Steve Daley
- who became the British transfer record for £1,450,000m.
Daley turned out to be a flop, and Allison always claimed that he had agreed a much lower fee with the then Wolves manager for Daley. Allison later claimed Swales intervened on a chairman to chairman basis and secured the transfer instantly but at a much higher, possibly rip-off
price. Allison later admitted on his first meeting with chairman Swales: ""I looked at him, saw the comb-over, the England blazer and the suede shoes and thought 'this isn't going to work". Indeed it didn't and Allison left a year later in 1980 with City struggling in the league, nor did Allison do himself any favours by getting involved in a verbal scrap with his successor and fellow maverick manager, John Bond
.
with Galatasaray
(1976–1977), and in Portugal
with Sporting. With the Lisbon club he won the league championship and the Portuguese Cup in 1981-1982. That would be the only Championship title won by Sporting until the 1999–2000 season, which meant that Allison is fondly remembered by Sporting fans.
. When Mercer was stopped by police in his car for erratic driving in the early hours of the morning after leaving a club function at Maine Road
, upon winding down his window Mercer quipped to the police officer: "OK chaps, what's Malcolm done now?"
Whilst at City Allison enjoyed winding up rivals, Manchester United. At a reception, he called Matt Busby
"Matt Baby" and when City beat United 4-1 in January 1970 he walked over to the Stretford End
and held four fingers aloft to signify the margin of City's victory. Allison later revealed he had hired a steeplejack
to lower the flag on top of Old Trafford's main stand to half-mast.
of the Profumo scandal, singer Dorothy Squires
and two Miss UKs. And in 1976, Allison received a Football Association disrepute charge after a News of the World
photograph appeared showing him in the Crystal Palace players' bath with porn star Fiona Richmond
whom he had invited to a training session. Then Crystal Palace player, Terry Venables
later said of the incident, "I was in the bath with all the players and we heard the whisper that she was coming down the corridor." So far, so good. "We all leapt out and hid, because we knew there'd be photos and that wouldn't go down too well. Malcolm and Fiona dropped everything and got in the bath."
. In 2009 it was reported that Allison was suffering from dementia
.
In January 2007 Crystal Palace fans organised a tribute to Allison, which they named 'Fedora Day'. Fans set up a campaign on www.cpfc.org, an unofficial forum dedicated to the club, to mark the 31st anniversary of the famous FA Cup
run which Allison masterminded. The date chosen was that of the game against Preston North End in the 4th Round of the FA Cup on 27 January 2007. Fans sporting Allison's favoured Fedoras smoked cigars and drank champagne while cheering on their side. This generated major national press coverage. Crystal Palace – managed by Peter Taylor
, a star of the 1976 side – were unable to match their predecessors and were knocked out of the cup 2–0.
Allison died in a nursing home on 14 October 2010 at the age of 83.
He had six children.
His funeral took place on 27 October and the cortege passed the City of Manchester Stadium
on its way to a service at the Southern Cemetery.
Around 300 people had gathered to pay their respects and a round of applause from the assembled crowd greeted the arrival of the cars. A sky-blue Manchester City scarf was draped over his coffin and next to it was an ice bucket containing a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne.
Sporting Clube de Portugal – 1981–1982
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora and cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
, controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.
Allison's managerial potential become apparent while in his youth at West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, where he became a reliable defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and acted as a mentor to the younger players including future England World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
. His playing career was cut short in 1958 when he had to have a lung removed because of tuberculosis.
As a coach he is remembered for assisting manager Joe Mercer
Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
in the transformation of the team he supported as a young boy - Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. And during the 1960s and early 70s, he won seven trophies in seven years with Joe Mercer
Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
. After Mercer left, he went on to manage the club on two occasions whilst offering his managerial services for a third time in 1989. He went on to manage several more English sides, as well as three in Portugal and the Kuwait national team
Kuwait national football team
The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. They made one World Cup Finals appearance, in 1982, managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. During the match against France, France scored a goal...
.
Early life
Son of an electrical engineer, Allison was born in DartfordDartford
Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, east south-east of central London....
in September 1927. Allison was educated at state schools rather than grammar school after deliberately failing the entry exam so he could play football, not rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
.
Playing career
He started his career with Charlton AthleticCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, however he struggled to make a difference on the pitch, playing just twice in 6 years. Matters off the pitch led to his transfer, after letting club coaches know that their training methods - which was normally nothing more than running up and down the terracing, were outdated.
Allison joined West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in February 1951, after seven seasons at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. Here he gained experience not only as a footballer but also as a future coach, and often stayed behind after training with anyone interested in football to discuss and devise new tactics.
A promising career as a centre-half was ended prematurely by a bout of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
as he fell ill after a game against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on 16 September 1957 and had a lung removed in hospital. This turned out to be his last senior game for West Ham, and although he battled on in their reserve team he struggled with the inability to achieve full fitness. For a period he left football altogether, and worked first as a car salesman, then as a professional gambler and nightclub owner. He came back to football to play a final season for non-league Romford
Romford F.C.
Romford F.C. is an English football club based in Romford, Greater London. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Isthmian League, and play at Mill Field in Aveley.-History:...
in 1963.
Management career
Allison's first taste of coaching was at West Ham, where – under Ted FentonTed Fenton
Edward "Ted" Fenton was manager of English football club West Ham United between 1950 and 1961.- West Ham United :...
– he took charge of coaching sessions and acted as mentor to a young Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
and was a leading figure in the establishment of the academy principles
The Academy of Football
The Academy of Football, or just The Academy, is a nickname of the English football club West Ham United.The title pays homage to the success of the club in coaching talented young players...
at the club.
After gaining further experience of coaching at Cambridge University, Allison moved into management at non-league Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
. He replaced the veteran Bob Hewson, who had retired. One of his first moves was to double the number of training sessions. The players, who held full-time jobs outside football, were required to train four times every week. Allison's first season as a manager was a moderate success; he led the club to a third-place finish in the league, and to a third round F.A.Cup tie with First Division Bolton Wanderers. City were leading 1–0 at Twerton Park until a late equaliser from the penalty spot. They lost the replay 3–0.
At the end of the English season Allison accepted an offer to coach in North America over the summer, with Toronto City
Toronto City
Toronto City is a former Canadian football team based in Toronto. Between 1961 and 1967, teams using this name competed in both the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and the United Soccer Association.-ECPSL:...
. After a matter of weeks he was back in England. His success at Bath had alerted a number of Football League clubs, and in May 1964 he joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, where he had been offered a £3,000 per annum salary. He soon returned to Bath to sign full-back Tony Book
Tony Book
Anthony Keith Book is a retired English footballer and manager who was born in Bath, 4 September 1934. Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle. At the age of 31, he joined First Division...
. However, Allison knew the Argyle board would be reluctant to permit the purchase of a player with no League experience, who was approaching his thirtieth birthday. Allison encouraged Book to doctor his birth certificate, making him appear two years younger.
Manchester City
Joe MercerJoe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
was named Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
manager in July 1965. As ill health had hindered him in his previous job as manager of 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...
, Mercer sought a younger, energetic man to be his assistant. He offered the position to Allison, who he knew from coaching courses at Lilleshall
Lilleshall Hall
Lilleshall Hall is a large former country house and estate located near Lilleshall in Shropshire, England. It was founded as an Augustinian Abbey in the 12th century, with its estate running to some...
. Allison was due to meet Raich Carter
Raich Carter
Horatio Stratton "Raich" Carter was one of the greatest English footballers of the pre-war era...
to discuss a position at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, but Mercer was able to arrange a meeting the day before, and persuaded Allison to accept his offer.
The Mercer-Allison era is believed to be strongest in Manchester City's history – they were surprise winners of the First Division in 1967–68 against the odds, some at long 200-1 for City to win the league at the start of the season. The following season they 1969 FA Cup
1969 FA Cup Final
The 1969 FA Cup Final was the final match of the 1968–69 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, better known as the FA Cup. The match was contested between Leicester City and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday 26 April 1969...
, the 1970 League Cup
1970 Football League Cup Final
The 1970 Football League Cup Final took place on 7 March 1970 at Wembley Stadium with an attendance of 97,963. It was the tenth Football League Cup final and the fourth to be played at Wembley...
and Cup Winners' Cup, with a team including Colin Bell
Colin Bell
Colin Bell MBE , is a former English football player who was born in Hesleden, County Durham, England. Nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" , and Nijinsky after the famous racehorse , Bell is widely regarded as Manchester City's greatest ever player...
, Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee is an English former footballer, who played in the successful Manchester City side of the late 1960s and early 1970s....
and Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Francis Henry Lee is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27 appearances for the England national team. Lee played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, and Derby County...
. Allison turned down an offer to manage Juventus on the understanding that Mercer would move aside and let him become full-time Manchester City manager – however, Mercer steadfastly refused to stand down. Their relationship disintegrated and eventually Allison won the power struggle – Mercer was sidelined and quit to take over at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in the summer of 1972. Allison was left in sole charge at City, but the team struggled, the fans became hostile, and in March 1973 he resigned.
Crystal Palace
Allison was certainly one of the most flamboyant characters in Crystal Palace's history and his time at Selhurst ParkSelhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
was a rollercoaster ride for Palace supporters.
On 31 March 1973 Malcolm was appointed Palace manager after previously holding the role at
Bath City, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Manchester City where he helped the club to top domestic honours along with Joe Mercer
Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
. Despite his arrival the Eagles were relegated, losing five out of their last seven games.
Allison immediately instigated a huge stylistic shift both on and off the field, raising Palace's profile with his charismatic media appearances, rebranding the club’s rather homely nickname ‘The Glaziers’ as ‘The Eagles’, and ending the club’s 68-year association with claret-and-blue kits. Palace’s highly recognisable red-and-blue striped home kit was introduced, and later, the all-white strip with red and blue sash, changes which still reflect in the character of the club today.
The following season, 1974, was even more disastrous because of a second successive relegation.
Allison completely restructured the side in an attempt to halt the club's decline and he angered many fans with his decision to replace favourite John Jackson
John Jackson (footballer)
John Jackson is an English former footballer who made 656 appearances in the Football League playing as a goalkeeper for Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Ipswich Town and Hereford United.-Career:...
in the Palace goal. Allison's larger than life image was a mixed blessing in Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
for it raised hopes and aspirations of supporters while also serving to motivate other clubs when they visited SE25. Palace defender Jim Cannon said: "Malcolm Allison put Palace on the map. No other man could single-handedly take a club from the First Division to the Third Division and still become an instant hero".
However 1975–76 was the most successful season for Allison at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
as he spurred his side on to an 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 appearance. Brilliant victories against higher league opposition in the shape of Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
led to the club's first 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 appearance but unfortunately eventual winners Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
proved too strong in the match which was played at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
. The cup run was also notable for the first appearance of Allison's trademark fedora hat during a third round game at Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
and his use of the sweeper system in football which, at the time, was a relatively new idea.
With the team failing to reach Wembley and win promotion (despite building up a big lead in the league table in the early part of the season) Allison resigned in May 1976. He returned to the club in 1980–81 for a two-month period in a doomed attempt to avoid relegation from the top flight.
Return to Manchester City
In 1979, Allison was offered the chance to return to Manchester City by then-chairman Peter Swales. City's only success since Allison left in 1972 was League Cup victory in 19761976 Football League Cup Final
The 1976 Football League Cup Final took place between Manchester City and Newcastle United on 28 February 1976 at Wembley Stadium. It was the sixteenth final and the tenth Football League Cup final to be played at Wembley. Manchester City won the match 2–1 to win the competition for the second time...
although the club had been doing reasonably well under long-term manager Tony Book
Tony Book
Anthony Keith Book is a retired English footballer and manager who was born in Bath, 4 September 1934. Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle. At the age of 31, he joined First Division...
, finishing 2nd in the league in 1976 and runners-up in the League Cup in 1974.
Allison was given a sizeable war chest to build his team - this time without Joe Mercer
Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
. Allison controversially sold crowd favourites such as Peter Barnes
Peter Barnes (footballer)
Peter Simon Barnes is an English former international footballer, and the son of footballer Ken Barnes. A textbook journeyman player, he played for numerous clubs across England, Wales, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Ireland, and the United States...
and Gary Owen
Gary Owen (footballer)
Gary Owen is a retired English football midfielder. With 22 caps, he is one of the most capped players for England Under-21s, but never made it into the senior team. He was also capped seven times for England B...
and replaced them with players such as Michael Robinson and Steve Daley
Steve Daley
Steve Daley is a former English footballer, who played as a midfielder. The most notorious incident in his career was his British record transfer to Manchester City in 1979, later described in a 2001 Observer article as "the biggest waste of money in football history"...
- who became the British transfer record for £1,450,000m.
Daley turned out to be a flop, and Allison always claimed that he had agreed a much lower fee with the then Wolves manager for Daley. Allison later claimed Swales intervened on a chairman to chairman basis and secured the transfer instantly but at a much higher, possibly rip-off
Rip-Off
Rip-Off is a top-down vector shoot 'em up arcade game released by Cinematronics in 1980. It is the first shoot 'em up arcade game to feature cooperative gameplay and to exhibit flocking behavior.-Gameplay:...
price. Allison later admitted on his first meeting with chairman Swales: ""I looked at him, saw the comb-over, the England blazer and the suede shoes and thought 'this isn't going to work". Indeed it didn't and Allison left a year later in 1980 with City struggling in the league, nor did Allison do himself any favours by getting involved in a verbal scrap with his successor and fellow maverick manager, John Bond
John Bond (footballer)
John Frederick Bond is an English former professional football player and manager. His son Kevin Bond is also a former footballer.-Playing career:...
.
Overseas
Allison also managed overseas, in TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
with Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
(1976–1977), and in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
with Sporting. With the Lisbon club he won the league championship and the Portuguese Cup in 1981-1982. That would be the only Championship title won by Sporting until the 1999–2000 season, which meant that Allison is fondly remembered by Sporting fans.
Personality
Allison was remembered as one of the most exuberant characters in football and some believed his character made him "ahead of his time". His reputation as an unpredictable character was certainly well known by his assistant at Manchester City Joe MercerJoe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
. When Mercer was stopped by police in his car for erratic driving in the early hours of the morning after leaving a club function at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, upon winding down his window Mercer quipped to the police officer: "OK chaps, what's Malcolm done now?"
Whilst at City Allison enjoyed winding up rivals, Manchester United. At a reception, he called Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
"Matt Baby" and when City beat United 4-1 in January 1970 he walked over to the Stretford End
Stretford End
The Stretford End, officially named West Stand, is a stand on the west side of Old Trafford, the stadium of Manchester United F.C. It took its name from the town of Stretford, in which the stadium is located, as it is in the direction of the centre of Stretford, looking from the centre of the pitch...
and held four fingers aloft to signify the margin of City's victory. Allison later revealed he had hired a steeplejack
Steeplejack
A steeplejack is a craftsman who scales buildings, chimneys and church steeples to carry out repairs or maintenance.Britain's most famous steeplejack was Fred Dibnah, who became a television presenter and minor celebrity as a result of his craft....
to lower the flag on top of Old Trafford's main stand to half-mast.
Controversies
Allison's outspoken nature and womanising were of great interest to the tabloids and it was reputed that Allison had relationships with Christine KeelerChristine Keeler
Christine Margaret Keeler is an English former model and showgirl. Her involvement with a British government minister discredited the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan in 1963, in what is known as the Profumo Affair....
of the Profumo scandal, singer Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires was a Welsh vocalist. Among her recordings were versions of "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Anytime", "If You Love Me " and "And So to Sleep Again".-Biography:...
and two Miss UKs. And in 1976, Allison received a Football Association disrepute charge after a News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
photograph appeared showing him in the Crystal Palace players' bath with porn star Fiona Richmond
Fiona Richmond
Fiona Richmond is a former glamour model and actress. She is the daughter of the Reverend John Harrison. Born Julia Rosamund Harrison, she became a British sex symbol in the 1970s for her appearances in numerous risqué plays, comedy revues, magazines and films.-Acting career:She made her film...
whom he had invited to a training session. Then Crystal Palace player, Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
later said of the incident, "I was in the bath with all the players and we heard the whisper that she was coming down the corridor." So far, so good. "We all leapt out and hid, because we knew there'd be photos and that wouldn't go down too well. Malcolm and Fiona dropped everything and got in the bath."
After football
In 2001 it was revealed by his son that Allison was suffering from alcoholismAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. In 2009 it was reported that Allison was suffering from dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
.
In January 2007 Crystal Palace fans organised a tribute to Allison, which they named 'Fedora Day'. Fans set up a campaign on www.cpfc.org, an unofficial forum dedicated to the club, to mark the 31st anniversary of the famous 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...
run which Allison masterminded. The date chosen was that of the game against Preston North End in the 4th Round of the FA Cup on 27 January 2007. Fans sporting Allison's favoured Fedoras smoked cigars and drank champagne while cheering on their side. This generated major national press coverage. Crystal Palace – managed by Peter Taylor
Peter John Taylor
Peter John Taylor is an English football manager and former player and current head coach of the Bahrain national football team...
, a star of the 1976 side – were unable to match their predecessors and were knocked out of the cup 2–0.
Allison died in a nursing home on 14 October 2010 at the age of 83.
He had six children.
His funeral took place on 27 October and the cortege passed the City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
on its way to a service at the Southern Cemetery.
Around 300 people had gathered to pay their respects and a round of applause from the assembled crowd greeted the arrival of the cars. A sky-blue Manchester City scarf was draped over his coffin and next to it was an ice bucket containing a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne.
Legacy
Allison was known as a great innovator in revolutionising training methods in English football.Quotes
- "A lot of hard work went into this defeat."
- "You're not a real manager unless you've been sacked."
- "John BondJohn Bond (footballer)John Frederick Bond is an English former professional football player and manager. His son Kevin Bond is also a former footballer.-Playing career:...
has blackened my name with his insinuations about the private lives of football managers. Both my wives are upset." - Allison on his successor at Manchester City in 1980 - "A lot of people in football don't have much time for the press; they say they're amateurs."
- "I think I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world because I had a job I loved doing."
- "We'll terrify the cowards of Europe" - Allison following Manchester City's European Cup qualification in 1968. They were knocked out in the first round by Fenerbahce.
Honour(s) as player
West Ham United- Football League Second DivisionFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
- Winner (1): 1957–58
Honour as coach
Manchester City – 1965–1973 and 1979–1980- Football League First Division (first tier)
- Winner (1): 1967–68
- Football League Second Division (second tier)
- Winner (1): 1965–66
- FA CupFA CupThe 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...
- Winner (1): 19691969 FA Cup FinalThe 1969 FA Cup Final was the final match of the 1968–69 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, better known as the FA Cup. The match was contested between Leicester City and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday 26 April 1969...
- Winner (1): 1969
- League CupLeague CupIn association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
- Winner (1): 19701970 Football League Cup FinalThe 1970 Football League Cup Final took place on 7 March 1970 at Wembley Stadium with an attendance of 97,963. It was the tenth Football League Cup final and the fourth to be played at Wembley...
- Winner (1): 1970
- Charity Shield
- Winner (2): 19681968 FA Charity ShieldThe 1968 FA Charity Shield was a football match played on 3 August 1968 between Football League champions Manchester City and FA Cup winners West Bromwich Albion. It was the 46th Charity Shield match and was played at City's home ground, Maine Road...
, 1972 - Runner-up (2): 19691969 FA Charity Shield-References:...
, 1973
- Winner (2): 1968
- European Cup Winners Cup
- Winner (1): 1970
Sporting Clube de Portugal – 1981–1982
- Portuguese LigaPortuguese LigaThe Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
(first tier)- Winner: 1981–82
- Cup of Portugal
- Winner: 1981–82
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
- Winner: 1981–82
Managerial record
- Competitive games only
Team Nat From To Record G W D L Win % Plymouth Plymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
1 May 1964 30 April 1965
Manchester City 12 June 1972 30 March 1973
Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C.Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... 30 March 1973 19 May 1976
Plymouth Plymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... 16 March 1978 5 January 1979
Manchester City 16 July 1979 1 October 1980
Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C.Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... 1 December 1980 1 February 1981
Sporting Lisbon 
1981 1982
Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C.Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... 23 October 1982 28 March 1984
Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C.Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... 1 August 1992 1 March 1993
Total
External links
Records
Biographical articles- Malcolm Allison - Flamboyant manager with the fedora hat - Courtesy of mirrorfootball.co.uk
Obituaries and tributes- Malcolm Allison: A tribute at mcfc.co.uk - Video tribute courtesy of Manchester City Football Club
- Obituary at guardian.co.uk - courtesy of The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- Obituary at telegraph.co.uk - courtesy of The Daily TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
- Obituary at independent.co.uk - courtesy of The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...