Thomson Allan
Encyclopedia
Thomson Sandlands Allan (born 5 October 1946 in Longridge, West Lothian
) is a former Scottish
professional footballer
who played as a goalkeeper.
Allan began his career at Hibernian
in 1963, where he was a League Cup
runner-up in 1968-69
. He joined Dundee
in 1971 and collected his only winner's medal at Dens Park
, when the Dark Blues defeated Celtic
1–0 in the 1973 Scottish League Cup Final
.
Allan was called up to the Scotland squad
that season, earning his only two caps
in warm-up matches for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
. He was selected in the squad for West Germany
but was considered back-up to Leeds United's David Harvey
and did not play during the tournament.
Allan reverted to part-time status when he started working at British Leyland's Bathgate
plant and wound down his career with brief spells at Meadowbank Thistle, Heart of Midlothian
, Falkirk
and East Stirlingshire
before retiring in 1982.
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
) is a former Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a goalkeeper.
Allan began his career at Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1963, where he was a League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
runner-up in 1968-69
1968-69 in Scottish football
The 1968–69 season was the 72nd season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Celtic Relegated: Falkirk, Arbroath-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Motherwell, Ayr United-Cup honours:...
. He joined Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in 1971 and collected his only winner's medal at Dens Park
Dens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
, when the Dark Blues defeated Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
1–0 in the 1973 Scottish League Cup Final
1973 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1973 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 15 December 1973 and was the final of the 28th Scottish League Cup competition. It was contested by Dundee and Celtic. Dundee won the match 1–0, with Gordon Wallace scoring the winning goal....
.
Allan was called up to the Scotland squad
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
that season, earning his only two caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in warm-up matches for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
. He was selected in the squad for West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
but was considered back-up to Leeds United's David Harvey
David Harvey (footballer)
David Harvey is a former Scottish internationalist professional association footballer. A goalkeeper, Harvey is best known for his successes with Leeds United.-Leeds United:...
and did not play during the tournament.
Allan reverted to part-time status when he started working at British Leyland's Bathgate
Bathgate
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...
plant and wound down his career with brief spells at Meadowbank Thistle, Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
and East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
before retiring in 1982.