KEITH ALLEN

Born: 09 November 1943

Came from: Luton Town   Went to: Retired

First game: 15 August 1970   Last game: 15 August 1972

Appearances: 84 (79/5)   Goals: 10

Born in Newport on the Isle of Wight, Allen was a forward who started his career in youth football with the now defunct Ryde Sports, a club which competed in the Isle of Wight League before the formation of the Wessex League. Remarkably he was one of seven sons, all of whom played football to a good standard!

He was first spotted by nearby Portsmouth, for whom he signed in 1962. Having failed to make an appearance in two years at the club, he moved on a free transfer to Grimsby Town, where he made six league appearances during the 1964-65 season, scoring once.

At the end of that season he moved again, this time to join Stockport County in a player-exchange deal, where he became a regular fixture in the first team, making 49 league appearances over two seasons and scoring 15 times. Allen really made a name for himself as the Hatters walked away with the Division Four title in 1966-67.

His improved form attracted the attention of football's other Hatters, Luton Town. He became an instant terrace hero at Kenilworth Road with his 100% all-action style of play and was nicknamed ‘Spider’. He became the perfect foil to both Bruce Rioch and Malcolm Macdonald as the Hatters won two promotions in three seasons before he left, making the move to Home Park. In total he had made 154 appearances and scored 43 goals for the Bedfordshire-based club.

During his time at Luton he is often remembered for an unusual and unfortunate occurrence in a game. Playing against Stockport County (ironically his former club) at Kenilworth Road in April 1969, Allen heard a whistle and thinking it had been blown by the referee, promptly caught the ball. Unfortunately, the whistle had come from somebody in the crowd and he had, inadvertently, conceded a penalty! Thankfully it was largely meaningless as Luton triumphed 4-1.

Arriving at Home Park on a free transfer during Ellis Stuttard's second spell as manager, he played for the club across two seasons and made 84 appearances, scoring 10 goals, before an injury curtailed his career. By August 1972, he had played just two games of the 1972-73 season, when he suffered what turned out to be a significant knee injury. A comeback was attempted but proved unsuccessful, and having been troubled by the injury for over a year, he took medical advice and announced his retirement in November 1973 just as he turned 29.

On retirement from football, he spent some time working as a used car salesman for Vospers on Millbay Road in the city. He was also an accomplished & keen cricketer, playing for both Plymstock and Roborough, into the mid-1970s, before eventually returning to life back on his native Isle of Wight.