Albert Allen

Albert Allen (born Aston, Birmingham on 1 April 1867, died 13 October 1899) was a football player in the early years of professional football in England, who played as an inside-forward with Aston Villa. He made one appearance for England on 7 April 1888 when he scored three goals in a 5–1 victory over Ireland, thus making him one of the five England players who scored a hat trick on his only international appearance.[2]

For other people named Albert Allen, see Albert Allen (disambiguation).

Albert Allen
Personal information
Full name Albert Arthur Allen[1]
Date of birth (1867-04-01)1 April 1867
Place of birth Aston, Birmingham, England
Date of death 13 October 1899(1899-10-13) (aged 32)
Place of death Birmingham, England
Position(s) Inside forward
Youth career
St. Phillips
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1884–1891 Aston Villa 44 (27)
Total 44 (27)
National team
1888 England 1 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He first joined Villa in August 1884 (before the foundation of the Football League), played in the first Villa League team to debut at Dudley Road, Wolverhampton, then home of Wolverhampton Wanderer's. The match ended 1-1. He scored Villa's first Football League hat-trick in a 9–1 home win over Notts County on 29 September 1888, his debut League goal was on 15 September 1888 at Wellington Road, in a 5–1 win over Stoke. When he made his League debut he was 21 years 146 days old; that made him, on that first day of League football, Aston Villa's youngest league player. Allen only missed one League match, out of 22, and top-scored in 1888–1889 with 18 League goals and 1 in the FA Cup. Played as a forward in a forward line that scored three-League-goals-or-more-in-a-match on six separate occasions. Developed an understanding with Dennis Hodgetts. He made 44 league appearances for Aston Villa, scoring 27 goals. He died of tuberculosis, which had ended his career prematurely, aged 32.[3][4]

A light, but most effective wing player, with a good turn of speed. Lack of weight and size did not affect his pluck. Dribbled like an artist and shot with force and good aim. Always did well in big games and was seen to special advantage in his international. A modest, unassuming player, whom it was a pleasure to meet.[5]

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (2004). Who's Who of Aston Villa. Mainstream Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 1 84018 821 9.
  2. The other four are John Yates, Walter Gilliat, John Veitch and Frank Bradshaw.
  3. Metcalf, Mark (2013). The Origins of the Football League. Amberley. ISBN 978 1 4456 1881 4.
  4. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 30 March 2018. (registration & fee required)
  5. The Villa News and Record, September 1, 1906.


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