Ian Allinson

Born in Hitchin, Allinson began his career with Colchester United as an apprentice in the summer of 1974 and made his debut later in the season, coming on as a substitute for Jimmy Lindsay against Bobby Charlton's Preston North End on 19 April 1975. The match at Layer Road resulted in a 2–2 draw. After picking up the club's 'Young Player of the Year' award after his first season with the club, he was rewarded with his first professional contract in October 1975. Allinson played a crucial role in Colchester's promotion winning side of the 1976–77 season, netting the winning goal in the final game of the season against Bradford City that secured a promotion slot. A consistent performer with the U's, it was not until the 1981–82 season that Allinson began to be noticed by the wider football world. Colchester boasted a powerful strike force of Roy McDonough, Kevin Bremner, Tony Adcock and Allinson, who scored 43 league goals in just two seasons. Allinson was valued in the region of £100,000 to Colchester, but an administration error cost the club dearly when his future benefits and bonuses were erroneously entered as less than his previous contract, entitling the player to a free-transfer. Fulham were the club most likely to sign Allinson, before a late bid from Arsenal was placed, joining them in the summer of 1983. Allinson's debut for Arsenal came in a shock League Cup defeat to Walsall on 29 November 1983, signalling the end of Terry Neill's tenure as manager of the club. He…

Following his retirement from playing, Allinson became player-manager at Baldock Town from 1989 to 1992 before spending six years managing Stotfold. He later managed Barton Rovers on two occasions, Harlow Town, Boreham Wood, Stotfold on a further two occasions, and back to Boreham Wood. In 1994, he managed Corby Town F.C. whose chairman at the time was Steve Evans. Upon taking on the Chairmanship of the Northamptonshire club, Evans dismissed the managerial duo of Bryn Gunn and Gerry McElhinney in favour of Allinson but he resigned just a day after his appointment when he tendered his resignation after returning home from his first training session where he was introduced to the players. Allinson later commented of the episode: "I hadn't met Steve Evans before and didn't know why he had approached me. But after thinking about it I doubted if we would be able to work together." Allinson took Boreham Wood to promotion in the Isthmian League Premier Division via the play-offs in the 2009–10 season, defeating Kingstonian 2–0 in the final. During a game against Havant & Waterlooville in January 2011, the ball was put out of play so a Havant player could receive treatment, and upon passing the ball back to the Havant keeper, Boreham Wood player Mario Noto overhit his pass back to the goalkeeper and the ball hit the back of the net. Allinson signalled to his players to allow Havant to score a goal unchallenged. For this gesture, Allinson was hailed for his sportsmanship by Havant…

Alongside his managerial duties, Allinson has worked in sales, and during Boreham Wood's FA Trophy run in 2006, he was working as a marketing representative for the competition's sponsors, Carlsberg. Allinson was acting as the club's director of football at the time. In February 2019, Allinson was inducted into the Colchester United Hall of Fame. His son Lee is also a football coach, and the two worked together at Hemel Hempstead Town.

As a player

Luton Town

Full Members Cup runner-up: 1988 Individual

Colchester United Young Player of the Year: 1974–75

As manager

Boreham Wood

Isthmian League play-offs: 2009–10 Conference South play-offs: 2014-15