Malcolm Allison

Allison started his career with Charlton Athletic but struggled to make an impact on the pitch, playing just twice in six years. Matters off the pitch led to his transfer, after letting club coaches know that their training methods – which were normally nothing more than running up and down the terracing – were outdated.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. At West Ham he gained experience not only as a footballer but also as a future coach, and he 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 played briefly for Toronto City FC in May and June 1964 as the team's player-coach.

Allison's first taste of coaching was at West Ham, where – under Ted Fenton – 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,…

The son of an electrical engineer, Allison was born in Dartford in September 1927. He was educated at secondary modern schools rather than grammar school after deliberately failing the 11-plus exam so he could play football, not rugby.

Player

West Ham United

Football League Second Division: 1957–58

Coach

Manchester City (as assistant)

Football League First Division: 1967–68 Football League Second Division: 1965–66 FA Cup: 1969 League Cup: 1970 Charity Shield: 1968; runner-up: 1969 European Cup Winners' Cup: 1970 Manchester City

Charity Shield: 1972 Sporting CP

Primeira Liga: 1981–82 Cup of Portugal: 1981–82