Alan Devonshire

Early career

Born in Park Royal, then a part of Middlesex, Crystal Palace rejected Devonshire at age 14 for being too small. He returned to Selhurst Park two years later, playing a couple of youth team games before again being released, this time by former West Ham player and Palace manager, Malcolm Allison. Devonshire started playing for non-league Southall and caught the attention of League clubs such as Reading, Southampton, and Brentford. By day, he worked as a forklift truck driver at the Hoover Factory in Perivale, Middlesex. During this period, two West Ham United scouts, Eddie Baily and Charlie Faulkner, spotted him playing for Southall and recommended him to Ron Greenwood. Devonshire signed for West Ham United in 1976 for a fee of £5,000; "West Ham's best ever buy", according to some.

West Ham United

Devonshire debuted for West Ham on 27 October 1976 in a League Cup tie against Queens Park Rangers, which West Ham lost 2–0. He made his League debut three days later, on 30 October 1976, against West Bromwich Albion, where he played in a 3–0 defeat. He soon became a fan favourite, referred to by his nickname "Dev". His down-to-earth attitude was one to which the fans could relate. He also enhanced his rapport with supporters by travelling to home games on the London Underground from his West London home. He played 29 games in all competitions without scoring in his first season. 1976–77 was a poor season for West Ham, finishing 17th and only two…

Devonshire was selected to play for England by Ron Greenwood, his former manager at West Ham. He debuted on 20 May 1980 in a 1–1 draw against Northern Ireland. Greenwood selected him again on 31 May 1980 in a friendly game against Australia, which England won 2–1. Unfortunately for Devonshire, his position and style of play were similar to those of Glenn Hoddle, and he often found himself playing second fiddle to the Tottenham man. He would have to wait two years for his next cap, on 25 May 1982, in a 2–0 win against the Netherlands. Another game followed on 2 June 1982, a 1–1 draw against Iceland. These games were warm-up matches for the 1982 World Cup, but Devonshire was missing from England's final squad for the tournament. Bobby Robson, England's new manager, attempting to rebuild an ageing team, selected Devonshire in October 1982. The game against West Germany finished in a 2–1 defeat. His final two appearances, against Greece and Luxembourg, came towards the end of 1983. These were qualifiers for the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship and Devonshire's only appearances in competitive international games.

Devonshire began his management career in charge of Brentford Women and the non-league club Osterley. He was appointed joint manager of Maidenhead United in the summer of 1996 alongside Martyn Busby, taking sole charge in March 1997. Under Devonshire, the Magpies ended a 27-year trophy drought by winning the Isthmian League Full Members Cup in 1996–97 and earned a historic promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division after a third-place finish in 1999–00. The club also won four Berks & Bucks Senior Cups (1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03). After the Chairman, Roger Coombs, announced his decision to step down at the end of the 2002–03 season, Devonshire followed suit. He then became the manager of Hampton & Richmond Borough in the Conference South, taking the Maidenhead first team squad with him, bar four – Ryan Ashe, Brian Connor, Adam Durrant and Lawrence Yaku – who stayed at York Road, and three – Richard Barnard, Andy Cook and Matty Glynn – who signed for Aldershot Town, Hendon and St Albans City respectively. Devonshire was inducted into the Maidenhead United Hall of Fame, alongside Connor, in January 2010. As manager of Hampton & Richmond, he took the club from Isthmian League Division One South to the play-off-final of the Conference South. He guided them to fifth place in the Isthmian Division One South in his first season. The re-organisation of the non-league pyramid was enough to see the club promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division. He then guided…

Devonshire's father, Les, was a professional footballer with clubs including Chester City and Crystal Palace. He has a race horse named after him.