Bob Allan
Robert Allan was a Scottish footballer who played as an outside-right for West Ham United and its predecessor club Thames Ironworks. He had previously played for Dundee.
Allan started his career at Dundee. In January 1897, he scored a hat-trick in a Scottish FA Cup second round match against King's Park. Finding first-team opportunities limited, he joined Thames Ironworks in 1899. There, he made 22 consecutive appearances in the Southern League Division One, between his debut against Southampton on 16 December and the end-of-season test match against Fulham on 30 April. Usually occupying the outside-right position, he was also played at inside-left and at right-half. His only goal came in a 4–1 victory over Southampton on 9 April 1900. He also made seven consecutive appearances in the Thames & Medway Combination. After the winding up of Thames Ironworks and the formation of West Ham United, Allan continued to play for the new club, making 57 appearances over three seasons. His only goal for United came against Wellingborough Town on 27 December 1901.
The club handbook from 1900–01 featured the following description of Allan:
