Rory Allen


Rory Allen is an English former professional footballer.

Club career

Early career

A striker, Allen made his professional football debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 4 September 1996 as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat at Wimbledon.
He went on to score four times in 28 games for Spurs, and started the 3rd round FA Cup tie in 1997 against Manchester United alongside Neale Fenn. Two of his four goals came in the league, against Newcastle and Manchester United, also scoring a brace against Preston North End in the League Cup. Allen was sent on loan to Luton Town in 1997, scoring 6 goals in 8 appearances in what was then Division Two.

Portsmouth

paid Spurs a club record £1,000,000 for him in July 1999, as he became Pompey's first million-pound signing, citing manager Alan Ball as a key factor in his decision to make the move. He suffered an injury in pre-season training. He scored his first goal for Portsmouth on 15 August 1999 in a match against Wolves. The following week, he made it two goals in a week, scoring in a 2–0 victory at home to Stockport. He injured his ankle in September 1999, lasting only 24 minutes of a league match against Ipswich. He wouldn't play again until making an appearance as a substitute in March 2000. Allen scored his third Portsmouth goal against QPR in May 2000, equalising in the 53rd minute but with Portsmouth finally losing the match 3–1.
He struggled for match fitness, and missed the whole of the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons due to knee problems. He scored in a pre-season friendly match against Spanish side Alavés in August 2002, but made no further competitive appearances. He left the club in November 2002, handing in a letter of resignation with eight months of his contract remaining. Having already undergone eight operations to his ankles and knees over the course of his career, this signalled his retirement from football aged just 25.

Personal life

In 2000, Allen was arrested and fined alongside Portsmouth goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan after he admitted to being abusive towards police officers following a drinking session.