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Players Index Page Last Updated
15 February 2023
 
 

Harry Allen

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

 5 appearances, 0 goals
 1 own goal

P 5 W 3 D 1 L 1 F 18: A 6
70% successful
 1888-90

captain: none
minutes played: 450

Timeline
  Harry Allen
Birth Friday, 19 January 1866 in Walsall, Staffordshire
  no exact registration found in Walsall January-March 1866
  Walsall was a registration district in its own right, but no Harry Allen's were registered there until 1877. The census confirms Harry was born in Walsall in 1866, but there are too many Allen's to confirm an exact birth registration.
 

According to the 1871 census, a 5 year-old Harry lived at John Street, Walsall. The third of five children, to Joseph and Emma (née Rowley). His father is a Carter.
 

According to the 1881 census, 15 year-old Harry lived at 121 Regent Street, Walsall. The fourth of ten children, still living with his parents. He was a tube maker, alongside his father.
Marriage to Ellen Phoebe Curley, at St. John's Church, Walsall, on Sunday, 26 September 1886.
  registered in Walsall July-September 1886
Children Harry and Ellen Allen had four children together. Harry Thomas (b.1887), Jane Ann (b.1889), Ethel (b.1891) and Beatrice Ellen (b.1893 d.28 August 1895)
 

According to the 1891 census, 25 year-old Harry was the Landlord of the Crown Inn, in Fryer Street, Wolverhampton. Married to Ellen with three children, Harry, Jane and Ethel.
(His eldest daughter Jane Ann Allen died in 1893))
Death Saturday night, 23 February 1895 at 22 Long Street, Walsall, Staffordshire, of consumption.
aged 29 years 36 days registered in Walsall January-March 1895

Obituary
"DEATH OF HARRY ALLEN
"The death is announced of the well-known professional player Harry Allen, late captain of the Wolverhampton Wanderers. Allen, who died at Walsall from consumption, in his early days played for Swifts of that town, but for close upon ten years figured as centre half for the 'Wolves.' He secured his international cap in 1888, when he played against Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The two following seasons he took part in matches against Scotland. Allen secured the goal that won the Association Cup for his club a couple of seasons back, when playing Everton." - Western Daily Mercury, Tuesday, 26 February 1895.
Funeral Thursday, 28 February 1895 at St. Paul's Church, Walsall, interred at Ryecroft Cemetery
"DEATH OF A FOOTBALLER.
"On Saturday last Mr. Harry Allen, a well-known Walsall football player, and ex-captain of the Wolverhampton Wanderers team, died at his home, 22, Long Street, Walsall, from consumption, at the early age of 29. His remains were buried at Ryecroft Cemetery on Thursday afternoon, and the mournful ceremony, which was performed by Rev. R. F. Way, curate of St. Paul's was witnessed by a large throng, crowds also lining the route. The Walsall F.C. was represented by Mr. T. Hawkins. There was a magnificent floral tribute to the deceased's memory, the coffin bearing wreaths from the Wolverhampton directors and players, and other friends. The cortege comprised a hearse and seven mourning coaches. Mr. Hale was the undertaker." - Walsall Advertiser, Saturday, 2 March 1895.
Probate "ALLEN Harry of Long-street Walsall Staffordshire licensed victualler died 23 February 1895 Administration Lichfield 20 December to Ellen Allen widow.
 Effects £200." [2019 equivalent: £26,495].
  His youngest daughter, Beatrice Ellen, died 28 August 1895, aged two

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Patrick Talbot's White Shirt, Black Country [2004] &

"SAD BURNING FATALITY.
"An inquest was held by Mr. H. H. Jackson (deputy coroner for the borough) at the Walsall and District Hospital, on Thursday afternoon, on the body of Beatrice Ellen Allen (2), who lived with her grandmother at 22, Long Street, and who died on Wednesday morning. Deceased was a daughter of the late Harry Allen, who captained the Wolverhampton Wanderers two years ago.
"Emma Allen, grandmother, identified the body, and said that the deceased was left in the house on Wednesday morning at about 11.30 while she was hanging out clothes in the yard. She had not been out of the house long, when she heard scream, and on running to the kitchen she found the child enveloped in flames. She called for assistance, and with the aid of Mrs. Pagett, a next-door neighbour, the flames were extinguished and deceased was conveyed to the Hospital, in which institution she died shortly after admission. The child was insured, but was not entitled to benefit. There was a very small fire in the kitchen grate, but she supposed deceased had been playing with it because pieces of partly-burnt paper were found on the floor.
"Mary Ann Pagett, wife of Josiah Pagett, butcher, 20, Long Street, stated that she heard screams, and ran to the child, who was standing outside the door. She helped the last witness to put out the flames, then wrapped the child in two shawls, and had it removed to the hospital. She thought the child was nearly dead when it was taken away. She had burnt her hands in stripping the burnt clothes from off the child.
"The coroner said that it was very commendable that Mrs. Pagett had had the presence of mind to act in such a manner.
"John Pollock Nixon, surgeon at the hospital, deposed to the deceased being admitted suffering from severe burns. She died at one o'clock the same morning. The cause of death was 'shock', consequent upon the burns.
"The Coroner said the result of that inquiry only showed the grave importance of parents not leaving their children alone in rooms where there was a fire. It was undoubtedly one of those cases which they could not avoid, but which they must all deplore.
"A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned by the jury." - Walsall Advertiser, Saturday, 31 August 1895.
  Ellen Allen died in early 1940

Playing Career
Club(s) "played in his native town for Birchall Rangers, Walsall Town, and Walsall Swifts, previous to throwing in his lot with..." Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in 1886.  Illness and a back injury forced Allen to retire from football in October 1894. - Sporting Life, 25 March 1893
League History
123 appearances, 8 goals		 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1888-93 123 appearances, eight goals.
debut: 8 September 1888 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1 Aston Villa FC 1.
last: 25 November 1893 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 4 Stoke FC 0.
Club honours FA Cup runner-up 1888-89 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ;), winner 1892-93 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ).
Football League third place 1888-89 (22ᵃ).
Individual honours None
Height/Weight 5' 11", 11st 12lbs [1889]; 5' 11½", 13st 4lbs [1893].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], ENFA & Patrick Talbot's White Shirt, Black Country [2004].

England Career
Player number One of seven who became the 140th player (142) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-half;
First match No. 32, 4 February 1888, Wales 1 England 5, a British Championship match at the Alexandra Recreation Ground, Nantwich Road, Crewe, aged 22 years 16 days;
Last match
2 years 60 days		 No. 40, 5 April 1890, Scotland 1 England 1, a British Championship match at Hampden Park, Crosshill, Glasgow, aged 24 years 76 days;
Major tournaments British Championship 1887-88, 1888-89, 1889-90.
Team honours British Championship winners 1887-88; shared 1889-90.
Individual honours The North (one appearance, January 1888).
The Whites (one appearance, March 1890)

Beyond England
Became a coal merchant and a landlord in Wolverhampton following his retirement from the game, until his untimely death four months later. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.10.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
7 5 5 450 0 1 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
5 3 1 1 18 6 +12 0 1 3.6 1.2 70 +2
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 0 0 1 2 3 -1 0 0 2.00 3.00 0.00 -1
Away 4 3 1 0 16 3 +13 0 1 4.00 0.75 87.5 +3

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1887-88 3 3 0 0 15 2 +13 0 1 5.00 0.667 100.0 +3
BC 1888-89 1 0 0 1 2 3 -1 0 0 2.00 3.00 0.00 -1
BC 1889-90 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
BC All 5 3 1 1 18 6 +12 0 1 3.60 1.20 70.0 +2

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 5 3 1 1 18 6 +12 0 1 3.60 1.20 70.0 +2
5 3 1 1 18 6 +12 0 1 3.6 1.2 70 +2

Match History

 Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. - five full appearances (450 min) 1ᵒᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - five full appearances (450 min) 1ᵒᵍx

Age 21 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 14 January 1888;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 22
1 32 4 February 1888 - Wales 1 England 5
Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe 		BC AW   ch

one of seven who became the 140th player (142) to appear for England
- the first new players from the International selection committee
the second player from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC to represent England

2 33 17 March 1888 - Scotland 0 England 5
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AW   ch
3 34 7 April 1888 - Ireland 1 England 5
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast		 BC AW   ch
  

Age 23
4 37 13 April 1889 - England 2 Scotland 3
Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington		 BC HL 82 returning ch
Harry Allen's own goal is sometimes credited as a James Oswald goal.

the third ever own goal conceded by England - first ever competitive

Age 24
38 15 March 1890 - Ireland 1 England 9, Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast BC AW reserve
39 15 March 1890 - Wales 1 England 3, The Racecourse, Wrexham AW reserve

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Blues, 24 March 1890;

5 40 5 April 1890 - Scotland 1 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AD   ch
  


     

 
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