ALLEN, Paul Kevin (1985-94)
Position: Midfield
Height: 5ft 7ins
Weight: 11st
Born: Aveley, Essex, 26 August, 1962
Signed from West Ham United, June, 1985
Transferred to Southampton, September, 1993
Also played for: West Ham United, Southampton, Luton Town, Stoke City, Swindon Town, Bristol City, Millwall, Purfleet
Spurs Record:
Debut: 17 August, 1985 v Watford (FL) (h) won 4-0
Appearances: League 276 (16), FA Cup 26 (1), League Cup 42 (2), Europe 6 (1)
Goals: League 23, FA Cup 1, League Cup 4
Nephew of Les and cousin of Clive, Paul Allen may have never received the personal glory heaped upon his relatives but to those Spurs supporters who watched him in the late 1980s and early 90s, he was every bit as important to the club as the two goalscorers.
As part of the famous football family, Allen was earmarked for fame even before he signed for West Ham United and he soon lived up to the billing, establishing himself in their first team by the age of 18 and, at only 17 years and 256 days old, became the youngest player in FA Cup Final history when he played against Arsenal in 1980.
Moving smoothly through from England Youth to Under-21 level, Allen’s whole-hearted commitment and ceaseless running soon attracted the attention of the bigger clubs. With his contract coming to an end in the summer of 1985, it came down to a choice between ourselves, Arsenal and Liverpool, Allen choosing to join Clive at White Hart Lane.
He quickly settled to the task of establishing himself and battening down the right side of midfield. With a unique scampering run, Allen worked his socks off in the Spurs cause, shuttling backwards and forwards down the right flank, one minute racing past his marker to set up an opening, the next scurrying back to provide support for his full-back.
He never gave less than 100 per cent and this was particularly so in away games. While some would retreat into their shell, Allen would rise to the challenge, taking the battle to the opposition.
Allen became one of our most consistent performers, his contribution often overlooked by the pundits but fully appreciated by his coaches, team-mates and supporters. A member of the side that lost to Coventry City in the 1987 FA Cup Final, he was selected for the England “B” tour at the end of the 1988-89 season but injury forced his withdrawal. He never got another chance to perform at international level but deservedly picked up an FA Cup winners’ medal against Nottingham Forest in 1991. The loss of Paul Gascoigne seemed to galvanise Allen into giving that little bit more and it was his break from deep in midfield that set up the opening for Paul Stewart’s crucial equaliser.
Consistent, reliable and a fixture in the team for a good many years, he moved to Southampton in September, 1993 and spent two years on the south coast before spells with Swindon Town, Bristol City and Millwall.