Bradley Allen

Bradley Allen

Personal information
Full name	Bradley James Allen
Date of birth	13 September 1971 (1971-09-13)
Place of birth	Romford, Greater London, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Tottenham Hotspur (U14 Coach)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1988–1995	Queens Park Rangers	81	(27)
1995–1998	Charlton Athletic	40	(9)
1998	→ Colchester United (loan)	4	(1)
1999–2001	Grimsby Town	80	(15)
2002	Peterborough United	11	(3)
2002–2003	Bristol Rovers	8	(1)
2003–2004	Hornchurch	8	(3)
2004	Redbridge	6	(2)
National team
1992–1993	England U21	8	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Bradley James Allen (born Romford, England 13 September 1971) is a former English professional footballer who played as a striker. He notably played for Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic and Grimsby Town. He also played as a professional for Colchester United, Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers in a professional career that lasted from 1988 to 2003. After dropping out of the professional game he featured for both Hornchurch and Redbridge in the Non-League game.

Playing career

Queens Park Rangers

Allen progressed into the professional game via the youth academy at Queens Park Rangers in 1988 during the tenure of manager Jim Smith, although Smith was replaced by Trevor Francis mid way through Allen's first professional season. Over the coming years Allen went from strength to strength in the QPR side and began to see regular run outs in the first team. During the 1992-93 season which was the first season of the newly formed Premier League Allen managed to score two goals in 6 appearances, netting against both Chelsea and Aston Villa. Allen was eventually placed on the transfer list mid way through the 1995-96 season which would eventually see Rangers relegated from the Premiership, whilst at Loftus Road he played alongside such players as Les Ferdinand, Mark Hateley, Ray Wilkins and Trevor Sinclair. He was most notably remembered for his time at QPR when he hit a hat-trick against Everton at Goodison Park as QPR ran out 3-0 winners.

Charlton Athletic

In March 1996 Allen was transferred to Charlton Athletic for a fee of £400,000. During the 1996-1997 season Allen featured 21 times for Athletic, scoring 6 goals. During the 1997-1998 season Allen lost his way in the team following the signing of prolific goal scorer Clive Mendonca from Grimsby Town and would only make 12 league appearances for Alan Curbishley's side as The Addicks earned a first promotion to the Premiership. During the 1998-99 season Allen made only one outing for Athletic in an English League Cup game against former side QPR. He would not make a single league appearance for Charlton in the Premiership and instead was loaned out to Colchester United in February 1999 where he would make 4 appearances, scoring 1 goal.

Grimsby Town

Allen was placed on the transfer list and transferred on a free transfer to Grimsby Town, who at the time plied their trade in the First Division. Allen was signed by Alan Buckley to add to the already competitive striking ranks that included Jack Lester, Steve Livingstone and Lee Ashcroft. Despite making his debut from the start against Stockport County on the opening day of the 1999–2000 season, Allen initially played second fiddle to the favoured Lester and Ashcroft partnership. In January 2000, Lester was sold to Nottingham Forest and Allen went on to become a regular in the Grimsby side. During 2000-01 he formed a brief but fruitful partnership with loanee striker David Nielsen before the FC Copenhagen striker transferred to Wimbledon on a permanent deal. During the 2001-02 season Allen initially saw his firm grip as the club's first choice forward slip to new signing Phil Jevons and youngster Jonathan Rowan. In September 2001 Allen was part of the side who dumped reigning League Cup champions and Premiership side Liverpool out of the League Cup with a 2-1 victory at Anfield. Grimsby's first goal in that game came following a Stuart Campbell cross from the right which fell to Allen, who flung himself into a header that crashed off Reds defender Sami Hyppia and into the path of Marlon Broomes, who smashed the ball home past Chris Kirkland on the half volley. During this season Allen struck up a good striking relationship with Michael Boulding despite not being used as much by new manager Paul Groves as he was under the tenure's of Alan Buckley and Lennie Lawrence. Allen's ability to hold the ball up and create goals for Boulding became a pinnacle turning point for Grimsby who went on to avoid relegation for third consecutive season. His time at Grimsby was frequently interrupted with injuries and at the end of the 2001-02 season Allen and Boulding both departed Blundell Park with injury-struck Bradley released on a free transfer and Michael heading for Premiership Aston Villa. Whilst a Grimsby player Allen made 92 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals.

Peterborough United

Following Allen's release from Grimsby he joined Barry Fry at Peterborough United in the August 2003. Despite being hailed as marquee signing for the Second Division side, Allen struggled and after making 13 appearances in all competitions he was transfer list and had departed London Road by November.

Bristol Rovers

Bradley Allen signed for Bristol Rovers in November 2003 after only spending 4 months at Peterbough . Allen would only manage to make 10 appearances for Ray Graydon's Rovers side and was released at the end of the 2002-03 season.

Hornchurch

In the September 2003 following trials with a number of teams, Allen went on to sign for Isthmian League side Hornchurch. Whilst with the club he was 1 of 12 professional players in a 30 man squad that dumped Football League side Darlington out of the FA Cup before being controversially knocked out in the second round following a televised home game with Tranmere Rovers. However, Hornchurch, despite their mini-run in the FA Cup, found themselves in financial turmoil and Allen was one of many players released midway through the 2003-04 season.

Redbridge

Allen briefly signed for fellow Isthmian League side Ford United towards the end of the 2003-04 season. He was released just before the club renamed itself Redbridge in July 2004, and was reported to be on trial with Billericay Town later that month.

Coaching career

Tottenham Hotspur

After hanging his playing boots up in 2004, Allen has been working as the under-15s coach at Tottenham Hotspur.

Family

Allen is the younger son of Les Allen, brother of Clive Allen and the uncle of Oliver Allen. He is also the cousin of fellow footballer Paul Allen and footballer-turned-manager Martin Allen.

External links

• Interview on PFA site about being out of contract
• Bradley Allen career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database