Reg Allen

For the set decorator, see Reg Allen (set decorator).

For other people named Reginald Allen, see Reginald Allen (disambiguation).

Reg Allen

Personal information
Full name	Arthur Reginald Allen
Date of birth	3 May 1919(1919-05-03)
Place of birth	Marylebone, England
Date of death	3 April 1976(1976-04-03) (aged 56)
Place of death	Ealing, England
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1938–1950	Queens Park Rangers	183	(0)
1950–1955	Manchester United	75	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Arthur Reginald Allen (born 3 May 1919 in Marylebone, London, died 3 April 1976) was a goalkeeper with Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Reg made his QPR league debut against Newport County in December 1938 and was known as one of the best goalkeepers of his era. He initially played for the Corona Football Club in the Hanwell and District League where a QPR supporter spotted him and recommended him to the club. He was given a trial with the Reserve team at Clacton and the side lost 2-1. Reg felt he had played poorly. The club though felt he had promise but it was several months before he could be persuaded to play again. His next match was again with the reserves at West Ham on 12 March 1937. West Ham won 7-1. Despite this it was still felt that Reg had done well and on 6 May 1938 he signed professional terms. Reg went on to play 183 league games for QPR, his career impacted by the war years where he was a POW in North Africa after being captured whilst on a Commando raid in July 1941. Whilst in German hands Reg played in many 6-a-side games, typically as centre-forward to help gain a different insight to the game. He was a member of the 1948 QPR team that won the Division Three (South) championship.

Reg was transferred to Manchester United on 6 June 1950 for £11,000, a then world-record fee for a goalkeeper. With his signing Jack Crompton, then number one keeper at United, was reduced to a backup role. Allen played his last game for Manchester United on 4 October 1952, when Crompton managed to claime back the goalkeepers position, along with up and coming keeper Ray Wood. Allen retired from football within five years. A testimonial game for Reg took place between QPR and Manchester United on 29 March 1954, raising in the region of £1,800 for his testimonial fund.

He died on 3 April 1976, one month before what would have been his 57th birthday.

Honours

As a player

Queens Park Rangers

• Division Three (South) Title winner: 1947–48