Allaway: Shaun

2000-2004 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Reading: 16-02-1983

Debut: Nil

6’11/2” 12st 13lb (2003)

Shaun was a highly rated England Youth International, when Leeds beat off opposition from Tottenham Hotspur to sign him for £350,000 in March 2000. Unfortunately his broken hand, which deterred Spurs from signing him, mean he spent several months on the sidelines. He signed a four and a half year contract, but with Nigel Martyn, Paul Robinson and Danny Milosevic ahead of him in the pecking order, he never fulfilled his potential and was loaned out to Grimsby Town in August 2002 and Walsall in November 2003. The emerging Scott Carson also was ahead of him and played in the only game in which Allaway featured, on the bench for United’s final game in the EPL at Chelsea in May 2004. His contract was not renewed in June 2004. He had unsuccessful trials with Queens Park Rangers before signing a week-to-week contract with Slough Town, who wanted him for their televised FA Cup tie against Walsall. He took the gamble of dropping down because he thought the televised game would put him back in the shop window. It did. Wrexham tried to sign him but Slough would not release him from the three-month contract he had just signed. Because of that, he left The Rebels after twenty-five games and started the season at Staines despite Conference clubs Tamworth and Gravesend wanting to offer him contracts. He rejected their overtures because he did not want to be tied to a contract in case a League club came in for him and when that didn't happen he took matters into his own hands. He wrote to several clubs before Christmas and was offered trials by Wycombe Wanderers, Torquay United and Shrewsbury Town. Allaway, who played for England at all levels from Under-Fifteens to Under-Twenties, decided on Wycombe Wanderers because of a past association with John Gorman and in January 2006 he was given a week's trial by Wycombe Wanderers. He returned to Staines Town and he found limited fame when on 12th November 2007 Staines were featured on Sky Sports in an F.A. Cup Replay at home to Stockport County. Not only did this result in a £75,000 windfall for each club, but Staines Town completed the improbable upset as they won the match in a penaty shoot-out after the tie had ended 1-1 after extra-time. This was mainly due to two magnificent saves by Allaway which saw the Swans prevail in the penalty shoot-out by 4-3. He was the first choice keeper with Staines until his injury jinx again struck. He damaged his knee ligaments in a game at AFC Hornchurch barely two months after saving those two penalties in the shoot-out. It was hoped that, after almost two and a half years on the side-lines, he might make a come-back with Staines Town for the 2010-11 season. This did not happen, as the club and Allaway decided that it would be better if he made a come-back after he was fully fit. He was given the No.1 jersey for the 2011-12 season and came through the pre-season friendlies unharmed.