Allen: John William Alcroft (Jack)

1922-1924 (Player Details)

Outside Left

Born: Newburn, Northumberland: 31-01-1903

Debut: v Fulham (a): 22-03-1924

5’10” 12st 4lb (1933)

United signed him from Prudhoe Castle in February 1922, after discovering him and beating several other clubs for his services, but they let him slip away to forge an excellent career elsewhere. He joined Third Division South side Brentford in August 1924, where he scored twenty-four goals in fifty-four League appearances. It was there that he was switched from his Left-Wing role to Centre Forward and freshly promoted Sheffield Wednesday recruited him in March 1927. After he joined Wednesday, he blossomed into the player he really was, and proved to be a sensational goalscorer. Allen won League Championship medals with the Owls in 1928-29 and 1929-30. After scoring eighty-five goals in one hundred and fourteen games he was sold to Newcastle United in June 1931. His Newcastle debut, however, was not one to be remembered. He missed a penalty in the 1 - 0 defeat by Liverpool. Luckily for himself and the Magpies, he was big enough to put this behind him and go on to score forty-one goals in ninety appearances. His crowning glory for Newcastle was when he scored both goals in their 2-1 1932 F.A. Cup Final victory over Arsenal. They beat Blackpool 1-0 in the Third Round, after a 1-1 draw, Southport 9-0 in the Fourth Round, after two 1-1 draws, Leicester City 3-1 in the Fifth Round, Watford 5-0 in the Sixth Round and Chelsea 2-1 in the Semi-Final to reach the final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on 23rd April 1932, in front of a crowd of 92,298. Allen scored five goals on the way to the final. All looked lost when after twenty minutes Arsenal's Bob John beat three Newcastle defenders to the ball and headed the game's opening goal past Albert McInroy, who was later to play with Leeds United, in goal. However, five minutes before the break and Newcastle struck what was deemed a dubious equaliser through Jack Allen. Newcastle then had a blatant penalty decision turned away early in the second half but it was to be a black and white day in the end. With twenty minutes remaining Allen netted his second of the game having been played through by Boyd to give Newcastle the trophy courtesy of a 2-1 victory. Two further, important fact arising from this match was that Newcastle became the first side to come from behind to win the famous old trophy, and this was also the last match where players took to the field wearing numberless jerseys. He scored forty-one goals in ninety appearances, while with his home-town team. He was transferred to Bristol Rovers of the Third Division South for £200 in November 1932. He scored twice from his six League appearances at Eastville before he moved on to Third Division North team, Gateshead, in August 1935 for £100 and he scored twelve times in twenty-three League appearances before retiring the following year and playing Non-League for Ashington. He was a keen motorist and wireless enthusiast, but became a publican at the Travellers Rest in Burnopfield, Co. Durham, where he died 19th November 1957 aged fifty-four. His brother Ralph also played for Fulham, Charlton Athletic, Reading and Torquay United.