What with all these 'undisclosed fees' which are often involveved in modern transfers, the kids on the street just don't know what is going on, so I decided to start from first principles. The first player Falkirk FC ever paid any money for.
I dissemble, the turn of the 19th/20th Century was a much different place from today, East Stirlingshire were the local 'big boys' they were in the Scottish League, Falkirk FC meanwhile were foundering about in the Central Combination. Falkirk had in goal the East Stirlingshire third choice keeper. At the end of the 1901/02 season, Falkirk FC applied, successfully, for membership of the Scottish League, but ES still had our Goalie's registration.
So we came to an agreement and Falkirk paid up the princely sum of £10 for the transfer of William Allan. Willy Allan though was just what Falkirk needed, a good young keeper, a local boy, somebody to build the team around.
He came out of the local junior scene, East Stirlingshire picking him up from Vale of Carron, but he never really got a chance at the 'shire, so he became a Falkirk Legend.
There is not much to say about goalies, I can't say he was fast, can't say he jinked about. I can say he was there.
Soon the scouts came and he moved to Rangers, but he couldn't oust their GK and came back, then Hibs came a-sniffing and he moved to Hibs then he came back, later on he moved for a whole season to Clackmannan then came back. As far as I know he is the only person to play for Falkirk FC in four different spells.
PS - If you can tell me of any games he played whilst with East Stirlingshire, Rangers, Albion Rovers, Hibernian & Clackmannan I would be greatful.
William Allan
Debut – Saturday May 18th 1901 v Vale of Leven (H) Benefit Match
Positions – Goalkeeper
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Consolation Cup W 1901/02, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1901/02
Matches for Falkirk
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [105/-]
Scottish League Division 2 Matches/Goals [38/-]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [7/-]
Scottish Qualifying Cup Matches /Goals [4/-]
Minor League Matches/Goals [26/-]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [39/-]
Other Matches/Goals [23/-] [one game played at LH]
Total Goals/Matches [242/-]
Matches for Hibernian
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [239/-]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [25/-]
Total Matches/Goals [264/-]
Known Career
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [344/-]
Scottish League Division 2 Matches/Goals [38/-]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [32/-]
Scottish Qualifying Cup Matches /Goals [4/-]
Minor League Matches/Goals [26/-]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [39/-]
Other Matches/Goals [23/-] [one game played at LH]
Total Goals/Matches [506/-]
Note - sorry I don't like the games/goals when I am blogging about goalkeepers but it is my system.
Known Career – Woodbine Rovers, Vale of Carron, East Stirlingshire [1900/01-1900/01], Falkirk [1900/01-1903/04 ], Rangers [1903/04-1904/05], Albion Rovers [1904/05-1905/06], Falkirk [1906/07-1907/08 ], Hibernian [1907/08-1916/17], Falkirk [1915/16-1917/18], Clackmannan [1918/19], Falkirk [1919/20-1920/21], Stenhousemuir [1921/22]
Played in Falkirk's first ever Scottish League Match v Clyde (A) Scottish League Division 2, 16th August 1902
Played for Town v County, Benefit Match at Merchiston Pk, Merchiston Pk, Bainsford, 15th April 1902
I would love if Historians of East Stirlingshire, Rangers, Albion Rovers, Hibs, Clackmannan & Stenhousemuir could help me have his whole career.
Thanks to the people at fitbastats for the info on his time in Leith