George Allison - Journalism Career

Journalism Career

Born in Hurworth-on-Tees, County Durham Allison started out as a judge's secretary in his native North East, while playing for a local amateur team in Stockton-on-Tees. Allison ran a sideline in writing about his own team's exploits, and he was eventually convinced by his editor to become a full-time journalist. A year in Devonport aside, Allison spent most of his time in the Cleveland and Middlesbrough areas, and was briefly assistant to the secretary-manager of Middlesbrough FC.

Allison moved to London in 1906, as the sports representative of the Hulton group of newspapers. Four years later he became greyhound correspondent for the Sporting Life. After a chance encounter with Lord Kitchener before the 1911 coronation of King George V, Allison became London correspondent for the New York Post and a year later joined the staff of William Randolph Hearst, remaining in this post until 1934.

During World War I Allison worked for the War Office and the Admiralty, producing propaganda and later joined the Royal Flying Corps (later renamed the Royal Air Force). After the war Allison also moved into broadcasting, joining the BBC and becoming the first person to commentate on the radio on events such as the Derby and the Grand National (with the BBC's racing correspondent Meyrick Good), as well as the annual England v. Scotland international, and the FA Cup Final in 1927, between Cardiff City and Arsenal. By this time, he had already formed a strong association with the latter club.