Playing Career
He started his career with Charlton Athletic, however he struggled to make a difference on the pitch, playing just twice in 6 years. Matters off the pitch led to his transfer, after letting club coaches know that their training methods - which was normally nothing more than running up and down the terracing, were outdated.
Allison joined West Ham United in February 1951, after seven seasons at Charlton Athletic. Here he gained experience not only as a footballer but also as a future coach, and often stayed behind after training with anyone interested in football to discuss and devise new tactics.
A promising career as a centre-half was ended prematurely by a bout of tuberculosis as he fell ill after a game against Sheffield United on 16 September 1957 and had a lung removed in hospital. This turned out to be his last senior game for West Ham, and although he battled on in their reserve team he struggled with the inability to achieve full fitness. For a period he left football altogether, and worked first as a car salesman, then as a professional gambler and nightclub owner. He came back to football to play a final season for non-league Romford in 1963.
Read more about this topic: Malcolm Allison
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