Sandy Allan

Allan began his football career as an amateur, featuring for Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers. He was offered a part-time contract with Welsh side Rhyl, managed by Albert Dunlop, who were playing in the Cheshire League. He developed a reputation as a prolific goalscorer for Rhyl, earning himself the nickname "The Boy with the Golden Boots".[3] His form attracted attention from several clubs and Dunlop personally travelled with Allan in an attempt to secure a transfer. The pair later met Tony Kay, who warned Allan that Dunlop was using the transfer as a way of making money for himself. Allan instead returned to Rhyl where the chairman confirmed the suspicions and instead contacted Cardiff City.[3]

After impressing manager Jimmy Scoular,[4] Allan joined Cardiff in 1967 for a fee of £12,500.[3][5] He made his professional debut for the club on 19 August 1967, the opening day of the 1967–68 season, in a 1–1 draw with Plymouth Argyle. In his second appearance a month later,[6] Allan suffered a broken ankle.[3] After an extended period out, he made his return to the first team over a year later, scoring his first senior professional goal during a 2–0 victory over Bury.[6] Despite scoring eight times in eleven matches during a tour of Mauritius and Zambia on his return,[3][7] Allan found first team opportunities limited due to the presence of several senior forwards at the club, including John Toshack, Brian Clark and Bobby Brown.[4] Allan later stated that he was largely overlooked as "Jimmy Scoular, thought the club could sell John Toshack and kept playing him."[3]

Although he continued to struggle for league appearances during the 1969–70 season,[6] Allan did feature for the club in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. On 1 October 1969, he became the first player to score a headed hat-trick in a European club competition when he achieved the feat during a 5–1 victory over Norwegian side Mjøndalen IF during the second leg of their first round tie.[3][8] All three of the goals were scored during a seven minute spell of the first half, later described as "a header at the near post, one at the far post and a diving header in the middle."[3]

In March 1970, he left Cardiff to sign for Bristol Rovers,[9] again for a fee of £12,500.[5] In March 1973, he was allowed to join Swansea City on loan, being signed by manager Harry Gregg. He scored one goal in seven league appearances before returning to Bristol.[5] He left Bristol in March 1974, moving to South Africa where he played for Cape Town City.[4] He later had a spell as player-manager of non-league side Harrogate Railway Athletic.[5]