Trevor Allan

Breaking with tradition I bring you an article that my Grandad actually typed up several years ago about his favourite player. Here it is in full:

Trevor Allan..... By Cyril Ashurst

Being an ardent supporter of Leigh rugby since 1946, the most outstanding player I have seen play for the club was Trevor Allan. Over the years at Kirkhall Lane, I have seen some good players and could put 20 or more names into the same bracket. But, in my book even the great John Woods comes a close second to the classy Australian who spent 3 and a bit outstanding season at Leigh.

I first saw Trevor Allan in civvies, doing a civic opening of the Atherton Swimming Gala. He looked slim and slight - not at all like the rugby player I expected. When welcomed by the dignitories, he seemed very shy, pausing before replying his thanks.

Allan had a pedigree preceding him from Australia and was a very good player in rugby union circles. On match-day in a football strip, Trevor looked bigger. Just in his skullcap he gave us an identity. On the field of play he soon started to show ability and style, putting his own stamp on the game and bringing the other players in around him. I can still see pictures in my mind of Trevor Allan in flight, crash-tackling an opponent when all seemed lost, coming up with a try saving play. When he tackled, the opposition knew who to try and avoid for the rest of the game!

In attack, Allan was no less devastating. Often outfoxing his own team-mates. He was cunning and clever, if a gap opened, he was first through it for a try or the first one to send a colleague over.

Everyone, players and spectators alike, treated him with respect. Trevor wasn't big headed, he had the charisma and style that made a mark over the far too short a time he was with the club. In later years Trevor Allan also called his child "Leigh", he had warmed to the Lancashire people so much.

The memories Trevor Allan has gave me will live forever.

I remember going to an away match in Yorkshire and one local fan asked: "Who is that bloke in the scrum-cap, he's bloody everywhere, attacking and defending. I wish we had him!" I stuck my chest out and replied, "Him? That's our Australian, Trevor Allan!!"

Leigh Career Stats
1950-51 19A 12T
1951-52 31A 8T
1952-53 38A 30T
1953-54 9A 2T
Totals 97A 52T

That was a piece I was proud as punch of my grandad doing.

It was only a few days ago that the fame of Trevor Allan actually hit me. Before joining Leigh he was an outstanding WORLDWIDE RUGBY UNION PLAYER and was even the Wallabies youngest captain at just 21! He actually played over 50 times for Australia yet surprisingly only 14 tests. Again Leigh rolled out the big money with varying reports quoting amounts as "low" as £5000 and as high as £6250! Whatever the amount, Legh certainly got a good player and one held in high regard by everyone.

Allan himself felt he had his best rugby years at Leigh and I tell you what if my grandad was around today he'd want to visit the Sydney Football Stadium - there's only a big bronze statue of the man now up in the grounds!

The mark of a man is also having things named after him and there is now a competition called the Trevor Allan Cup.

Here are some interesting links which give more of a feel of Trevor's outstanding rugby career:

Firstly, Dave Hadfield's obituary from The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/trevor-allan-436068.html

Allan's Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Allan

Story about Allan being immortalised in Bronze + Picture: http://www.rugby.com.au/news/aru_general/trevor_allan_immortalised_in_bronze,131205.html/news/latest/section/21893

More information about the Trevor Allan Cup:
http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=9085

More about Trevor Allan online (warning, it's a long link!)
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aMw_Zpew2OgC&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=trevor+allan+rugby&source=bl&ots=Ox7gBYtgEt&sig=l1DMGG33TO-kctUqt7QMQDSTmoM&hl=en&ei=2Fd7SsiQOM2E-QaO-MlG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#v=onepage&q=trevor%20allan%20rugby&f=false