Clive Allen: The prolific striker who conquered London football and tried American football too
In short: Clive Allen was a dominant force in English football, playing for seven different London clubs during a storied career. A record-breaking striker for Tottenham, he earned top individual honors in 1987. Yet, his journey spanned from a controversial phantom goal to a surprising late-career stint as an NFL Europe placekicker.
Born in Stepney in 1961, Clive Allen emerged from a prominent footballing family; his father Les was part of the famous 1960–61 Tottenham Hotspur double-winning squad. Allen began his professional path at Queens Park Rangers in the late 1970s, quickly establishing himself as a lethal finisher. His early years were marked by both brilliance and bizarre misfortune, most notably a 1980 incident against Coventry City where his shot hit the goal stanchion and rebounded so rapidly that officials mistakenly disallowed what should have been a clear goal.
Allen’s most explosive period arrived at Tottenham Hotspur in the mid-1980s. During the 1986–87 campaign, he achieved a club-record 49 goals across all competitions, including 33 in the league. This remarkable output earned him the top individual accolades from both the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Writers' Association. Despite his success, major silverware remained elusive; he played in the 1987 FA Cup final alongside his cousin Paul Allen, only to finish on the losing side.
His career was defined by frequent moves between London clubs, including spells at Arsenal, Crystal Palace, QPR, Chelsea, and West Ham United. After leaving the professional English game, he pivoted to an entirely different sport, serving as a placekicker for the London Monarchs in 1997. In his six field goal attempts for the NFL Europe team, he maintained a perfect record. Today, Allen remains connected to the sport as a commentator and media personality, reflecting on a career that saw him navigate the highest levels of the English game and beyond.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Clive Allen
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-clive-allen.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in UK & Irish culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
