Rob Miles Looks At The Career Of Former Town Striker Wayne Allison.

Wayne Allison was a fans favourite at the Shay where he started his career in August 1986. The man nicknamed the Chief was the first player from Wallsend Juniors to become a professional when Halifax offered him his first contract, and in three years at the Shay he didn't disappoint. Despite joining the club in 1986, he didn't sign a contract until 1987 having already played numerous first team games. The 6"1 striker hit 23 goals in 84 appearances in which time Halifax were stuck in midtable in the Fourth Division.

His power and eye for goal earned a move to Second Division Watford in July 1989 for a fee of £250,000. The Hornets had just finished in the Play-Offs that season and were agonisingly close to the First Division. His time at Vicarage Road wasn't a happy one however as he made just seven starts and failed to score as Watford finished a disappointing 15^th in 1989-90.

To revive his career Allison moved to Bristol City in August 1990 for £300,000 and starred for the club in their first season back in the Second Division in 10 years after winning promotion. City finished 9^th and remained in the same division for five years, in which time Allison hit 48 goals in 195 appearances. Relegation in 1995 saw Allison on the move again.

But surprisingly it was to Swindon Town who had been relegated with City. The Robins paying £475,000 to secure his services. It proved to be another goal-laden spell as Allison hit 31 goals in 103 appearances during two years at the County Ground. Allison also celebrated his first promotion of his career in 1995-96 as Swindon were instantly promoted back to the Endsleigh League Division One as Champions, nine points clear of second placed Oxford. He was a key player as Swindon stayed up the following year, finishing a credible 19^th.

Allison though decided it was time to move back up north in the summer of 1997 and he moved back to West Yorkshire- this time to Huddersfield Town, who had finished a place lower than Swindon, for a massive £800,000, but it again proved to only be a two year spell in which Allison scored 15 times in 76 appearances.

A move to Merseyside was next up in September 1999, to Tranmere Rovers for £300,000. He played over 100 games for the Prenton Park side scoring 26 goals. Unfortunately Tranmere were relegated in 2001 and then finished midtable in Nationwide Division Two in 2002. This saw Allison on the move again, and a free transfer back to Yorkshire with Division One Sheffield United. He scored only seven goals in 71 appearances but became a cult hero at Bramall Lane and was agonisingly close to a play-off campaign with the club in 2003-2004 when United finished 8^th, two points off the top six. He also featured in an FA Cup Semi-Final against Arsenal and against Liverpool in the League Cup Semi-Finals.

Allison, now 36 had one more big move in him and he dropped down to Division Two Chesterfield in the summer of 2004. His time at Saltergate proved to be his second longest stint at one club as he spent four years with the Spireites. In 2006-2007 Chesterfield dropped into League Two for the first time in six seasons, and in Allison's final season with the club he helped them finish 8^th. In total Allison hit 23 goals in 115 games with the Spireites.

Now 40 Allison realised his playing career was coming to an end and he accepted an offer from Chester manager Simon Davies to become assistant manager in August 2008. He left the Deva Stadium not long after Davies' sacking in November 2008.

In total Wayne Allison made 752 career appearances and scored 173 goals whilst accruing transfer fees of £2.1m combined.

Rob Miles