I'm a Premier League cult hero nicknamed Mad Dog, but now I help old ladies
MARTIN ALLEN is compelling company: a loyal family man with great values, a quite brilliant storyteller with a vast knowledge of football.
He also happens to be one of the most humble guys. Here's a man who helps old ladies with their gardens three days a week.
He added: “I get so much satisfaction from making their gardens neat and tidy. I also do some shopping for them. They sometimes ask me: 'Were you a football player before?' and it's fun to tell them that I was.
“I also moved some properties from the north to the south. But I do it all myself, driving the trucks and vans.”
Allen may no longer be a boss or a player, but he is still deeply involved in the game he loves.
He explained: “I am extremely proud to be an ambassador for West Ham and to be part of the matchday experience at the London Stadium, alongside other former players.
“I also work for the Premier League as a match referee. I watch a match two to three times a month and write a report in which I give my opinion.
“This week at Loughborough University I heard about various rules and regulations to ensure everyone gets a better understanding and education regarding supporting referees.
“As a player I have always nagged at the referees, but my opinion about the match officials has completely changed.
“Five or six top referees have retired in recent seasons and they are all now behind the scenes helping the new referees make the transition from lower leagues.
FREE BETTS – BEST BETTS & BONUSES FOR NEW CUSTOMERS
“These referees are just like you and me, dear people. They are being judged and scrutinized to the last detail today with the decisions and frame-by-frame TV coverage.
“They accept that they make mistakes, as we all do. But for me the criticism so often crosses the line.
I get so much satisfaction from making their gardens neat and tidy. I also do some shopping for them. They sometimes ask me: 'Were you a football player before?' and it's fun to tell them that I was.
Martin Allen
“I believe that stricter controls are needed on technical matters and on the behavior of players towards the referees.”
A tough midfielder, Allen made more than 400 appearances for four clubs in his career and won two England Under-21 caps.
He comes from an excellent football family pedigree, involving his father Dennis, uncle Les and cousins Paul, Bradley and Clive. His son Charlie, nephew Harry Grant and brother Freddie have all played.
He spent 15 years as manager, including a record FIVE spells at Barnet. It's been quite a journey.
Allen names leading Gillingham (2012-13) and Barnet (2014-15) to the Championship as his two standout moments in 34 years as a player and manager.
He said: “It's great to be promoted, but to do it as a champion – to be the best in your field – is something very special to me.”
It was an ambition he hoped to realize for the third time.
However, after six years since his last managerial job at Chesterfield, he is now enjoying life far too much, both in and out of the game, to even consider returning to the technical sector.
2
Allen refreshingly explains how the structure of a game has changed compared to the game he first played.
He said: “It was a standard 4-4-2, the goalkeeper kicked the ball long, you had a big centre-back and another who was a little quicker next to him.
“You had two full-backs and two midfielders who made the most passes in a match, always moving forward.
“There was a 1.80 meter centre-forward up front and a feisty fox-in-the-box who would finish him. Then you had two wingers who would put up great battles with the opposition full-backs.
“What we have now is a different concept. Your central defenders now make the majority of the passes. Years ago they were told to get rid of it and drag it onto the field or into the stands.
“Goalkeepers play from the back and often teams don't play with a number 9. There are inverted full-backs.
“It comes from the way the competition has developed from the inception of the Premier League in 1992-93 and the influx of European and South American coaches and players.
“The Premier League is the best in the world, but the way we watch football today is a big change from what we saw 50 years ago.”
Martin Allen's football family
Dennis Allen, father – Striker for Charlton, Reading, Bournemouth, Ostend and Cheltenham
Les Allen, uncle – Striker for Chelsea, Tottenham and QPR, later managed QPR and Swindon
Paul Allen, cousin – Ex-England under-21 midfielder, won the FA Cup with Tottenham and played for West Ham, Southampton, Swindon, Bristol City and Millwall
Bradley Allen, cousin – ex England Under-21 striker, had spells at QPR, Charlton, Peterborough and Bristol Rovers
Clive Allen, cousin – Ex England striker, played for QPR, Tottenham, Bordeaux and Manchester City, top scorer of the First Division in 86/87 with 33 goals
Charlie Allen, son – Midfielder for Dagenham & Redbridge, Notts County and Gillingham, free agent after leaving Cray Wanderers in 2022
Harry Grant, cousin – midfielder for non-league Ascot United, won League Two with Gillingham under Allen in 2013
Freddie Grant, cousin – Left back at non-league Chippenham, graduate of Oxford Academy
It is ironic that Allen was dubbed 'Mad Dog' by ex-teammate Ian Bishop during his playing career.
These days there's only one dog in Allen's life: Dennis, who goes everywhere with him and is the most laid-back black Labrador you'd ever want to meet.
He said: “I named it after my father. He's a great partner. I actually bought him a scooter for Christmas. We get strange looks when we go for a walk!
“It made me smile when I recently met a West Ham fan who asked me about Dennis and his scooter.”
Allen hosted a West Ham Way event on Sunday, in front of a sell-out crowd just a flight of steps away from the London Stadium, with Hammers legends Alan Devonshire and Julian Dicks among his guests.
For the Irons fans who were present before the 6-0 defeat to Arsenal, this will certainly have been the highlight of their day.