North Leigh appoint ex-Oxford, Nottingham Forest, Luton, Stockport player Chris Allen as their new manager on Tuesday morning.
The former winger and coach comes in at the Southern League Premier Division South outfit, replacing Eddie Odhiambo who left the club earlier this month.
They currently sit bottom (22nd) in the league table, picking up 10 points from 19 games played and are 7 points from safety.
CLUB STATEMENT:
“We are pleased to announce the new manager of North Leigh FC.
“Chris brings playing and coaching experience from the highest level.
“Our new manager holds an UEFA Pro License and is coaching at Coventry City u21s.
“Chris knows the club very well having played a few seasons for us and more recently has supported us in a coaching capacity.
“We can not understate his professional playing career which included England u21 caps, over 150 appearances for Oxford United and Premier League experience with Nottingham Forest.
“Chris has already held his first meeting with the squad and will lead training tonight. We look forward to seeing our new leader in the dugout this Wednesday Vs Adderbury Park in the Oxfordshire Snr Cup 2nd Round.”
A former England under-21 international midfielder, Chris Allen began his career at Oxford United in 1991, playing 181 games in five years, and helped guide the club on their way back to the First Division in 1995–96 before he signed with Nottingham Forest for a £400,000 fee.
He played 26 Premier League games for Nottingham Forest, though played a small part in the club’s 1997–98 First Division promotion campaign.
Instead he was loaned out to the likes of Luton Town and Third Division promotion winners Cardiff City, before he was allowed to sign with Port Vale in March 1999.
He had short stints at Stockport County and Brighton & Hove Albion, before he featured for non league sides Dover Athletic, Aldershot Town and North Leigh.
He retired from playing in 2010, having helped North Leigh to win promotion from the Hellenic Football League in 2007–08.
Allen returned to Oxford United in June 2010, when he was appointed as youth team coach and has been credited as playing a key role in the development of a number of youth team players who made the step up into the Oxford United first team, including Max Crocombe, Tyrone Marsh, Callum O’Dowda, Josh Ashby, Sam Long and James Roberts, some of which currently playing in the EFL.
He was promoted to first team coach in July 2015, but left the club in October 2020 to “explore other opportunities which would allow a healthier work/family balance”.
Honours
Oxford United
Football League First Division second-place promotion: 1995–96
Nottingham Forest
Football League First Division: 1997–98
Cardiff City
Football League Third Division third-place promotion winner: 1998–99
North Leigh
Hellenic Football League promotion winner: 2007–08
Senior career
1991–1996 – Oxford United – 181 games (17 goals)
1996 → Nottingham Forest (loan) – 3 games (1 goal)
1996–1999 – Nottingham Forest – 28 games (3 goals)
1997–1998 → Luton Town (loan) – 17 games (1 goal)
1998 → Cardiff City (loan) – 5 games (0 goals)
1999 – Port Vale – 5 games (1 goal)
1999–2000 – Stockport County – 17 games (0 goals)
2001 – Brighton & Hove Albion
2001 – Dover Athletic – 17 games (2 goals)
2002 – Aldershot Town
2006–2010 – North Leigh
Total – 273 games (24 goals)
National team
1995 – England U21 – 2 games (0 goals)
This is what Twitter users said as North Leigh appoint the ex-Oxford, Nottingham Forest, Luton, Stockport player as their new manager…
@Forest_and_F1: Well done
@chrissy__allen Ex Forest @NFFC class mate. Good luck and will be there tomorrow to cheer you on. Up the Millers
@Harrygrant123: Great appointment . Good luck @chrissy__allen @NorthLeigh_FC @craigdore2 👍
@pbonham_AFC: Great appointment.. all the best @chrissy__allen 👏🏻
@Meeiix: Good luck @chrissy__allen 🙌🏼🙌🏼
@OUFCAddict: Best of luck to my favourite ever OUFC footballer, big Chrissy Allen
@jsutch86: This is HUGE!!! Great coup guys. Knew I recognised the name 💪🏻🎉
@TgGrant72: What a great signing lots of experience and knows the club well, Good luck Chris A 👏
@Chopper3Parsons: Great appointment and what a guy!
@D_Man59: Really good appointment, I hope your club and Chrissy do well, hopefully a better phase to your season is just around the corner?.
@Chris_Williams_: Good luck Gaffer
Privilege to have taken this photo for the club https://t.co/0dL4H8uduI
— Glenn Alcock (@alcock_glenn) November 29, 2022
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