Stanley Allan (1908/09 to 1910/11)

Educated at Durham College, Stanley was born in the Newcastle district and was engaged in the scholastic profession. He was at home in any of the inside-forward positions, but was chiefly used as a centre.

A talented young schoolmaster, he played as an amateur for Sunderland for a couple of seasons where he was the reserve centre-forward.

He signed for Newcastle in the summer of 1908 (aged 21) and was regarded as a forward of much promise. An injury to new centre-forward Robert Blanthorne gave him an immediate chance, but with Albert Shepherd arriving later in the season his opportunities were thenceforth limited.

A skilful dribbler with many clever touches, he scored prolifically in the reserves. But, although he scored 5/6 first-team goals in his first season on Tyneside, he failed to find the net in his few chances in the following two campaigns.

Allan’s father was Mayor of Wallsend at the time. Alderman Allan had been a councillor for 14 years and had worked in the shipyards all his life. He started as a blaster when he was eight and eventually became a plater. Despite his position he had no airs and graces and continued to go to work in moleskin trousers and a blue jacket. He resided in a house of the better artisan type and - during his term of office - two corporation lampposts bearing the borough coat-of-arms were placed either side of the gateway to distinguish it from his neighbours.