Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
164	164	0	32	4	0	104

Dick Allman was signed from Glasshoughton Juniors in June 1941 when the Rovers were playing in the War Emergency League. He made his senior debut v Keighley, scoring a try. He followed this with two tries in each of the next two matches and five tries in three games was an auspicious start. In a shortened season, he appeared in eight of the Rovers' league and cup games without adding to his try tally.

He featured strongly in the remainder of the war years, eventually making 59 appearances in the Emergency Leagues. He switched from centre to the stand-off position in 1943, which many considered his best position. Like a number of his team-mates, Allman appeared as a War-time guest player. In his case, he had three matches in Castleford’s colours without needing to officially sign for them.

Eagerly awaiting the resumption of peacetime football in August 1945, Allman was the lynch pin of the Rovers backs as the team made an excellent start. By November, only three of thirteen league games had been lost, the Rovers were challenging for the 'Top Four' and their backs had scored 32 of the 35 tries scored. This was a tribute to the inventive play of Allman at number six, whose influence was typified on 24 November 1945 by a brilliant performance in the 8-4 victory at Rochdale which put Rovers in third position.  Unfortunately, two weeks later he damaged his shoulder at Bradford and the injury was to keep him out for the rest of the season.  It was no coincidence that the fortunes of the side, deprived of its influential half back, changed dramatically. The team lost 14 of the next 18 league and cup games, ending the season in 13th position.

He resumed in the 1946/47 season making most appearances (31) by a back. In difficult times as the team languished near the foot of the table, his play was invariably characterised by full eighty-minute displays. He was solid and dependable in defence and attack. The only blip in his career was in early 1948, when Gilbertson was signed from Dewsbury and temporarily displaced him. The club refused his request to be transfer listed and he then refused to play v Hull (at home) and was suspended for two weeks. He put this dispute behind him in the following season, when he reaffirmed that his talent made him one of the mainstays of the team, again making most appearances by a back (33). His half-back partnership with Jimmy Russell was a particular feature.

Sadly his career was cut short when, after only four appearances in the new season, he received an ankle injury in the Yorkshire Cup game at Wakefield on 10 September 1949.  This injury necessitated an operation and ended his career. His contribution in the difficult years of the 1940s was characterised by tenacity and dedication, so that Dick Allman made the most of his talent and became the solid, reliable player which every club needs.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey