Tom Allison Player Profile

Biography

Tom Allison was an inside forward from Banbridge Town who played two senior games for Ballymena United during the 1961/1962 season.

Born in Banbridge, Tom began his football career joining Linfield Swifts in 1956 as 18-year-old. His first season in South Belfast was a roller-coaster with three cup finals, but only one winner’s medal. Allison scored one of the six goals in the Intermediate Cup Final victory over Brantwood to claim his first career silverware; but there was defeat in both the George Wilson Cup and Steel and Sons Cup during the 1956/1957 season.

The inside forward remained at Linfield Swifts until August 1958, when he moved across the city to Crusaders and was quickly jettisoned into senior football at Seaview, scoring the winner against Portadown a month after signing. Despite a handful of first team appearances, Allison featured predominately for the Reserves at the Crues, and picked up a second Steel and Sons Cup runners-up medal against Larne in the 1958/1959 final.

After failing to hold down a place in senior football, Tom returned back to his hometown club, Banbridge Town, in February 1960. Regular football, and regular goals followed in the B Division over the next 18 months which caught the eye of Ballymena United player-manager Geoff Twentyman, who signed Tom on amateur terms in the summer of 1961.

Allison started in the United forward line for his first team debut against Cliftonville in August 1961, in a 1-1 Ulster Cup draw, but only managed one further appearance during the 1961/1962 season, in which the 23-year-old featured as a regular scorer for the Reserves during the campaign. He also picked up a third Steel and Sons Cup runners-up medal, as the second string lost to Carrick Rangers in a replay – with Tom being forced off injured in both games.

After failing to breakthrough at the Showgrounds, he dropped down to the B Division with Larne but could not recapture the form of his early career, and did not return to the Irish League again.

Tom Allison passed away in December 2020 in Belfast, aged 83.

Career
(1956) Linfield; (Aug 1958) Crusaders; (Feb 1960) Banbridge Town; (Jun 1961) Ballymena United; (Jul 1962) Larne

Honours
(with Linfield Swifts)
Intermediate Cup: (winner) 1956/1957
Steel & Sons Cup: (finalist) 1956/1957
George Wilson Cup: (finalist) 1956/1957
(with Crusaders Reserves)
Steel & Sons Cup: (finalist) 1958/1959
(with Ballymena United Reserves)
Steel & Sons Cup: (finalist) 1961/1962