Allan Elleman

Name: Allan Richard Elleman
Born: c.1866, Stoke (ENG) (see notes)
Died: 19 February 1939, Nottingham (ENG)
Height:
Weight:
Position: Full-Back/Outside-Right

Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Full Caps (1889-1890).
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Winner 1887/88, Runner-Up 1886/87, 1889/90; Charity Cup Winner 1883/84, 1885/86, 1886/87, 1887/88, 1888/89.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Stoke St Peter's	-	-	-	-	-	-
Glentoran	82/83	-	Amateur	0/0	-	*/13
Cliftonville	83/84-89/90	-	Amateur	0/0	-	-
West Bromwich Albion	-	Apr-1890	-	0/0	-	-
Sheffield United #	-	-	-	(Midland League)
Notts County	91/92	Aug-1891	-	6/2	-	-
Grimsby Town	91/92	Mar-1892	-	(Football Alliance)
Mansfield Town	-	Aug-1892	-	(Midland League)
TOTALS	-	£-		6/2	-	-

* all games; # sources conflict as to whether Elleman actually played for Sheffield United

Biography:
Born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1866, Allan Elleman, known as “Dick” or “The Wee Englishman”, came to Belfast with his family in the early 1880’s. Being interested in the new football game he joined Glentoran and played a few friendly games for them. He then played in Glentoran’s very first competitive match on the 27th January 1883 – an Irish Cup match against the experienced Ulster team. He played in the left wing pair and the match resulted in a 9-0 defeat.

Joining Cliftonville for the start of 1883/84 season he soon established himself in the team as a winger, playing on either flank with great aplomb. In seven seasons he appeared in many Irish Cup and Charity Cup finals. He scored three goals in these finals, including a double in the 4-2 defeat of Distillery in the 1888/89 Charity Cup Final. In all he scored 13 goals for Cliftonville.

In addition to his Irish Cup and Charity Cup appearances he appeared for Cliftonville in the English F.A.Cup, making four appearances and scoring one goal in each of 1886/87 and 1888/89 seasons and one appearance 1889/90 (a total of 9 appearances and 2 goals). His first goal was scored in the 3-1 win over Great Lever in Bolton on the 13th November 1886. When he played for Cliftonville against Linfield in the English Cup on Christmas Day 1888 history was made, as this is the only FA Cup match ever played on Christmas Day.

Elleman's first appearance at an international match was as an umpire - these were the days before recognised referees. The competing teams each supplied an umpire to take charge of one half of the playing area. A referee stood at the half-way line and adjudicated in any disputes. “Dick” was an umpire for the match between England and Ireland in March 1889. A month later he made it on to the field as a player, featuring at right-back in Ireland's 3-1 defeat by Wales - normally a winger he had occasionally played in defence for Cliftonville that season. The following year he captained Ireland from outside-right in a 9-1 defeat by England - the first Englishman to captain a side against England - that proved to be his final international outing.

Nottingham Evening
Post Obituary (courtesy
of Chris Goodwin)

Also the captain and honourary secretary at Cliftonville, Elleman left Ireland to return to his native midlands late in the 1889/90 season to sign with West Bromwich Albion. His final three weeks (the 8th, 15th, and 22nd of March 1890) saw him play in the Irish Cup Final, play for Ireland against England and referee the County Antrim Shield Final between Linfield and Distillery. Elleman was regarded as being naturalised in Ireland after seven years residency, though ironically it was his move to an English club that brought his Ireland career to a close.

Although he never played a competitive match for West Brom, he did later mark his Football League debut for Notts County in October 1891 with a goal against his ex-club in a 4-0 win. From his long playing career, Elleman recalled a 44-0 win for Stoke St. Peter's against Bucknall St. Mary's as the highlight!

Ireland Cap Details:
27-04-1889 Wales... H L 1-3 BC
15-03-1890 England. H L 1-9 BC

Summary: 2/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

* Elleman's birth date is commonly recorded as 3 November 1862 in Birmingham. Research suggests this to be incorrect.
A Nottingham paper from 1/12/1934 notes "Allan Richard Elleman, native of Stoke, qualified for Ireland under 7 year residence rule".
His birth not registered in GRO, England. Census records list:
In 1881, Allan R. Elleman aged 14, Church St. Stoke on Trent, father Allan W. Elleman.
In 1901, Allan Elleman aged 34, born Staff, Stoke on Trent, Book Keeper in Cotton Mill at Mansfield.
Died Nottingham JFM 1939 age 72.
All ages therefore tally with a birth April 1866- March 1867. An Allan R. Elleman had his birth registered in Stoke in the July-September quarter if 1866.

Irish League career and birth information researched by George Glass. Further birth data from Cris Freddi.