Members News: Allan Harris RIP (28/12/1942 – 23/11/2017)

Allan in the Sky Blue 1965

The Association was very sorry to hear that our member, former Sky Blue defender of the sixties, Allan Harris passed away a few days ago. CCFPA sends its sincere, albeit belated, condolences to Allan’s family and friends. Allan, who joined CCFPA in 2010, died aged 74 on the 23rd November and was the footballing brother of hard man Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris of Chelsea fame.

Northampton born, Allan was a Jimmy Hill signing in 1964 from Chelsea where he had begun his professional career back in 1958 as an apprentice eventually appearing 80 times for the Pensioners often alongside his brother.  Allan filled the left back slot at CCFC with some style (enabling now CCFPA member Mick Kearns to move into the half back line) and stayed at Highfield Road until (now Association committee member) Dietmar Bruck was ready to take over the position for the 1966-7 season.  In total Allan appeared 69 times in Sky Blue scoring just once in a 3-0 League Cup victory at Leyton Orient in September 1965.

Allan backing up captain George Curtis in mid 60s

He returned to Chelsea at the end of the season (typically for JH at a profit) for one season and another 14 league and 6 cup appearances before moving on to Q.P.R. (1967), Plymouth (1971) and Cambridge Utd (1973) where he finished his League career. He ended his playing days with spells at non league Hayes (1974) and St Patrick’s Athletic (1976).

Allan then gained extensive assistant and full management experience with London clubs Crystal Palace, Q.P.R. and Spurs (as well as Reading) before developing his career in Europe as part of the management of  the likes of Barcelona (as Terry Venables assistant) and Espanyol in Spain and later, even further away, managed teams in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Turkey.

Allan (right) with Bob

He finished his career managing the Malaysian national squad from 2000-4 and since retirement developed quite a reputation on the after dinner circuit with his brother Ron.

Former committee member the late Bob Bromage visited Allan at his home in 2012 to present him with his CCFPA tie (right). We will report on funeral details as soon as we hear them.

A full appreciation of Ron’s life and career written by CCFC official historian and CCFPA Chairman Jim Brown will appear in the ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ section of this site (under the ‘Players’ tab above) in due course.