Oxford United were saddened to learn of the death of former player Allan Hall, who died this morning at the age of 91.
Allan, originally from Newcastle, came to Oxford with the prison service and married local girl Jo when playing for Headington.
He played 30 games for United, making his debut in the Southern League at Guildford City on 29th April 1950. He played his last game for the club on Boxing Day 1956, against Bedford Town.
Being in the prison service meant that Allan began as an amateur with Headington.
“Because I was a civil servant, I wasn’t supposed to have a second job,” he told us last year, when he was guest of honour at the home game against Lincoln City. “I convinced them in the end that football wasn’t a job but was something I did for pleasure, so I didn’t turn professional until 1955, when I got paid £7 a week.
"I had two more years at Headington before being transferred away, but I was at the end of my football playing career anyway. I had to be quiet about going professional, though, because I was still in the prison service.”
He leaves his wife Josephine and three children: Neil, Philip and Deborah. Our thoughts are with them and all of Allan's family and friends.