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'Short and sweet' would seem the perfect summary of Clive Allen's time
at Stamford Bridge. The much-travelled striker had been a prolific
scorer against Chelsea - and many other sides - since his emergence in
Queens Park Rangers' first team at the age of 17 but had struggled to
find the net quite so regularly during a spell at Manchester City. A
bust-up with City's manager, Peter Reid, saw him depart Maine Road
somewhat acrimoniously when Chelsea offered £250, 000 to bring the
Stepney-born striker back to London, and the man who once scored 49
goals in a single season for Tottenham was soon back into his prolific
groove.
Clive's first appearance for the Blues was in a 3-0 thrashing at
Sheffield Wednesday and his first strike for his new club came a week
later in a 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester United. The following week
he scored twice in a 4-2 home victory over Oldham and on New Years Day
1992 he got the goal he craved when Manchester City visited Stamford
Bridge and left with a fortunate draw courtesy of Mike Sheron's last
minute equaliser. Continuing the theme of scoring against his former
clubs, Allen struck a stunning shot past Erik Thorstvedt in the
Tottenham goal as Chelsea secured the inevitable league double over the
north London club and seven days later he was again on target as
Wimbledon were beaten at Selhurst Park. An acrobatic volley saw Everton
dispatched in a tight FA Cup 4th round tie and, after Sheffield United
were beaten in the next round, Clive scored the goal which put the Blues
within eight minutes of a semi-final clash with Norwich before a late
Sunderland equaliser and subsequent devastating defeat in the replay saw
the Chelsea management team decide that new faces should be recruited
in time for the following campaign.
On transfer deadline day in March,
after less than four months with the Blues, he joined Jason Cundy and
Kevin Wilson in leaving Stamford Bridge to make way for the forthcoming
wave of arrivals. Chelsea recouped their £250, 000 outlay when Clive
moved to London rivals West Ham, and a week later he was back at
Stamford Bridge in the colours of his eighth club. Chelsea ran out 2-1
winners but guess who scored the Irons' goal that day.... (Kelvin Barker)
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