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At the age of 83, former manager Malcolm Allison has passed away, prompting deep condolences from Crystal Palace.
One of the game’s most colorful figures, Allison was known for his relationships with glamour models, as well as his bold opinions, signature fedora, and sheepskin coat, all while enjoying champagne and cigars.
Known affectionately as Big Mal, he was recognized as football’s inaugural playboy manager and is primarily celebrated by Palace supporters for guiding the team to the FA Cup semi-final for the first time as a Third Division club in 1976.
However, it was his off-field contributions at Palace that potentially left the most significant impression, infusing Selhurst Park with a much-needed touch of glamour and excitement.
Before a match commenced, he would often approach the visiting supporters, raising three fingers on one hand and forming a large circle with the other, seemingly predicting a 3-0 loss for them.
Allison broke a 68-year tradition by renaming the uninspired Glaziers to The Eagles, and he updated the uniforms from claret and blue to contemporary red and blue stripes along with a sash kit.
Born in Dartford, Allison kicked off his playing career at Charlton before transitioning to West Ham, where he made 255 appearances and guided a young Bobby Moore, until tuberculosis and the removal of a lung forced his retirement.
“Malcolm saw something in me that others didn’t. Yes, I loved him,” remarked Moore.
Following his exit from professional football, Allison ventured into car sales, professional gambling, and nightclub management, but eventually returned to coaching, starting with Bath City, and later had brief tenures with Toronto City and Plymouth.
He found success at Manchester City, coaching alongside Joe Mercer, during which the club clinched the First Division (1967-68), FA Cup (1969), League Cup (1970), and Cup Winners’ Cup (1970). After Mercer’s departure, Allison took over as manager but resigned in March 1973 amid struggles.
Shortly thereafter, Crystal Palace hired him as the new manager, and he became the first celebrity football columnist, which was timely, given he owed bookmakers £1,300 after a betting session at Sandown.
Upon his arrival, Allison confidently declared on the pitch, “In two years, possibly less, I will be competing again with the giants of English football. Raymond Bloye has a vision of Selhurst Park as a super stadium of the future.
“I am convinced I can deliver a super team to match that vision. I have two years to position Palace for honors. The potential is staggering.”
Despite a victory in his debut match, Mal could not prevent the team from descending out of the top division following five losses in the last seven games. True to form, he celebrated with the players by hosting a lavish banquet at a restaurant.
The club then faced a second consecutive relegation, landing in the Third Division, prompting striker Alan Whittle to note, “It was a fantastic social life under Malcolm. However, the football wasn’t great.”
Don Rogers recalled happier times, stating: “I remember a few unforgettable nights, one particularly in Pisa with Malcolm, Alan Whittle, and me. Malcolm turned to us and said, ‘Let’s have one more bottle of champagne before bed.’
“When he summoned the waiter, we learned the hotel had just two expensive bottles left. ‘Let’s have them both, then.'”
“`his reply. He always encouraged us to celebrate not only our successes but also some of our setbacks.”
However, the remarkable FA Cup journey to the semi-finals, which featured victories over major teams like Leeds United, Chelsea, and Sunderland, boosted morale before Southampton, who would ultimately go on to claim the title, halted Crystal Palace’s run to the final.
Mal the Maverick stirred controversy by inviting porn star Fiona Richmond to a training session at Palace, leading to a FA charge after a tabloid published a photograph of the two in the players’ bath.
Frustrated with his relentless self-promotion, the often cocky and brash Allison resigned in May 1976 after achieving two consecutive fifth-place finishes in the Third Division.
Despite the underperformance of a talented young squad, the media attention surrounding Palace was extensive. This marked a golden era for the club, which had recently adopted the nickname, the Eagles.
Defender Jim Cannon stated: “Malcolm Allison put Palace on the map. No other individual could bring a club from the First Division to the Third Division and still be hailed as an instant hero.”
“There was an aura surrounding him, and even in the Third Division, if you had asked any player in the country to join Palace, I believe they would have said yes.”
He returned to Palace for a brief two-month stint during the 1980-81 season but was unable to stave off relegation from the First Division.
Mal was known to socialize with stars like Michael Caine and could be characterized as both a manager and a playboy. As an innovative and inspiring coach, he was a vivid personality, and his legacy at Palace endures.
Underneath the flamboyant ‘Big Mal’ exterior lay a man battling self-doubt, insecurity, and human flaws. Yet, he possessed a distinctive football intellect, overflowing with fresh ideas and a profound passion for the game.
The legendary Bobby Moore consistently credited Allison for his evolution into one of the world’s premier defenders during their time at West Ham’s original ‘Academy’.
In return, I express my gratitude to Malcolm for nurturing my appreciation for champagne. His guiding principle was to work diligently and enjoy life even more vigorously, leading many former players and journalists to toast in his honor today.
While he and Joe Mercer were shaping Manchester City of the Sixties into the nation’s premier team—without relying on Middle Eastern wealth—they shared a successful, electrifying chemistry.
Mike Summerbee, a key player in that City squad which claimed the old First Division, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, expressed his admiration on Friday.
“He truly was one of the greatest coaches our country has seen,” he stated unequivocally. “It’s tragic to lose such an incredible character, an extraordinary individual and a kind man. He transformed that team into championship and cup winners due to the confidence he instilled in them and the faith he had in himself.
“He was eager to start training early and we practiced in match conditions. We trained so intensely throughout the week that when it came to Saturday, it felt like our day off. He was that exceptional.
“He was a fantastic character and a sociable person. We put in our best efforts for him and maintained exceptional fitness, yet we could also indulge ourselves, and he embraced that.
“During that time, the club—under Joe Mercer and Malcolm—transformed from obscurity into immense success. It was a remarkable period, a golden chapter in the history ofHe was a unique and wonderful man, the club remembers him fondly.
Allison, always the showman, will be remembered across the football world for his iconic fedora and cigar, not to mention the infamous bath at Crystal Palace with actress Fiona Richmond, one of the many women who navigated through his bustling life.
After relocating to London, Malcolm and I would meet in a subterranean Fleet Street bar following training at Crystal Palace, where champagne flowed generously. Jim and I would leave Malcolm to head back to the office, only to discover later that he had left us a bill that was far too hefty for comfort.
It was during these extended, informal discussions that we would get to hear Malcolm’s insights about the game, which were always expansive, often innovative, and typically interspersed with tales from his social life.
Whenever another manager was mentioned, he would rely on one of his favorite expressions—‘show us his medals’. He had medals to show, though perhaps not as many as he would have preferred.
When it came to women, Big Mal had quite a few treasures, including the stunning Bunny Girl Serena Williams, who was his steadfast companion for many years. She wasn’t his first escapade.
Whether he was caught with a Heidi in Vienna’s Russian sector while still a virgin soldier, savoring hot chocolate and kirsch with the wealthy ladies of Cortina, or having an affair with Christine Keeler in Chelsea, he always garnered attention and, yes, some envy from those around him.
Throughout his life, he was often required to take evasive measures against the wives of affluent football directors. One time, after giving in to pressure, he recalled overhearing a wife telling her husband, ‘I just spent the afternoon in bed with Malcolm Allison.’
His playing career with Charlton and West Ham was cut short by tuberculosis, and it took Allison a significant amount of time to recover from the ensuing depression. The eventual loss of a lung further fueled his resolve to embrace life fully.
‘He understood the game thoroughly. He had the ability to transform a match without needing to jot it down on paper. Furthermore, his players could adjust the game without having to glance at him. He ensured we developed footballing intelligence. His character was magnificent, and that radiated throughout the team.’
Roger Spry, Middlesbrough’s conditioning coach, also shared his perspective on Allison’s skills.
‘In one regard, he was a bit of a charlatan because he presented himself as this extravagant character to both the media and the public, yet behind closed doors, he was reserved and one of the most insightful coaches I’ve collaborated with. I’ve worked alongside some of the finest managers in the field, including Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, and I would absolutely place Malcolm in that league.’Truly, he was that exceptional.
“He was a beacon and a visionary.”
“Mourinho collaborated with Malcolm and myself at Vitoria Setubal, and I can observe Malcolm’s impact on Jose. He is the top coach globally, and I recognize Malcolm in 90 percent of what he does.”
In 1969, Juventus recognized this in Allison when they requested him to draft his own contract. He had recently had his car reclaimed by a finance firm, making the allure to transfer compelling.
Secret meetings occurred on the moors close to Preston, but City was about to celebrate winning the FA Cup. Hence, it was amid the festivities that he took a flight to Turin dressed in a light blue suit and white shoes, ready to be driven away in a Ferrari.
After four days of inner turmoil, he traveled to Rome and then to the French Riviera, grappling with a decision. Ultimately, he declined Juve due to his fondness for City and its players. He was both a friend and a mentor to them and soon grabbed life by the horns once more.
At one point, when his former West Ham friend John Bond made remarks about his personal affairs, he replied, “Both my wives were upset.”
To a young Bobby Moore, he once advised, “Always ask yourself, if I receive the ball now, who will I pass it to?”
It was remarkably straightforward, effortlessly genuine. They will undoubtedly relish their reunion… likely over a glass of champagne, of course.
by Buford Balony