INTRODUCTION

More than ten years of football, from amateur days to the honour of donning an England jersey, means a full quota of excitement and thrills. Ronnie Allen has indeed experienced most of the disappointments and triumphs that soccer can offer on the difficult path that leads to the top - and has had some amusing and ticklish encounters that are all his own.

How would you like to take a penalty in the F.A. Cup Final at Wembley when your team was 2-1 down? Those agonizing minutes, and their result, will never be forgotten either by Ronnie or the West Bromwich supporters !

A wandering centre-forward in more senses than one, Ronnie Allen has seen many Continental countries and he catches the atmosphere surrounding international tours there in absorbing fashion.

Here too is the story of his sudden switch from outside-right to centre-forward in the national side. The amazing success which followed this tactical move has brought him in contact with many great players and Ronnie assesses them against the game and its background with the shrewd, audacious football brain for which he is noted.