Allan Hunter (footballer) facts for kids
Johan Cruijff and Allan Hunter (Rotterdam, 1976)
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 June 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Sion Mills, Northern Ireland | ||
| Playing position | Central defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Coleraine | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1962–1966 | Coleraine | 97 | (2) |
| 1966–1969 | Oldham Athletic | 83 | (1) |
| 1969–1972 | Blackburn Rovers | 84 | (1) |
| 1971–1982 | Ipswich Town | 280 | (8) |
| 1982 | Colchester United | 19 | (0) |
| Total | 563 | (12) | |
| National team | |||
| 1969–1979 | Northern Ireland | 53 | (1) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1982–1983 | Colchester United | ||
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Allan Hunter was born on June 30, 1946. He is a former professional footballer and manager from Northern Ireland. Allan played as a strong central defender.
He started his football journey with Coleraine. Later, he played for several other clubs. These included Oldham Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, and Ipswich Town. He also played for Colchester United.
Allan Hunter also played for his country, Northern Ireland. He represented them 53 times in international matches. He was known for being a very reliable player.
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Allan Hunter's Club Career
Allan Hunter spent most of his professional playing time at Ipswich Town. He played for the club for eleven years. During this time, he appeared in over 350 games.
Before joining Ipswich, Allan played for Coleraine with his brother Victor. He then moved to Oldham Athletic and Blackburn Rovers. In September 1971, Ipswich Town signed him for £60,000. This was a big move for him.
Allan chose Ipswich even though other big clubs like Everton and Leeds United were interested. He met with Ipswich manager Bobby Robson. Allan said that after five minutes, he knew Ipswich was the right place for him.
He quickly became an important player. In his second season, he teamed up with Kevin Beattie. They formed a strong defensive pair for many years. Together, they helped Ipswich win the 1978 FA Cup Final. Ipswich beat Arsenal 1–0 at Wembley. This was a huge achievement for the club.
Allan was also named the Ipswich Town Player of the Year for the 1975–1976 season. After the FA Cup win, he played fewer games. Younger defenders like Terry Butcher and Russell Osman started playing more. Allan left Ipswich in 1982. Bobby Robson, his former manager, even said Allan was his best ever signing.
Playing for Northern Ireland
Allan Hunter played 53 games for the Northern Ireland national team. He is the player from Ipswich Town who has played the most international games for his country. He played 47 of these games while he was at Ipswich.
He scored his only international goal in September 1975. This was during a qualifying game for the Euro 1976 tournament against Sweden.
Allan also took part in a special match in January 1973. This game celebrated the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and Denmark joining the European Common Market. He played for a team called "New European Common Market." He played alongside famous footballers like Alan Ball, Colin Bell, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, and Emlyn Hughes.
Becoming a Manager
In 1982, Allan Hunter became the player-manager for Colchester United. This meant he would both play for the team and manage it. He brought in Cyril Lea, a former coach from Ipswich, to be his assistant.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing and managing, Allan Hunter decided to stay in Suffolk. Many other former Ipswich players also settled there.
In 2009, Allan Hunter was honored. He was added to the Ipswich Town Hall of Fame. This is a special place for the club's greatest players. He was inducted along with George Burley, Arnold Muhren, and Billy Baxter.
Honours
Ipswich Town
- FA Cup: 1978
Individual
- Ipswich Town Player of the Year: 1975–1976
- Ipswich Town Hall of Fame: Inducted 2009
Images for kids
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Johan Cruijff and Allan Hunter (Rotterdam, 1976)
