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| Sam Allardyce Profile Sam Allardyce, who was born at Dudley in October 1954, began his professional football career as an apprentice at Burnden Park, having been spotted whilst playing in his native West Midlands. He soon made his mark in Bolton's Youth team, in a central defensive line-up that also included Paul Jones and Don McAllister, and he chipped in with some useful goals. In November 1973, Allardyce made his League debut for Bolton against Notts County and then spent the remainder of that season as understudy to his former Youth team colleagues. The following season, soon after the departure of McAllister to Tottenham Hotspur. "Big Sam" won a regular place in the Trotters' League team. He thus became a member of the side which won promotion to the First Division in 1978 but both he and the club failed to establish themselves in Division One and, after the Trotters were relegated in 1980, he joined Sunderland for a fee of £150,000. After one season at Roker Park, Allardyce was transferred to Third Division Millwall for £95,000. A spell in the NASL was followed by brief spells at Coventry City and Huddersfield Town before he returned to Burnden Park for £100,000. Alas, injury and loss of form hindered his second Bolton career and in August 1986 he was allowed to join Preston North End on a free transfer. He helped Preston win promotion from Division Four in 1987 and made over 450 League appearances since his debut for the Trotters. He took up the managerial reigns at the Reebok after Colin Todd resigned. His managerial career includes taking Blackpool to within a whisker of promotion in the 1995/96 season. He subsequently was given the sack by the Seasiders. He joined Notts County and won the Division Three Championship for the club in the 1997/98 season. |
| SAM ALLARDYCE |
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| SAM ALLARDYCE |
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