LEGENDARY Swindon Town FC.manager Sam Allen is to have a blue plaque unveiled in his honour.

It is the fifth monument of its kind organised by Swindon Heritage and has been paid for through a crowdfunding page set up last year.

And it is the second in Kent Road where Swindon Siren Diana Dors was honoured a year ago.

The stalwart will have his legacy remembered by past Swindon Town footballer John Trollope on May 19 at noon outside his his old home, number 44.

The current occupier Laura Holmes, said: “We are really thrilled that Swindon Heritage have chosen to honour Sam Allen.

“When they first approached us I had no idea that such an important man in Swindon Town’s history had made his home here.We are very excited and we can’t wait to see the plaque in full. We have invited friends and family to come along on the day to enjoy the unveiling.”

Born in 1868, he was a long-serving member of the football club, eventually totalling 51 years of loyal service.

Sam became the team's first recognised manager in 1902 and maintained a secretarial position after standing down in 1933.

He helped the team reach success by signing greats, Jock Walker, Harold Fleming and record goal scorer, Harry Morris.

Overall, Sam is the sixth longest serving manager in the history of English professional football after managing the club for 31 seasons. He received the Football League’s long service award in 1941, as he kept the club going during World War Two.

He died while still in office on January 1, 1946 after helping the team to win the Southern League title twice and to reach the semi finals of the FA cup.

Noel Beauchamp of Swindon Heritage said: “Having had the plaque funded entirely by public donations last year proves that history and heritage is important to many people in Swindon.

“We now have the plaque in our hands and it looks fantastic. This will be the fifth blue plaque that Swindon Heritage has organised and we have more to come in the future.”

After the unveiling people can visit Sam’s recently restored grave in Radnor Street Cemetery.