A SWINDON Town legend became the latest famous face to be recognised with a heritage plaque.

Club secretary Sam Allen had given over 50 years service to the football club when he died in 1946.

His contribution was recognised with a blue plaque, installed by Swindon Heritage on the Kent Road house where he lived most of his life.

The plaque was unveiled by Allen’s granddaughter-in-law Pat Chapman, his great-grandson Rob and former Swindon Town player John Trollope, who made almost 800 appearances for the team over 20 years.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Swindon historian Martin Thomas said: “Sam Allen was key to putting Swindon Town on the map. He transformed the club from an amateur side to a professional.

“When Sam Allen joined Swindon Town it was an amateur side. They played at the Croft and changed at The Pipers Arms. They used to have to walk down to play at the Croft site. Spectators stopped at the Royal Oak to purchase their tickets.”

West Bromwich-born Allen, who moved to Swindon for a job at the Railway Works, modernised the club. Under his tutelage as what today might be called club manager, Town reached the FA Cup semi-final, won the Dubonnet Cup and toured Argentina in 1913.

Martin added: “Sam Allen served Swindon Town in one way or another for 51 years. Imagine that now.

“With the plaque, we’re hoping that more people will know who Sam Allen was and his connection to the football team we all know, love and suffer with.”

Allen’s granddaughter-in-law, Pat Chapman, who married five years after Sam’s death remembered one of his sayings: “He’d say Swindon needed two teams: one for the football and one for the banquets. I saw the menu when they went to the Argentine. You should have seen the wine list!”

The new blue plaque has been fitted on 44 Kent Road. It is the second plaque to be fixed along the terraced street. The other, marking the birthplace of actress Diana Dors, was installed last year.

Laura Holmes, 49, who lives in the house once occupied by Sam Allen, said of the plaque: “We really like it. We’ve learned so much about him from the tales today and the build up to it.”

The family has lived on Kent Road for 17 years, but had no idea they had Sam Allen’s old house. Laura is no football fan: “Initially, we thought that was quite funny. Our friends are here; they are really big football fans.”