A fine, stylish, attacking pivot with a strong defensive game, Allan began with the Arthurlie, a Scottish Division Three side, before Bristol City brought him south in 1928. Chesterfield were persuaded to lay down £1738 to secure his signature, being a £1500 transfer fee and the player's share of benefit payments due from City. He was also the only player on the League's maximum wage at Saltergate for much of his time here.

Allan's fee was the highest paid by Chesterfield for a player at the time, but it was money well spent. Tall, imposing and with the presence to dominate opponents without recourse to the physical stuff, he was the foundation on which a side was built to win the Northern Section in '35-6 and establish a place as a Second Division team.

The brother of Richard (an amateur with Bristol City and the Spireites), he was consistently rated by opponents as the best in his position in Division Three (North) and continues to be regarded as one of the Saltergate greats by older supporters. When age began to reduce his effectiveness he moved to Chelmsford City, an ambitious Southern League outfit, becoming their Player/manager  in October 1938, and the club enjoyed a fine FA Cup run under his stewardship.

On the outbreak of war he resumed his former trade of carpenter before returning to Scotland in 1943 and joining the RAF. He became a Flight Engineer and a sergeant with the 75th. Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve, and lost his life on active service on April 14th, 1945, just a month or so before the end of the war.

For Chesterfield: 241 League appearances, 9 goals.