| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Allan Jeffrey Shires [1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 June 1948 [1] | ||
| Place of birth | Leigh-on-Sea, England [1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [2] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Southend United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1965–1966 | Southend United | 1 | (0) |
| 1966–1968 | Colchester United | 23 | (3) |
| Chelmsford City | |||
| Pegasus Athletic | |||
| Southend Manor | |||
| Total | 24 | (3) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Allan Jeffrey Shires (born 29 June 1948) is an English former footballer who played as a winger in the Football League for Southend United and Colchester United. He has a wife named Christine. They have three children; Darren, Dawn and Julie. Allan has two Sons-in-Law, Darren Yuille and Jeff Smith. He also has a Daughter-in-Law, Liezel. Allan Shires has six grandchildren; Angel Shires, Leon Shires, Billy Yuille, Louis Yuille, Katie Smith and Jennifer Smith.
Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Shires was an apprentice with local club Southend United, where he made one substitute appearance in the 1965–66 season. [2] [3] [4]
Shires was released by Southend in the summer of 1966 and taken on trial and subsequently signed by Essex rivals Colchester United. [2] He made his debut for the U's on 27 August 1966 in a 2–1 away defeat to Shrewsbury Town. [5] His first goals came in a 3–2 away win over Reading on 8 October 1966, the second of which was a last-minute match winner. [2] [6] Shires went on to play 23 times for Colchester, scoring one further goal [7] during a 5–3 home defeat to Torquay United on 4 November 1967. [8] He played his last game for the club against Gillingham on 13 April 1968, a game in which he broke his collarbone. [2] [9]
Shires was released from Colchester in the summer of 1968, subsequently joining Chelmsford City. He also appeared for Southend Manor. [2]
In English football, the Essex derby is the local derby between the two professional teams in the English county of Essex – Colchester United and Southend United. The first Essex derby match that took place was a 4–2 victory for Southend in a Third Division South tie on 14 October 1950. The derby has been contested in four different competitions, with Southend winning 34 of the games, Colchester winning 31 and 17 have been drawn.
The 1992–93 season was Colchester United's 51st season in their history and their first season back in the Football League. Colchester competed in the Third Division, the fourth tier of English football, after achieving promotion from the Conference the season prior. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Football League Trophy, and the Conference Shield.
The 1989–90 season was Colchester United's 48th season in their history and ninth consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.
The 1984–85 season was Colchester United's 43rd season in their history and fourth consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.
The 1967–68 season was Colchester United's 26th season in their history and their second successive season in the third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
The 1966–67 season was Colchester United's 25th season in their history and their first back in the third tier of English football, the Third Division, following promotion from the Fourth Division the previous season. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
The 1964–65 season was Colchester United's 23rd season in their history and their third successive season in the Third Division, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
The 1957–58 season was Colchester United's 16th season in their history and their eighth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. They were eliminated at the first round stage of the cup for the fifth successive season, on this occasion to non-league side Wisbech Town. In the league, with the division being restructured at the end of the season, Colchester managed to finish in the top half of the table by three points to avoid a move to the newly formed Fourth Division, instead remaining in the third tier.
The 1956–57 season was Colchester United's 15th season in their history and their seventh season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup in which the club were eliminated by Southend United in the first round in the first Essex derby in a cup competition. The season would be Colchester United's highest league finish for 50 years by ending their campaign in third position. It has only been bettered on three occasions; the 2005–06 season, 2006–07 season and the 2007–08 season.
The 1955–56 season was Colchester United's 14th season in their history and their sixth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup in which the club were eliminated by Torquay United in the first round. The season was Benny Fenton's first full campaign in charge, and after building his own squad over the summer, he led Colchester to their highest position since the 1951–52 season with a 12th-placed finish. This came on the back of two consecutive seasons of successful re-election applications.
The 1954–55 season was Colchester United's 13th season in their history and their fifth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Following a replay, Colchester were knocked out of the FA Cup in the first round by Reading. Meanwhile, in the league, Colchester's poor run of form had Jack Butler allowed indefinite leave following a bout of ill health. After resigning in January 1955, Colchester appointed Benny Fenton as his replacement, and despite an upturn in form, a run of defeats at the end of the season meant Colchester needed to apply for re-election for the second successive season. Once more, all clubs applying for re-election were successful, with Colchester receiving 44 votes, behind Third Division North clubs Grimsby Town and Chester City, but eleven votes ahead of division rivals Walsall.
The 1953–54 season was Colchester United's twelfth season in their history and their fourth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester were knocked out in the first round of the cup by Millwall following a replay. The club struggled in the league for the second successive season, eventually finishing 23rd of 24 teams under new manager Jack Butler. The club had to apply for re-election at the end of the season for the first of three occasions in its history. All four clubs applying for re-election were successful, with Colchester receiving 45 votes, behind Chester by three votes but ahead of both Walsall and Halifax Town.
The 1952–53 season was Colchester United's eleventh season in their history and their third season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup for the second season running, but were knocked out by Second Division side Rotherham United after a replay. The club struggled in the league, eventually finishing 22nd of 24 teams which would ultimately cost manager Jimmy Allen his job.
The 1951–52 season was Colchester United's tenth season in their history and their second season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup before being knocked out by Second Division side Barnsley. In the league, they bettered the previous season's 16th-placed finish by finishing 10th.
Jason Peter Cook is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Southend United and Colchester United.
Robert Victor Howlett is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a defender for Southend United and Colchester United. He began his career at Chelsea where he failed to make a first-team appearance.
Leonard Jones was an English footballer who played in the Football League as a wing half for Barnsley, Plymouth Argyle, Southend United and Colchester United. He also was signed to but failed to make a first-team appearance for Huddersfield Town and Ipswich Town.
James Kirk was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Scottish Football League for St Mirren and in the Football League for Bury, Colchester United, Torquay United and Aldershot. He died in 2020 at the age of 94.
William Alexander Leighton was an English footballer who played in the Football League as a forward for Newcastle United and Southend United.
Patrick Desmond "Paddy" Leonard is an Irish former footballer who played in the Football League as a forward for Bristol Rovers and Colchester United.