Ex-Sporting skipper Marlon Allen retires
MAY PEN, Clarendon — Former Sporting Central Academy captain Marlon Allan has announced his retirement from football.
The 31-year-old left full-back made his decision official in a press release to the Jamaica Observer.
Allen, who spent six years at Brancourt, said a series of “untreated” injuries and no financial reward over the years were just some of the issues that led to his decision.
“After all these years with nothing too positive to show, except experience, I can surely say this is it for me,” Allen said, who has won two A-League and Clarendon KO titles in a 16-year career.
“From broken jaws to memory loss, I’ve had it all in football but there’s nothing to show; just lots of promises and disappointments,” he added.
Allen, a former Clarendon College daCosta Cupper, began his senior career with the now defunct Galaxy United, where he got his first taste of Premier League football as a teenager in 1999.
He later joined St Catherine side Rivoli United when Galaxy collapsed at the turn of the century, but would return to his birth parish in 2006 to link up with Sporting when they won Premier League promotion.
In the 2010/11 season, Allen helped Sporting to qualify for their first the second End-of-Round final in the Digicel Premier League, which they lost 1-0 to Portmore United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
He also played an integral role in helping the south west Clarendon side stave-off relegation in the last four seasons. His season was cut short this term by an ankle injury sustained last November against Highgate at Drax Hall.
“Big up all SCA players,” he said. “I’m still your big brother and will continue to be your number one fan. All the best for the rest of the season.”
Allen said his time off the field will be spent between his job at Young’s Pharmacy in May Pen and coaching his hometown team Four Paths FC, who currently campaign in the South Central Super League.
“Mr Young was the one who really helped me when I was going through some rough times, so from there to Four Paths coaching; that’s where I will be,” he said.
