Sam Allison (born 1 October 1980) is an English professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
referee and former player who officiates in the
English Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...
.
Playing career
Allison played as a
midfielder
In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...
for
Swindon Town
Swindon Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The team, known as the "Robins", currently compete in , the fourth level of the English football league system.
Founded as Swindon A ...
,
Bristol City,
Bournemouth
Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...
,
Exeter City,
Clevedon Town,
Bath City,
Salisbury City,
Chippenham Town, and
Frome Town, as well as for
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
and Great Britain schoolboys.
Refereeing career
Allison worked as a firefighter and as a match official in the
English Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...
.
On 26 December 2023 he became the first black referee in the
Premier League
The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football Lea ...
in 15 years, since
Uriah Rennie.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allison, Sam
1980 births
Living people
English men's footballers
Swindon Town F.C. players
Bristol City F.C. players
AFC Bournemouth players
Exeter City F.C. players
Clevedon Town F.C. players
Bath City F.C. players
Salisbury City F.C. players
Chippenham Town F.C. players
Frome Town F.C. players
Men's association football midfielders
English football referees
Premier League referees
English Football League referees
Black British sportsmen
England men's schools international footballers
21st-century English sportsmen