Description
Kilmarnock born centre half Sandy McAllister began his football career with Kilmarnock junior club Dean Park in 1894, playing for Carrington Vale in 1895 and Kilmarnock in 1896. In December 1896 he was signed by First Division Sunderland, and he made his Football League debut against Stoke in February 1897, playing 3 times in his debut season including in a Test Match win over Newton Heath (Manchester United) at the season end. The following season he established himself as their “pivot” as Sunderland finished runners up in the League Championship, thereafter he missed only 3 games in the following 5 seasons which included being ever present as Sunderland won the League Championship in 1901-02. However he lost his place in January 1904 and joined Derby County that June after 4 goals in 222 appearances for The Wearsiders. He had a single season at The Baseball Ground, making 24 appearances, before joining Oldham Athletic in 1905, returning to the north east to play for Spennymoor United in 1909 before retirement. In 1918 he contracted food poisoning whilst serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers in France during the Great War and died shortly afterwards.