This month, we look at the life and career of Terry Allcock; the first winner of the Barry Butler trophy.

Born in Leeds

He was born in Leeds on 10 December 1935. When young he lived at Colenso Terrace, Holbeck which is close to Leeds United’s ground at Elland Road. He attended and played for St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School, then Mount St Mary’s Catholic High School in Leeds. He played for Leeds Boys for 3 seasons and also had trials for Yorkshire Schoolboys and for the England Schoolboys team, playing for the North against the South and in the ‘England against The Rest’ match. 

When he was aged 15 he moved with his family to live in Blackpool. (His father was a railway linesman and had gained work there.) He joined Bolton Wanderers’ ground staff on leaving school and became a professional with them on 1 December 1952. He made his first team debut for them against Manchester City when he was aged 17, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes of the match. He played in 32 League and Cup matches for Bolton, scoring 11 goals. 

He also played cricket as a batsman and wicket-keeper for Leeds Boys, Yorkshire Boys, Yorkshire Federation, Holbeck, Blackpool in Lancashire League cricket, and played for the Yorkshire Second Eleven. 

He was conscripted into the Royal Air Force in 1954. After his National Service ended in 1956 he returned to Bolton Wanderers. His marriage to Winifred Barbara Granville (known by the second of her forenames) was registered in Blackpool in the third quarter of 1956. 

Signed from Bolton Wanderers

He signed for Norwich City from Bolton Wanderers on 12 March 1958. (The fee was said subsequently to have been £8,000.) 

5’ 11”; 11st 12lb; Originally a forward, later a halfback. 

He played cricket for Norfolk, making his first appearance in a match against Cambridgeshire on 1 July 1959 (scoring 54 not out and 50) and playing in a total of 46 Minor Counties matches and 4 friendly matches. A right-handed batsman, he scored a total of 1,470 runs for the county, at an average of 21.3, and as wicketkeeper he took 70 catches and made 20 stumpings. (While with City he played cricket 36 times for Norfolk, scoring 1,216 runs and taking 62 catches and making 17 stumpings.) His last appearance for Norfolk was in 1975. He also played cricket for Ingham and for Gresham masters (while coaching at the school for 8 years). 

Barry Butler Trophy

He was the first player to be awarded the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy after being voted City’s ‘player of the season’ in 1966/67 by the club’s supporters. 

City played a testimonial match for him at Carrow Road against Ipswich Town on 30 April 1969 with an attendance of 9,118. The ‘Eastern Daily Press’ of 24 May 1969 said he was to be given a free transfer by City. On 31 July 1969 City announced that he had been appointed as a member of the club’s coaching staff and on 21 August 1969 announced that he had been appointed as youth team manager. He also coached the Norfolk County Football Association team for over 20 years after his playing career ended. 

The ‘Eastern Daily Press’ of 15 December 1973 said he had been offered the position as City’s chief scout. He declined the offer and left Norwich City when on 22 December 1973 he was appointed as coach and assistant to manager Ron Saunders at Manchester City. On 12 May 1974 he announced that he was leaving his coaching position with them (soon after Saunders had been dismissed as manager) and was to return to Norfolk. He then worked in the car sales trade in the Great Yarmouth area for about 20 years. He became a partner of Main Cross Motors of Northgate Street, Great Yarmouth. 

In 1976/77 he was playing for the Baker’s Arms in the Norwich and District Sunday Football League. He also played 1 match for Acle Rangers in 1978. In April 1979 he was appointed as coach of Dereham Town. (His son Mark also played for City and later for the Baker’s Arms and Dereham Town.) 

In October 1982 he was elected as captain of Sprowston Park Golf Club. 

Dereham Town announced on 19 May 1983 that he had been dismissed from his position as coach for financial considerations and he became manager of Poringland United. Early in 1991/92 he was running the Thorpe Village team. 

He and his son Paul ran the family’s funeral service business based at City Road in Norwich from 2000. 

He died in Norwich on 11 June 2024 after a short period in hospital. A Requiem Mass was held at St George’s Roman Catholic Church, Sprowston Road, Norwich on 28 June 2024. On the previous day his hearse lapped the Carrow Road ground at 4.00 p.m.