"I'd been a professional for two and a half months and Malcolm had taught me everything I know. When Malcolm was coaching schoolboys he took a liking to me when I don't think anyone else at West Ham saw anything special in me... I looked up to the man. It's not too strong to say I loved him." Bobby Moore

If Mooro thought Allison was that good then it's certain he was. Joining West Ham in 1951 from Charlton, Allison was the type of player who would stay behind after training to discuss tactics and try out new moves. Under the stewardship of Ted Fenton, then West Ham's manager, Allison was encouraged to get involved in coaching and took a particular interest in the progression of younger players and, famously a young Robert Moore; a player some of the coaching staff were not convinced about.

Sadly, a promising career as a centre-half was ended prematurely by a bout of tuberculosis after he fell ill following a game against Sheffield United on 16 September 1957. Allison consequently had part of a lung removed and, although he fought back and battled on in the Hammer's reserve team, he was never able to regain full fitness and was forced to retire. However, if Allison's playing career was blighted it did not stop him making his name elsewhere, going on to make his name as one of the Country's leading Coach's and eventually earning him status as one of sport's most recognisable charachters.

Allison's contribution to the history of West Ham though is an important one as, with players who later formed the bedrock of the 1964 Cup Winning side and the triumphant 1965 European Cup Winners Cup team, Malcolm used to sit in Cassatari's restaraunt outside the Boleyn Ground holding court, discussing tactics and devising new formations using pepper and salt to explain his ideas.

Certainly, players like Ken Brown, John Bond and Moore were highly influenced by Allison's forward thinking and it was this strength of ideas that helped cement the mid-60's West Ham team in the pantheon of great sides when Ron Greenwood joined to move the club forward with his own expansive ideas.

Of course, Allison's coaching skills became more widely known beyond the confines of the East End as, together with Joe Mercer, Malcolm turned Manchester City into a cup and league winning side, while his flamboyant style was later celebrated in the early days of TV punditry where, puffing on a cigar, Allison could be heard expounding his outspoken views while revealing his even more outspoken dress sense. Later with Crystal Palace, Allison became a nationally recognised figure even by those who had little regard for football.

It's a shame, Malcolm Allison never returned to his spiritual home though, as I'm sure his progressive ideas would have found root at the club where new ideas and expansive styles were always welcomed. To this day, most West Ham fans care more about the style of football than the results (just as well really) and that whole ethos can be derived from the brain of one man.

Malcolm Allison died in a nursing home on October 14th 2010 at the age of 83.