Former Barnet and Yeovil Town winger Iffy Allen signs for Needham Market on loan from St Albans City ahead of Scunthorpe United test
Needham Market’s Tom Rothery has expressed his delight at being able to boost the squad with EFL-experienced winger Iffy Allen on loan from St Albans City.
The 30-year-old, who progressed through the youth system at Barnet, has signed a deal until the end of the season at Bloomfields as the Marketmen bid to stave off relegation in their debut Step 2 season in Vanarama National League North.
Allen joined Yeovil Town in 2015, making 16 EFL appearances prior to joining Torquay United in the National League.
The winger joins the Marketmen with plenty of National League experience - the level higher than Needham presently play - having made 77 appearances for Aldershot Town, Wrexham, Bromley and Braintree Town.
He has since had spells in the National League South, totalling 83 appearances in the division, for clubs including Maidstone United, Ebbsfleet United, Hampton & Richmond, Dover Athletic and current employers St Albans.
Speaking ahead of their match at Scunthrope United tonight (7.45pm), Needham assistant manager Rothery said: "We’re really looking forward to working with Iffy, he has real quality and we’re really hopeful that he will add something to us in the final third.
“He has good experience at this level and higher and is an experienced player.
“He’s also had a frustrating season to this point so he is coming here with the bit between his teeth ready to work hard and impact ours and his seasons."
Needham now have two midfielders, both who can play wide, with the surname Allen, with Iffy joining Tevan Allen in Kevin Horlock’s squad.
The Marketmen landed themselves a big come-from-behind three points on Saturday with a 3-2 away victory at Alfreton Town on Saturday - having been 2-0 down - lifting them off the foot of the table ahead of the away test at second-placed Scunthorpe tonight.
Goals from Tommy Smith and loanee Liam Cross drew them level before Bermuda’s most capped international Reggie Lambe scored the winner inside the last 12 minutes in Derbyshire.
Meanwhile, former Needham loanee winger, Nico Valentine, made his injury comeback - sustained while playing for the mid Suffolk side - today in the last half-an-hour of Ipswich Town Under-21s’ 5-1 defeat at home to Charlton Athletic.
