Allan Gilliver
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 August 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Swallownest, Rotherham, England | ||
| Date of death | 23 December 2025 (aged 81) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1962–1966 | Huddersfield Town | 45 | (22) |
| 1966–1968 | Blackburn Rovers | 34 | (9) |
| 1968–1969 | Rotherham United | 27 | (2) |
| 1969–1970 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 57 | (19) |
| 1970–1972 | Lincoln City | 37 | (8) |
| 1972–1974 | Bradford City | 70 | (30) |
| 1974–1975 | Stockport County | 25 | (5) |
| 1975 | Baltimore Comets | 5 | (0) |
| 1975–1976 | Boston United | 13 | (3) |
| 1976–1978 | Gainsborough Trinity | ||
| 1978–1979 | Bradford City | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 315+ | (98+) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Allan Henry Gilliver (3 August 1944 – 23 December 2025) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward.[1] He made nearly 300 appearances and scored nearly 100 goals in the Football League during the 1960s and 1970s. He also appeared in the North American Soccer League for the Baltimore Comets. He was also a local cricketer.
Football career
Gilliver started his career with Huddersfield Town in 1961 after being spotted by a talent scout, and went on to play for several English clubs including Bradford City who he signed for in 1972 and again in 1978. After his playing career ended his connection with Bradford City continued through a number of roles including groundsman, safety officer and commercial manager. A testimonial match was held for him at Valley Parade in 1998 and he retired in 2007.[2]
Cricket career
Gilliver also played local cricket in Bradford, spending eight years with Brighouse from 1975, scoring a total of 5,063 runs, later playing for Liversedge, Manningham Mills, Cleckheaton, Windhill, Lidget Green and Undercliffe[3]
Personal life and death
His dementia diagnosis in the early 2010s was thought to be connected with a career of heading the football and led to the setting up of Bradford Memory Walks which take place in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.[4]
Gilliver died on 23 December 2025 at the age of 81.[5]
References
- ^ "Allan Gilliver". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- ^ "Legendary former Bradford City player Allan Gilliver stays positive on dementia journey". Telegraph & Argus. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "OBITUARY: Celebrating former City striker's incredible cricketing career". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 26 December 2025.
- ^ "Bantams stars step out for dementia in support of former Bradford City player Allan "Gilly" Gilliver". Telegraph & Argus. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Parker, Simon (23 December 2025). "Former Bradford City forward, groundsman Allan Gilliver dies". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 23 December 2025.