Allan Sliman

Allan Melrose Sliman, sometimes known as Jack Sliman, was a Scottish professional footballer who made over 370 Football League appearances for Chesterfield and Bristol City as a centre half. He also had a spell as player-manager of non-League club Chelmsford City.

Career

A centre half, Sliman began his career with Scottish [Football League Second Division|Scottish League Second Division] club Arthurlie, before Bristol City manager Alex Raisbeck paid a £280 fee to bring him to the Second Division club in September 1928. After making 136 league appearances for Bristol City, Sliman joined Second Division club Chesterfield for a £1,738 fee on 4 March 1932. He remained at Saltergate until October 1938 and was a part of the club's 1935–36 Football League [Third Division South|Third Division South] title-winning team. Sliman finished his career with Southern League club Chelmsford City during the 1938–39 [Southern Football League|1938–39] season. Aside from captaining the club, he held the role of player-manager between October 1938 and March 1939.

Sliman's younger brother Richard was an amateur footballer. Before and after his professional football career, he worked as a carpenter. In 1943, during the Second World War, Sliman joined the Royal [Air Force Volunteer Reserve] and became a flight engineer with No. [75 Squadron RAF|No. 75 Squadron]. On 14 April 1945, Sliman took part in his first bombing during [World War">Strategic bombing during World War II">bombing during [World War II|bombing] mission, targeting a location southwest of Potsdam. During the return trip to England, Sliman's bomber was attacked by Junkers Ju 88s and he was fatally wounded by cannon fire. He died in hospital in Ely and was buried in Chelmsford Cemetery.

;Chesterfield