An in-depth look into our latest summer recruit Ryan Allsop…
Born in Birmingham, Allsop began his youth career at West Bromwich Albion. Progressing through the youth ranks and into their reserve team, the now 31-year-old was called up to represent England Under-17s, earning five caps, and was also named on the substitutes’ bench for the Baggies in their 3-1 victory over Wigan Athletic in the Premier League in May 2009.
After spending time out on loan at Stockport County, where he failed to make an appearance, Kenny Jackett brought Allsop to Millwall in May 2011. Not making a first-team appearance for the Lions during his one-season spell, the goalkeeper headed to Iceland to represent Íþróttafélagið Höttur on a short-term contract.
Keeping four clean sheets in eight league games for Höttur, featuring 11 times in all competitions, Allsop returned to England three months later to sign a six-month contract with Leyton Orient. Making his debut for Orient in the first round of the League Cup, Allsop saved a penalty in a 5-4 shootout win against Charlton Athletic after an initial 1-1 draw.
Seven clean sheets in 24 appearances for the O’s saw Allsop attract interest from fellow League One side AFC Bournemouth, signing for the club in January 2013. Making 10 appearances and keeping six clean sheets in the second half of the season, he began the 2013/14 campaign as Bournemouth’s number one goalkeeper after promotion from the third tier of English football.
A red card 12 appearances into the Championship season against Leeds United saw him miss the 5-2 victory over Millwall before being restored to the side for fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Leicester City. Dropping to the bench, Allsop’s next appearance came in a 4-1 victory over Burton Albion in the third round of the FA Cup.
In July 2014, the shot-stopper joined Coventry City on loan until January. Registering nine clean sheets in 27 appearances for the Sky Blues, along with helping them reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy, Allsop returned to Bournemouth at the end of his loan spell, but was only named in a matchday squad twice in fixtures against Leeds and Charlton as the Cherries won the Championship title.
In July 2014, the shot-stopper joined Coventry City on loan until January. Registering nine clean sheets in 27 appearances for the Sky Blues, along with helping them reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy, Allsop returned to Bournemouth at the end of his loan spell, but was only named in a matchday squad twice in fixtures against Leeds and Charlton as the Cherries won the Championship title.
In November 2015, he made his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute in a 3-3 draw at home to Everton, replacing Adam Federici at half-time. Three months later, Allsop joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on loan for the remainder of the campaign. Featuring 18 times, he joined Portsmouth on a seven-day emergency loan deal in May for their two-legged play-off semi-final fixtures against Plymouth Argyle.
A year later, Allsop made his second appearance and first start in the Premier League in a 1-1 draw against Leicester City before joining Blackpool on loan two months later. The loan was terminated the following January after six clean sheets in 23 games.
On winter deadline day in 2018, Allsop joined Lincoln City on loan for the rest of the season. Six days later on debut, the Birmingham-born shot-stopper produced a string of impressive stops, including saving a spot-kick in a 5-3 penalty shootout win over Chelsea Under-23s to reach the final of the EFL Trophy. Keeping a clean sheet in the EFL Trophy final with a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town, Allsop registered seven shutouts in 24 appearances for the Imps.
Released by AFC Bournemouth, Allsop rejoined Wycombe on a three-year deal in June 2018. Making 111 appearances and keeping 27 clean sheets for the Chairboys during his permanent spell there, the goalkeeper left at the end of the 2020/21 season.
After a successful trial, the 31-year-old joined Derby County under the management of current Tigers’ boss Liam Rosenior. He kept eight clean sheets in 33 outings before joining Cardiff City, where he kept 12 clean sheets in 43 Championship appearances last campaign.
