Allen Tankard

Allen John Tankard (born 21 March 1969) is an English former footballer who played as a left-back. He played 519 league games in a 16-year career in the Football League.

He began his career with Southampton in 1987 before moving on to Wigan Athletic the following year. He spent five years with the "Latics", being voted the club's Player of the Year in 1992–93, before making a £87,500 move to Port Vale in July 1993. He spent the next eight years at Vale Park, helping the club to win promotion out of the Third Division in 1993–94 and to reach the final of the Football League Trophy in 2001. He retired from the professional game after helping Mansfield Town to win promotion out of the Third Division in 2001–02.

Career Southampton Tankard started his football career with Southampton, signing Youth Training Scheme forms in June 1985. He played in pre-season friendly games two months after his 16th birthday. However, he struggled with his weight. After only five appearances, it was apparent he had no future at The Dell, so he signed with Wigan Athletic in July 1988.

Port Vale In July 1993, John Rudge signed Tankard to Port Vale for a £87,500 fee. Initially unpopular with the fans, he turned things around at Vale Park after a last minute FA Cup winner against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup second round. He spent December to April of the 1993–94 season on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury, with Dean Stokes playing in his stead, but Tankard's performances whilst fit helped the club to promotion out of the Third Division. Tankard was released in June 2001 after the club reneged on the offer of a new two-year contract upon bringing in Phil Hardy, Alex Gibson and Rae Ingram. years later, the club were still trying to fill the void Tankard's departure had left in the left-back role. In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" by members of the OneValeFan supporter website. In December 2025, supporters voted him onto the all-time Port Vale XI on the club's official website.

Later career He spent the 2001–02 season with Mansfield Town, helping Bill Dearden's "Stags" to gain the third and final automatic promotion place of the Third Division, one point ahead of Cheltenham Town. but did not make any appearances at Field Mill due to injury and was released in January 2003.

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1985–86 First Division

1986–87 First Division

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1988–89 Third Division

1989–90 Third Division

1990–91 Third Division

1991–92 Third Division

1992–93 Third Division

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1993–94 Second Division

1994–95 First Division

1995–96 First Division

1996–97 First Division

1997–98 First Division

1998–99 First Division

1999–2000 First Division

2000–01 First Division

275!!11!!16!!1!!33!!1!!324!!13 Mansfield Town 2001–02 Third Division

Hednesford Town 2003–04

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Honours Port Vale Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 1993–94 Anglo-Italian Cup runner-up: 1995–96 Football League Trophy: 2000–01

Mansfield Town Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 2001–02

Individual Wigan Athletic Player of the Year: 1992–93