Slowly but surely, it was a job he did well - turning a team who hadn't yet finished in the top half of the Southern League table, into championship contenders.
By signing Swindon greats such as Jock Walker and Harold Fleming, Allen led the club during one of the most successful spells in their history.
Unfortunately, the First World War interrupted Swindon's success, and by the time football resumed in 1919, Allen again had to virtually recreate the side.
Allen was obviously not pleased with this, and, after the Town were forced to apply for re-election in 1933, he willingly relinquished his team responsibilities, reverting to a secretarial position.
This moved allowed the board to appoint Ted Vizard as the club's first full-time team manager, in the modern sense of the word.