Sefton Harriers A Centenary History
1889-1999
Norman Wilson

were in their turn captains; W.S.Collett holding the office for five years from 1895 to 1899. The recalling of another name in that team; A.J.Allen; strikes a sad note. A.J. (Artie) Allen who was a prominent member of our Club, was killed in action at the famous battle of the Spion Kop in 1901 during the South African war. He was in each team that won the Liverpool and District  Championships in 1893-4-5. His death was reported in the "Harrier" column of the Liverpool (Football) Echo in that year. 

"Cross-country runners of half a dozen years ago will well remember Arthur J. Allen of Sefton Harriers. It is my painful duty to have to record his death in the fight at Spion Kop. A little over three years ago he enlisted in the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and by strict attention to duties he soon rose to the rank of corporal. He saw fighting at Crete and was with Kitchener at Omdurman and at the end of  November last, obtained a few days to pay a flying visit to his family and friends prior to going out to South Africa. He was present at a handicap of his club at Wavertree on 25th November. He was a cross country runner of no mean ability, and in the first Championship of the Liverpool and District Cross-country Association in 1892 he finished 7th and his club took third prize. In 1893, 1894 and 1895 he ran prominently in the same race and assisted his club in winning the Championship in those years, and was in the Sefton team that ran second to the redoubtable Salford Harriers in the Northern Counties Championship in 1893. Many who saw the Liverpool and District Championship at Aintree in 1894 were of the opinion that he could have won the individual championship had he liked, but generous as he always was, he would not beat his clubmate,  who was leading in the straight, and Allen finished second that year. In that year he beat such runners as Watterson A.B George, Nancarrow, Paddy Shay, Farrell, Pulford, Collet &c.
That he was as a good solider as he was an athlete is proved by his rapid advancement to Coroporal, and at the time he fell he passed his examination sergeant. He was universally liked, and all who new "Artie" as he was popularly known, will join me in expressing deep sympathy with his family".

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