Coach Clive still has a bounce for basketball

Dudley-born Allen, who enjoyed a stellar career during two stints playing for the Birmingham Bullets, has seemingly moved effortlessly into coaching.

And his switch from playing the game he loves to coaching it has seen him pick up numerous prizes, the most recent being crowned coach of the year, at this month’s (APR) Basketball England Volunteer Awards.

Allen – aged 58, who now coaches across the Black Country, including with the West Bromwich Albion Basketball Academy and Wolverhampton university – said winning the award had been a big surprise.

“I did not know I had won until someone told me! Nevertheless, I feel very honoured to have be given this award, with so many great coaches within the West Midlands,” he said.

Allen, who played for the now defunct Bullets in the British Basketball League (BBL) for 15 years, from 1985-87 and 1988-2001, claiming play-off titles in 1996 and 1998, said he was still as passionate about the sport now as he was when first starting out.

“Seeing the enjoyment players get out of playing the sport is what I love,” said Allen, who also claimed five England caps and played at Northwest Nazarene University, in Idaho, after landing a scholarship. “Seeing a player realising their potential and goals to play basketball at any level is what inspires me.

“There is so must talent within the West Midlands, which is undiscovered, mainly because the lack of opportunity to get good training, or simply to just play.

“What I love about coaching is having the opportunity to work with anyone that enjoys playing basketball – that is what I appreciate.

“Seeing a big beam on someone’s face when they participate in my training sessions is priceless.

“Knowing that my small input could provide a positive impact on a young or older person’s life is a dream job for me.”

Allen, who’s daughter Dominique followed him into the sport of basketball, claiming a silver medal with England during the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, said despite his family’s own personal success, a lack of funding in basketball could be a real hindrance.

“It is very frustrating indeed knowing that kids want to play, but have very limited places that offer the great sport of basketball at a reasonable price,” said Allen, who went to Hillcrest School, in Netherton, and for a time worked at Grazebrookes Foundries, in Dudley. “It also needs to be taken more seriously in schools. I know football is the main sport in England but it is also the main sport in other countries, and yet basketball is at the forefront of so many other countries.

“It’s not just something you do when it’s raining outside. The coverage is so poor. If you wanted to watch a game, firstly, you would need to have cable or Sky.

“Secondly, one would need to stay up until the small hours of the night to catch a game. The BBL has since started to stream more game this season on YouTube, but there is still a lot more that needs to be done. And it all comes down to funding, I am afraid.”

Having previously launched his own Big Sky Basketball academy – working with more than 70 schools in one year covering Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen – he eventually joined the West Bromwich Albion Basketball Academy, which comes under the Sporting Albion umbrella and is directly linked with the football team.

However, like all other coaches, players and fans, Allen has been forced to put basketball on the back-burner for the time being, with the entire country in lockdown, but has still managed to stay in contact with his players and staff, while also working on new ideas.

“It is hard not to be out there coaching, but it’s the lack of contact with the player that I miss,” he said. “The lockdown has I given me the opportunity to watch more training videos and games I have coached, but that makes it tougher – because it makes me more frustrated to go out and train.”