Sport / Allan eyes Island Games place as he prepares to leave Turriff
A FORMER Scalloway footballer who has been making his mark on the Highland League will return to Shetland in the summer to fight for an Island Games spot.
John Allan, who has been plying his trade for Turriff United for the last two seasons, has told the club he will not be signing a new deal.
He is set to move home once the club’s league campaign comes to an end in May.
The 27-year-old said a desire to represent Shetland at the 2025 Island Games in Orkney was a major factor in his decision.
“The Island Games has always been at the back of my mind,” he told Shetland News.
“I was gutted to miss out on Guernsey [in 2023] because I had just signed with Turriff.
“With it being in Orkney too next year, it’s always been in my mind that I wanted to go.”
Allan originally signed with then Scottish League One side Peterhead in January last year, before moving to Turriff United that same summer.
This is his second season with the Highland League side, and his goals have helped the team in to the semi-finals of this season’s Aberdeenshire Shield.
Turriff were keen to sign Allan to a new deal, but he said the lure of returning to Shetland had proved too strong.
“When we were first speaking about a new deal I still wasn’t fully decided on what was happening,” he said.
“To be fair to Turriff, they were very accommodating. They were very happy for me to sign and to go play at the Islands Games.
“I think if I was signing I would have had that added in to my contract.
“But I’ll be out of contract with Turriff in the summer, so I’ll be able to play when I come to Shetland.
“I want to be in as good shape as possible if I’m selected to go.”
Allan added Turriff had been a “really good club” that he would “always support”.
Asked who he might sign for when he returns to Shetland, there was only one likely answer for the former Scalloway striker.
“I’ve never actually stopped paying my club fees so it would probably make sense to go back there [Scalloway]”, he laughed.
Allan has already spoken to Shetland manager Neil Fenwick about coming back to the isles, and added he hoped he could “end the season well with Turriff” before Island Games selection this summer.
Despite winning man of the match in his last inter-county appearance – scoring twice and assisting three in an 8-0 away win – Allan is under no illusions about walking right back in to the Shetland team.
“The talent that’s in Shetland just now is really good,” he said.
“I think it’s kind of under-rated in terms of the mainland. There’s a lot of really good players coming through.”
He pointed to his ex-club Scalloway, and to young talents like Hayden Jamieson, Seb Inkster and George Robesten – who is currently on loan at Brora Rangers from Ross County.
Allan hopes his experience on the mainland can “open a pathway” for footballers in Shetland to come test themselves south.
Reflecting on his own time with Peterhead and Turriff, he said it had been “an amazing experience to play at that level”.
“Playing football every Saturday has been absolutely brilliant.
“I’ve definitely got a lot of respect for the guys that can do it in the Highland League for years, because it’s a huge commitment.
“It takes a lot out of you.”
Allan said it was a “very good standard”, with a number of his Turriff team-mates coming through the youth ranks at Aberdeen.
“The level is really high,” he added.
“It [Highland League] is really different to league football – it’s really physical and it’s really fast. League football is quite tactical.”
At whatever league Allan has played in, or whatever team he has played at, during his Scottish sojourn he has loved the test.
And he has urged anyone offered a similar opportunity to jump at the chance.
“I would absolutely encourage anyone to do it,” he added. “I’ve just absolutely loved it.”
Shetland’s men’s side have been drawn alongside Jersey and Gozo at next summer’s Island Games in Orkney – with their final opponent to be confirmed.
The Blues were initially handed a so-called “Group of Death” – with Guernsey joining Jersey and Gozo – but Guernsey have since withdrew, citing concerns about accommodation.
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