‘Heart of gold’: Family mourns footy legend

Steve Allen has watched his mighty Nambour play for the last time but his trademark “bore it up them” will reverberate around Crusher Park long after his death.

Steve Allen on his 80th birthday celebrations.

STEVE Allen has watched his mighty Nambour play for the last time but his trademark “bore it up them” will reverberate around Crusher Park for long after his death.

The life member and patron of Nambour Rugby League died peacefully on Friday, surrounded by family, aged 92.

Mr Allen is survived by his wife of 72-years Dolly and six children, Sue, Brian, Graham, twins Neil and Des and youngest Mark.

His sons described him as a having a “heart of gold” and a rugby league man through and through.

Nambour Rugby League community are mourning the loss of club legend Steve Allen.

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Sport in general meant the world to Mr Allen, as did his family.

From building a tennis court in the backyard of the family home at Forest Glen, to representing the district in cricket with “unplayable” deliveries to holding his own on the golfing greens in retirement.

He was a competitor and one-eyed supporter but a kind hearted man away from the arena.

The Allen family are rugby league royalty in Nambour, starting with Souths and into the current age of Crushers of today.

Steve and Dolly Allen and their six children.

His son Graham, who followed in his father’s footsteps, said they were “struggling” to come to terms with their loss.

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“We will miss the bugger dearly,” Graham said before he spoke about the legacy his father will leave behind.

“He was a great motivator, and we always knew if we were going wrong, he’d give us a revving,” Graham said.

“Bore it up them Souths’. You’d always hear that on field.

“He would always have his own spot on the balcony at Crusher Park.

“Dad would always pat you on the back if you had a good game or say chip up if we lost. It never wavered.”

Steve Allen and his beloved Nambour Souths - who became the Crushers in 1985.

Neil, whose sporting prowess led to a state badminton title, described his father as a “true gentleman” with a “heart of gold” who would go out of his way to say hello to people.

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“He was really caring, competitive too, so was mum,” Neil said.

“Growing up in a sporting family, it made us kids competitive too. That was their dream, mum and dad.

“He could be tough on us, but that made us people with the same morals, values and respects that he had. That’s how we were brought up.

“When you grow up in the country, sport is what you do. He literally built a tennis court at home using a dozer and we would play every day.

“It’s what you do. But from a football side, it was a religion to him. League was his life.”

Steve Allen back in his playing heyday.

The parochial support for his beloved Nambour often stepped up a notch with his “constructive criticism” of the referees.

“That’s a polite way of putting it,” Graham said with a chuckle.

“He got a little outspoken towards the end, when I used to take him to away games but it was all in good fun.

“Every club has that totally biased supporter.”

Mr Allen’s funeral is on Friday in what would be a momentous occasion if the coronavirus restrictions had allowed it.

“We will have 100 people there in family alone, he was one of those people who everyone knew, not just in footy, the town,” Graham said.

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