Meet first team goalkeeper extraordinaire Lauren-Amie Allen

Lauren-Amie Allen joined the Dons in July 2021. She’s known for being an expert shot-stopper, and have on more than one occasion been nicknamed “hammer foot”.

She’s previously played for Chelsea and Crystal Palace in England, but also for Thor/KA and Tindastoll in Iceland. She told us more about her journey and what changes she’s seen in women’s football in that time.

WHY AFC WIMBLEDON?

I joined AFC Wimbledon last pre-season (2021), after returning back from playing full time in Iceland. I was looking for a club to join where I could enjoy playing football again.

TELL US ABOUT SIGNING YOUR FIRST PRO-CONTRACT

My goalkeeping coach from Chelsea was working out in Iceland and contacted me regarding a club looking for a goalkeeper. It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I was lucky enough to play for two clubs whilst in Iceland, called Tindastoll and Thor/KA in the two and half years I was there.

WHY GOALKEEPING?

In my first game of football I was playing on the wing, fell over my feet whilst running for the ball, so my coach put me in goal and I’ve never looked back. Goalkeeping is also a big part of my family with both my dad and brother being goalkeepers – I look up to my brother massively.

SO WHAT DOES THE ‘GK UNION’ MEAN TO YOU?

There’s nobody who understands a goalkeeper or goalkeeping the way goalkeepers do. It’s not only a position it’s a togetherness – we support each other through the highs and the lows and always stick together. Myself and Faye work so well together and can see what the other person is thinking without even speaking, we’re lucky to be able to learn off each other and work together week in week out.

THROUGHOUT YOUR JOURNEY, HAVE YOU SEEN A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN’S FOOTBALL?

Over my playing career both in England and Iceland, the number of people now attending games has gone through the roof as well, as the coverage now being given on TV such as the World Cup. This has allowed more people to access it which can only have a positive impact onto the women’s game – long may it continue!