Former Tottenham striker Clive Allen tested positive for coronavirus

Tottenham Hotspur have been fortunate thus far as they’re one of the clubs that as of yet do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19. In fact, up until last week Spurs were training as normal at their Hotspur Way training center, although they recently stopped meeting as a group and are self-isolating out of an abundance of caution.

Obviously, the situation is only going to continue to get worse in the UK and elsewhere as the coronavirus continues to spread, and today we received news of what I believe is the first Tottenham-related coronavirus incident — former Spurs and England striker Clive Allen tested positive for the virus on March 9 and is now in self-isolation, though feeling much better.

The original report is in the S-n but y’all KNOW I’m not linking to that paper, so here are quotes courtesy of the Chippenham Gazzette and Herald.

“Over two or three days it took hold and I felt unwell for five days, one day particularly so. I had quite a nasty headache which I never get. It was vice-like around my head.

“After I began to feel better, I had a dry cough for about three days. Because there was information about the illness I called 111 and they said they’d call me back within two or three days, which they did.

“They came three or four days later and tested me at my house. Health England arranged it and the lady came and swabbed my nose and my mouth. She went away and I got the positive result five days later.

“I thought I had a bad attack of flu but obviously – due to the timing of it – I was a little bit concerned because there was a lot being talked about the coronavirus.”

Allen said he immediately took precautions as soon as he received the positive result, and knew he was in an age demographic that was more susceptible to severe forms of COVID-19.

“I am scared, absolutely. I would like to think I am reasonably healthy and I know how I felt. I hate to think how that would feel to somebody who is vulnerable. We need to protect those people because I would not wish that on anybody.

“I would like to think everybody is sensible and respectful. There are people out there who are very susceptible should they get the disease so we all have to do the right thing.”

Allen, 58, scored 60 goals for Tottenham during his four year stint at the club in the mid 1980s and is beloved by Spurs fans. He was one of the club legends honored on the pitch after the final match at White Hart Lane in 2017.

Tottenham expressed their relief that Allen appears to be recovering via a tweet this morning.