Mark Allen had a decision to make between snooker and football. (Image: Getty.)
world No. 4 revealed that he had trials for several football clubs and was a promising young player before turning his hand to the baize.
Allen is into his 20th season as a professional, racking up over £500,000 in prize money across 2024/25, adding to his £5million-plus career earnings. But his life could have been totally different if he stuck to football.
Having grown up in Antrim, Northern Ireland, Allen shone as a young player and even had trials for and .
Though he claimed that he had little chance of becoming professional, instead forging a path in snooker, but he remains a staunch supporter and watches on from afar.
“I had trials for a few teams but I’ll never say I was ever going to make it,” Allen told talkSPORT. “I love my football and I did okay at the time. I was in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup team when I was 13, 14 but it was so difficult to make it from Northern Ireland.
“I’m not for a second saying I would have done what I’ve done in snooker in football. Everyone wanted to be a professional footballer growing up.
“Maybe I was the best player of a bad group! I still love my football. I’m a Man United fan for my sins and they’re a tough watch at the minute. I loved my football but I’m never saying I was ever going to make it.”
Mark Allen opted for snooker and has been rewarded. (Image: Getty)
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Allen credited his father Ronnie for helping to decide between football and snooker, with his dad playing in local snooker leagues, before his son followed in his footsteps.
“I was only 12, I took to it [snooker] quite quick,” Allen added. “After seven months I said ‘I can actually play this a little bit.’ After 10 months of playing I had to make a decision between football and snooker.
“I still don’t know why I chose snooker because at that stage I was probably a better footballer but it’s done me well.”
Allen is considered one of the world’s best players but snooker’s biggest prize continues to elude him. He has reached the semi-finals of the on two occasions, in 2009 and 2023, but has gone beyond the second just twice since 2011.
He has won 11 ranking titles and two Triple Crown events, the 2018 and 2022 , but will be hoping that he can get over the line at the .
“I’ve won the UK Championship and the Masters, two other majors, but you turn pro to win the Worlds,” said Allen last year.
“I’ll see it as disappointing if I don’t win a world title. More than anything that’s what I want to do.”