All Black great and Kiwi legend turns 90

BY LES WATKINS

A man regarded by many as the greatest living New Zealander, rugby icon Fred "The Needle" Allen of Tindalls Bay, turns 90 on February 9.

The birthday events will include a rare civic honour - a celebratory luncheon in Auckland's town hall hosted by mayor John Banks.

The country's sporting elite, including Sir Patrick Hogan and Sir Wilson Whineray, will be among the 100 guests.

No rugby player has earned more enduring respect than Frederick Richard Allen OBE, an outstanding All Blacks captain who has also been rated the country's most memorable coach.

He distinguished himself as the star of the 2nd NZEF Kiwis army team's triumphant tour of Britain in 1945-46. Then between 1946 and 1949 he played for and captained the All Blacks 26 times.

But his skills as a motivating coach, which won him the nickname The Needle, made him even more famous.

As Auckland's selector-coach from 1957 to 1963 he guided the province to a then record 26-match defence of the Ranfurly Shield.

He is also the only unbeaten coach in All Black history, without a single defeat in 37 international games.

He is alone in having been inducted twice into the New Zealand Sporting Hall of Fame - as New Zealand's most renowned coach and then as a member of the Kiwi army team.

One of rugby's highest honours came in 2005 - his induction into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in London.

The admiration of his contemporaries is summed up by renowned All Blacks such as Sir Colin "Pinetree" Meads and Sir Brian Lochore.

"Fred Allen's enormous contribution to our national game will never be equalled," says Sir Colin. "He is one of our greatest living New Zealanders."

"Our rugby at international level has never been the same since Fred stepped down," says Sir Brian. "We've never again known the same sort of supremacy."

Mr Allen's prowess has also been hailed internationally.

Liverpool's legendary soccer manager, the late Bill Shankly, shared the view of sports leaders around the world.

"I want men who will go through a wall of fire, break a leg and still come out shooting," he said.

"That pretty well sums up Allen. He was a fearsome man to tangle with.

"Just ask his players."

Despite the plaudits, and repeated congratulations from the Queen, Mr Allen remains an immensely modest man - always ready to work for the community and encourage young sports enthusiasts.

He played a key role in combating objectors who tried to prevent the building of new headquarters urgently needed by the Manly Sailing Club - now the centre for youth and family yachting on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

He helped secure grants for the Hibiscus Coast Schools' Waterwise Society, promoting children's safety at sea.

He is also a trustee of the Auckland Memorial Park cemetery at Silverdale.

One of its finest avenues is called The Fred Allen Walk of Honour.

However, few people know his full heroic story.

In 1940 he nudged his age up a year because he was too young at 20 to volunteer for military service.

As an army officer he served in New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Egypt.

He also saw action in Italy where, while leading an infantry platoon chasing retreating Germans, he escaped death only by missing what he describes as "a comparatively easy catch".

"We were being shielded behind a tank and there was a brief lull in the fighting," he says.

"I hadn't shaved for five or six days and thought this would be a good time to do so.

"My bag was up by the tank turret and I asked the commander to throw it down. It was a comparatively easy catch but somehow I missed it.

"As I stooped to pick it up a German 88 shell splattered us with shrapnel.

"The tank commander was killed immediately and I was wounded in the shoulder and down one side. If I'd been standing I'd have been cut in half, no doubt about it."

He was 24 and, looking back, he says: "Anyone who says they didn't feel fear in those circumstances is either an idiot or a liar.

"But you go ahead because you do what you have to do. And, particularly if you're a leader, you have to set an example."

And, as will doubtlessly be recalled on February 9, that's what he has done all his life.

- © Fairfax NZ News