Devon Cricket Board - North Devon cricketer falls to his death from bridge

North Devon cricketer falls to his death from bridge

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
DEVON’S cricket community has been ‘stunned’ by the sudden death of player and coach Tom Allin.
Allin, who was 28 in November, died after falling from the Torridge Bridge near Bideford on Monday night
He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics, who were alerted my members of the public who saw him fall.
Police say they are not treating Allin’s death as suspicious. A file has been prepared and sent to the North Devon coroner.
Allin, who was educated at Bideford College and North Devon College, was a professional cricketer with Warwickshire for six years between 2008-2013.
When his contract expired in 2013 he returned to the family home in Northam and went to work as a cricket coach.
His cricket career had started with Bideford where dad Tony and brother Matt also played cricket.
Dad Tony had been a professional cricketer with Glamorgan and played for Devon between 1975-98. He quit the professional game in 1976 to run the family farm.
Allin played cricket for Devon in their youth teams up to under-21 level. He was 19 when he made is debut for the full Devon team in the Minor Counties Championship.
By the time Allin joined Warwickshire he had switched allegiances from Bideford CC to North Devon CC. When he returned to the area in 2013 he rejoined North Devon although he continued to play for Bideford on Sundays in the North Devon League.
Cricket coaching was a natural progression for Allin, who had obtained an honours degree sports coaching while studying at university in Cardiff between 2008-2010.
He was heavily involved in primary school sports coaching in Barnstaple and Bideford and was head of cricket at Shebbear College as well as a coach at Bideford College.
During the winter Allin played football for Northam Lions.
Tributes have been led by North Devon CC chairman Mark Ansell, who said; “Everyone at the club is devastated by the news of Tom’s death.
“We all feel so sad for Tom’s family. He was a great guy and this has come as such a shock.
“The players at the club are numbed by what has happened. They met up on Tuesday night to support each other.”
James Ford, who played with Allin at Bideford, said he was ‘stunned’ by the news.
“I saw Tom over Christmas and he seemed in great form and was looking forward to next season,” said Ford.
“I remember seeing him first as a 13-year-old lad running in and bowling as fast as he could.
“The Allin family have close links with Bideford and our thoughts are with them at this time.”
Tom Allin coached Devon U13s last season, where he worked closely with Robert Holman.
Holman, a teacher, said Mr Allin was a natural when it came to working with youngsters.
“He loved working with the kids – and they absolutely adored him,” said Mr Holman.
“Because he had been there and done it with Warwickshire, what he said carried a lot of weight with the boys.
“There was seldom a dull moment when Tom was coaching – and if there was he did something about it.
“I was very lucky to have him to work with and will miss him.”
Holman played against Mr Allin for Devon League side Exeter and described him as a ‘competitive cricketer who liked to get stuck in’.
Torquay captain Justin Yau was a Devon team-mate through the youth teams and said he was stunned to learn his friend had died.
“This is heartbreaking news,” said Yau. “I roomed with Tom through the youth age groups and he was a great guy.”
Allin reappeared for Devon in one-day cricket last season and made a comeback in the three-day form of the game in the final game of the summer away to Shrorpshire.
The game was played at Shrewsbury, a club Allin had been loaned out to be Warwickshire while he was on their books.
Matt Thompson, the Devon captain, said having got Allin back in the dressing room he was sad to lose him.
“This is a tragedy for Tom’s family and all his close friends and team-mates at North Devon,” said Thompson.

Allin’s former club Warwickshire issued a statement expressing sadness at his death.

It added: “Tom was an incredibly popular member of the professional squad during his six years with Warwickshire, and he made one First Class and one List A appearance before returning to his native Devon at the end of the 2013.

The thoughts of all at Warwickshire County Cricket Club are with Tom’s family and friends, and we would ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

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