Internationals in non-league: Love Island to the Leeward Islands

Jamie Allen is no stranger to catching flights to sunny beaches during the season…

The Preston-born striker has represented his country of Montserrat on 12 occasions, and is eligible to play for The Emerald Boys through his grandmother.

His name will be familiar for any fans of Reality TV show Love Island, as Allen appeared in the eighth series in 2022. In doing so, he left Halifax five days before their season opener and didn’t let the club know he was departing for the show.

Jamie Allen has decided to join the cast of ❤️ Island 2022, making his intentions clear that the opportunity is very important to him.

The matter will be reviewed on his return.
— FC Halifax Town (@FCHTOnline) July 20, 2022

The announcement certainly caught Halifax off guard

In an interview with Tom Scargill for the Halifax Courier, Allen spoke about his first time joining the squad: “The first time I went, I knew a few players so it was earlier to settle in and get used to it.

“But the fact that I’m away travelling and playing football, it’s fantastic you can’t complain.”

Montserrat are in somewhat of a golden era, coming off the back of a string of good results over the last year. Three successive victories against Dominican Republic, Barbados and Club Costa City in their CONCACAF Nations League campaign, all games which Allen featured in, has put them in good stead for their 2026 World Cup Qualifying Campaign.

The English-born contingent is heavy amongst the squad, as Prestonian Allen is joined by cockney pair Lyle Taylor, the nation’s all time top scorer, and manager Lee Bowyer, a Premier League mainstay for the majority of his playing career. The National Anthem is God Save The King.

Montserrat only started playing international fixtures in 1991, and Allen has admitted he is aware the country’s favourite sport is indeed cricket rather than football, though he’s hopeful their recent results can help boost the side’s following.

Allen’s career had taken a bit of a hit before gaining international recognition. Halifax released the forward for ditching The Shaymen just five days before the start of their season to go to the Love Island villa.

He’s gone goalless in his last two seasons back in his home county of Lancashire at Curzon Ashton, however he’ll be hoping to pick up some tips from Lyle Taylor to help find his shooting boots once more.