Allen announces retirement.

The 22-year-old has made 85 appearances for the Robins since moving to the West Country from Norwich in 2015 at the age of 15.

Speaking about her time at the club and her retirement, Allen said: "I really want to thank the club as I have been able to develop as a player and a person. I have so many fond memories and my time here will always be special. I'll always have a deep love for this club. I want to thank all the current and previous managers, players, coaching staff and, most importantly, the fans. They have made my time here very special."

🗣 TRIBUTE TO ALLEN

After coaching Flo back in 2016 and again now this season, Bristol City Head Coach Lauren Smith said: "The key thing for me around Flo is the fact that she is still so young yet has had a great career at the top level. She was one of the first players I signed when I joined the club as manager of the development squad.

"I want to thank her for everything she has given to the club and to me as a manager. Secondly I would like to wish a huge good luck to her and I will always be behind her and supporting her career."

Both Aimee Palmer and Allen have known each other for over 10 years after playing together at Norwich City when they were children. The City captain spoke about her relationship with Allen, saying: "We started playing together in the under-10s at Norwich, I think I was about seven and she was slightly older then me. We progressed through the age groups together until the under-16s as Flo then made the move to Bristol which I looked at and thought 'that's what I want to do'.

"I then came to Bristol to follow in her footsteps as I have always looked up to her because she was the first Norwich player to be involved in the England setup. She has always been a role model to me as she has paved the way not just for me but for people back home as well. 

"No matter what mood Flo is in you always get the same witty sarcastic banter and she always puts a smile on everyone's face.

"I'm very proud of her for making this decision as it's not an easy thing to do but now it's time for her to follow her dreams outside of football.

"I have no doubt she'll smash whatever she puts her heart into because when she's got her mind set on something that's it, she's doing it. I wish her the best in whatever she does and it's important for her to know that not only does she always have a place here at Bristol City but also we are all here for her no matter where we end up. Throughout her career she has met so many people along the way and I always say the people that you meet in football are the family that you have forever - she has that with all of us players."

🙌 HIGHLIGHTS

Bristol City

• Winning promotion to the Women's Super League in 2016 - her first season playing in the first team
• Winning the FA WSL Development Cup under Lauren Smith in 2017
• Signing her first professional contract on her 18th birthday in 2017
• Being a current Bristol City PFA delegate from 2017 until now
• Running as a candidate in the PFA's Players Board elections in 2021
• Reaching the Continental Cup final last season 

England

• Representing England in their Under-15s,16s,17s,18s and 19s squads
• Receiving a Bronze medal in the Under-17s Euros
• Going to the Under-17s World Cup in Jordan 
• Captaining England Under-19s during various camps

⚽️ ALLEN'S JOURNEY

At eight years old Allen joined the Norwich City girls centre of excellence, playing alongside the current Bristol City captain Aimee Palmer, before making the move to Bristol seven years ago. 

She joined the SGS College programme - then called Bristol Academy – in pursuit of a professional football career. 

Not long after her 16th birthday Flo was training with the first team and was named in Willie Kirk and Lauren Smith's first team squad ahead of the start of the then spring-summer season in March 2016. That season they gained promotion to the Women's Super League with a dramatic 3-2 win away to Everton along the way.

At the start of 2017 there was a short spring season which Allen was involved in as part of the first team and also won the FA WSL Development Cup under Smith.

After completing her college course in 2017 the defender signed her first professional deal on her 18th birthday ahead of the new season. 

Tanya Oxtoby was appointed manager of Bristol City Women ahead of the 2018/19 season but, after suffering a hip injury, Allen was sidelined until April and only feature twice that season.

The following season was cut short due to Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns but the 2020/21 season saw the Robins reach the Continental Cup final while, off the field Allen was flying, graduating with a 1st class honours degree from the University of Gloucestershire.

After a summer of major transition in 2021 the 22-year-old was one of only a handful of players to remain at the club with various new signings joining the club, including the return of Smith as Head Coach, who Allen had previously played under. Allen started for the Robins in their games against Blackburn Rovers and more recently the record attendance (5,752) game against Liverpool at Ashton Gate this season.

📸 GALLERY