Alan Willey, who was described as a "local lad" worked at Exeter City as a member of the Groundstaff when he signed professional forms for City in November 1957.
Later as an amateur he played a number of games at full-back for the reserves in the Western League from 1957 to 1960, when he joined Bridgwater Town. 

He joined Oxford United after impressing during an FA Cup tie in 1961. Alan was the first subsitute to appear for United, on 18th September 1965, against Bristol Rovers. His 48 goals for the club included four against Gravesend & Northfleet in the Southern League and a 13-minute hat-trick against Mansfield in April 1963. He made 128 appearances for the club before leaving for Millwall in 1966, for a reported fee of £300.

He made 10 apperances for Millwall, in the next two seasons, he then moved to South Africa to play for Durban City later returning to England to play for Banbury, in Oxfordshire.

Alan died on the 28th April 2017, aged 75.