Jack Bowers

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jack Bowers


fullname = John William Anslow Bowers
dateofbirth = birth date|1908|2|2|df=y
cityofbirth = Scunthorpe
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1970|7|4|1908|2|2|df=y
cityofdeath = Lichfield
countryofdeath = England
height =
position = Centre forward
youthyears =
youthclubs = Appleby Works (Scunthorpe)
years = 1927–1928
1928–1936
1936–1939
clubs = Scunthorpe & Lindsey United
Derby County
Leicester City
caps(goals) = 00? 00(?)
203 (167)
079 0(52)
nationalyears = 1933–1934
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 003 00(2)

John William Anslow "Jack" Bowers (22 February 1908 – 4 July 1970) was an English footballer, who was twice the top scorer in the Football League and made three appearances for England.

Playing career

Early days

Bowers was born in Low Santon, near Scunthorpe and, after playing for Scunthorpe works side Appleby Works, started his professional career with Scunthorpe & Lindsey United in December 1927. Five months later, he was transferred to Derby County, where he was to remain until 1936.

Derby County

He was signed for Derby County by manager George Jobey on 5 May 1928, on the same day as future England international Jack Barker. [ [http://www.youandyesterday.co.uk/articles/Signings_were_key_to_successful_era George Jobey: Signings were key to successful era] ] He made his debut in a 2–1 win over Bolton Wanderers at the Baseball Ground on 2 February 1929 and celebrated his first appearance by scoring. [ [http://www.therams.co.uk/details.asp?back=true&key=2941|0|2B96975852659|R|697|108522872004357518931&parentkey=2941|0|2B96975852659|p|697|0 Jack Bowers profile on www.therams.co.uk] ]

It was not until the 1930–31 season that Bowers was to become a regular selection at centre forward after the transfer of Harry Bedford to Newcastle United. His first match in this season came against Arsenal, which launched Bowers on the way to breaking the club's goal-scoring record. Having sat out the first nine matches of the season, Bowers scored 37 goals in the remaining 33 matches, including four in one game against Chelsea when the Rams beat the Londoners 6-2. He scored 15 goals in a run of six consecutive matches in January and February 1931. This magnificent spell of goal-scoring was the main reason why Derby reached sixth place and, for most of the season, were sitting on the edge of the leading pack. Bowers holds Derby County's record for the number of League goals in a season (37), although this was equalled by Ray Straw in the Third Division North campaign of 1956–57.

The following season, he was again Derby's top-scorer despite only scoring 25 goals, but improved on this in 1932–33 with 35 league goals, thus making him the top scorer in the Football League First Division as Derby finished in seventh place in the table. Bowers also contributed eight goals in the FA Cup as Derby reached the semi-finals where they lost to Manchester City. This was the only round in the cup run in which Bowers failed to score, as he finished the season with a total of 43 goals from 47 matches. This remains Derby's goal-scoring record. [ [http://www.dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10270~1026306,00.html Derby County history – 1930 to 1940] ]

His form continued into the next season, when he was again top scorer in the top flight with 34 league goals, plus three in the cup, with Derby reaching fourth place in the table.

His form for Derby brought him to the notice of the England selectors and he was given his first international cap in the 1934 British Home Championship against Ireland played at Windsor Park, Belfast on 14 October 1933. Bowers scored England's third goal in the 60th minute in a 3–0 victory. [ [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=188 Ireland 0 – England 3; 14 October 1933 (Match summary)] ] He retained his place for the next match against Wales on 15 November, but failed to score as England went down 2–1. [ [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=189 England 1 – Wales 2; 15 November 1933 (Match summary)] ] As this victory enabled Wales to claim the British Home Championship title, Bowers' next match against Scotland was to have no bearing on the destiny of the title. Bowers scored in the 85th minute as England defeated the Scots 3–0. [ [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=191 England 3 - Scotland 0; 14 April 1934 (Match summary)] ] Bower also made two appearances for the Football League.

In September 1934, a serious knee injury sustained in a match against Spurs curtailed his Derby career and he lost his place to Hughie Gallacher. His recovery was slow, although in 1935-36 his 30 goals for the Reserves helped Derby to the Central League championship. He returned to the side for the start of the 1936–37 season; on 5 September 1936, Derby were losing 4–1 at home to Manchester United, when Bowers struck with four goals in an amazing 15-minute spell (between the 64th and 79th minute) to give his side a spectacular 5–4 victory.

By now he was no longer first choice and in November 1936 he moved to Leicester City for a fee of £6,000.cite book | author=Graham Betts| title=England: Player by player | publisher=Green Umbrella Publishing | year=2006|pages=p.41| isbn=1-905009-63-1] In his eight years with Derby, he made 220 appearances, scoring 183 goals. Only Steve Bloomer and Kevin Hector have scored more goals for Derby.

Leicester City

Bowers joined Leicester City in November 1936, who had been relegated to the Football League Second Division in 1935. Bowers' arrival at Filbert Street galvanised Leicester's push for promotion and his 33 league goals from only 27 games helped them claim the Second Division title, just ahead of Blackpool, and also made him top scorer in the division.

Back in the First Division, Bowers was now finding goal-scoring more difficult and he was sharing the goal-scoring responsibilities with Danny Liddle and George Dewis. The advent of World War Two interrupted his career and he retired in August 1943. In his three League seasons, he scored 52 goals from 79 appearances, plus four goals in five FA Cup appearances.

Later career

In August 1943, Bowers was appointed coach to Notts County, working with the youth team. After two years, he returned to Derby County as assistant trainer, a position he held for over twenty years.

He died on 4 July 1970 in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

His son Jack Bowers, Jr. played for Derby County between 1957 and 1966, making 65 League appearances in that time.

Appearances for England

Achievements

;Derby County
*Top scorer in 1st Division 1932–33 season: 35 goals [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engtops.html Football League Div 1 & 2 Leading Goalscorers 1920-39] ]
*Top scorer in 1st Division 1933–34 season: 34 goals
*Club record for total goals in one season: 37 goals in 1930–31 season

;Leicester City
*Top scorer in 2nd Division 1936–37 season: 33 goals
*Football League Second Division champions: 1936–37

References

Other sources

* Mortimer, Gerald (2004): "The Who´s Who Of Derby County" Breedon Books Publishing, Derby. ISBN 1-85983-409-4
* Rollin, Jack (1998): "Rothmans Book Of Football Records" Headline Book Publishing, London. ISBN 0-7472-1954-0

External links

* [http://www.therams.co.uk/details.asp?back=true&key=2941|0|2B96975852659|R|697|108522872004357518931&parentkey=2941|0|2B96975852659|p|697|0 Derby County profile]
* [http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=132 Profile at www.englandstats.com]
* [http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=132 Profile at www.englandfc.com]