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Bolton Wanderers Football Club would like to wish former player Alan Gowling a very happy 71st birthday.
The Stockport-born Gowling became the then recording signing for Wanderers when he joined the club in March 1978 from Newcastle United for a fee of £120,000.
His role in Wanderers’ push towards the Second Division Championship that year was minimal, but he proved his worth the following season in a magnificent striking partnership with Frank Worthington, which kept them in the top flight and also included the Club’s first goal at that level for 14 years.
Gowling had begun his career at Manchester United, by way of County Schools and Manchester University, where he gained a degree in economics. He had also won England Schoolboy and Amateur honours and represented the British Olympic side at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He played 71 League games for United, both in attack and midfield, and won an England Under-23 cap before joining Huddersfield Town for £60,000 in June 1972.
Although he became a regular goalscorer at Leeds Road under Ian Greaves, the club still suffered two relegations. In August 1975 Gowling joined Newcastle for £70,000, where he formed a potent attack with Malcolm Macdonald, and Gowling scored at Wembley in the 1976 League Cup Final defeat by Manchester City.
He moved to Burnden in 1978 and teamed up again with Ian Greaves, but after a successful 1978-79 season, in goalscoring terms, he became a dual-purpose player, either leading the attack or marshalling the centre of defence.
Gowling was elected chairman of the PFA in November 1980 and, in May 1982, after missing only three games in the previous two seasons for the Wanderers, he was given a free transfer.
He joined Preston North End and retired from the game in 1984.
On behalf of everybody at Bolton Wanderers, have a great day, Alan!
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Bolton Wanderers Football Club would like to wish former player Alan Gowling a very happy 71st birthday.
The Stockport-born Gowling became the then recording signing for Wanderers when he joined the club in March 1978 from Newcastle United for a fee of £120,000.
His role in Wanderers’ push towards the Second Division Championship that year was minimal, but he proved his worth the following season in a magnificent striking partnership with Frank Worthington, which kept them in the top flight and also included the Club’s first goal at that level for 14 years.
Gowling had begun his career at Manchester United, by way of County Schools and Manchester University, where he gained a degree in economics. He had also won England Schoolboy and Amateur honours and represented the British Olympic side at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He played 71 League games for United, both in attack and midfield, and won an England Under-23 cap before joining Huddersfield Town for £60,000 in June 1972.
Although he became a regular goalscorer at Leeds Road under Ian Greaves, the club still suffered two relegations. In August 1975 Gowling joined Newcastle for £70,000, where he formed a potent attack with Malcolm Macdonald, and Gowling scored at Wembley in the 1976 League Cup Final defeat by Manchester City.
He moved to Burnden in 1978 and teamed up again with Ian Greaves, but after a successful 1978-79 season, in goalscoring terms, he became a dual-purpose player, either leading the attack or marshalling the centre of defence.
Gowling was elected chairman of the PFA in November 1980 and, in May 1982, after missing only three games in the previous two seasons for the Wanderers, he was given a free transfer.
He joined Preston North End and retired from the game in 1984.
On behalf of everybody at Bolton Wanderers, have a great day, Alan!
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