Bill Rowley
Encyclopedia
William Spencer "Bill" Rowley (1865–1939) was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke
in the 1880s and 1890s, also making two appearances for England
. He later became Stoke's manager between 1986 and 1898.
's reserve team as a forward before joining local rivals
Burslem Port Vale
in April 1884.
He broke
a rib
in a 3–1 friendly
defeat at Stoke on 1 May 1886; nevertheless he returned to Stoke in early 1887. This move came after he signed a contract to play exclusively for the Vale and, despite the case being upheld in a Burslem
court, Vale allowed him to leave for Stoke in December 1886.
in 1888. Stoke finished at the bottom of the table in both 1888–89 and 1889–90 and in 1890 dropped down to the Football Alliance
. The following season, Stoke were champions of the Football Alliance and returned to the Football League, where they once again struggled, finishing second last in 1891–92, before finishing in mid-table in 1892–93.
Described as a "brave and cool goalkeeper", Rowley was a virtual ever-present throughout his first six years with Stoke and his form earned him a call into the national team
for the match against Ireland on 2 March 1889. The match was played at Anfield
, then the home of Everton
, and the selectors made eleven changes to the side that had beaten Wales
a week before with nine new caps, including Rowley's Stoke team-mate, Tommy Clare at right back. England won the match "quite comfortably" 6–1, with John Yates
scoring a hat trick in his only international appearance.
Rowley's only other England appearance came three years later, also against Ireland, at the Solitude Ground, Belfast
, when he was joined by his Stoke team-mates Tommy Clare and Alf Underwood
as the two full-backs. Harry Daft
of Notts County
marked the occasion by scoring twice, either side of half-time, in an "unconvincing victory".
A number of serious injuries interrupted his career, with Tom Cain
taking over in goal for most of the 1893–94 season. Although Rowley recovered his place for the next season, he suffered from further injuries, including a broken breastbone, with George Clawley
replacing him. Clawley now established himself as first-choice 'keeper, and in his final three seasons at the Victoria Ground
, Rowley managed only twelve further League appearances.
In 1896, he ceased playing and became Stoke's club secretary, a position he held for two years.
In August 1898, he joined Leicester Fosse
as player-secretary but, following an objection from Stoke, he was suspended in October, resulting in his retirement.
He later emigrated to America where he lived the rest of his life.
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|6||0||0||0||6||0
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|1891–92
|24||0||4||0||28||0
|-
|1892–93
|30||0||1||0||31||0
|-
|1893–94
|10||0||2||0||12||0
|-
|1894–95
|7||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|1895–96
|1||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|1896–97
|4||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|Leicester Fosse
|1897–98
|1||0||0||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!125!!0!!16!!0!!141!!0
|}
with Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in the 1880s and 1890s, also making two appearances for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. He later became Stoke's manager between 1986 and 1898.
Football career
Rowley was born in Hanley, Staffordshire and started his professional career playing in StokeStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
's reserve team as a forward before joining local rivals
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
Burslem Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in April 1884.
Burslem Port Vale
Immediately establishing himself as the first choice 'keeper, he played 66 games in his two and half years with the club. He even scored a goal, being one of the scorers in a 12–0 route of Ironbridge in the final of the 1885 Burslem Challenge Cup.He broke
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
a rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
in a 3–1 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
defeat at Stoke on 1 May 1886; nevertheless he returned to Stoke in early 1887. This move came after he signed a contract to play exclusively for the Vale and, despite the case being upheld in a Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
court, Vale allowed him to leave for Stoke in December 1886.
Stoke
He was a member of the Stoke side that were founder members of The Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 1888. Stoke finished at the bottom of the table in both 1888–89 and 1889–90 and in 1890 dropped down to the Football Alliance
Football Alliance
The Football Alliance was an association football league in England which ran for three seasons, from 1889–90 to 1891–92.It was formed by 12 clubs as a rival to the Football League, which had begun in the 1888–89 season, also with 12 member clubs...
. The following season, Stoke were champions of the Football Alliance and returned to the Football League, where they once again struggled, finishing second last in 1891–92, before finishing in mid-table in 1892–93.
Described as a "brave and cool goalkeeper", Rowley was a virtual ever-present throughout his first six years with Stoke and his form earned him a call into the national team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
for the match against Ireland on 2 March 1889. The match was played at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, then the home of Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, and the selectors made eleven changes to the side that had beaten Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
a week before with nine new caps, including Rowley's Stoke team-mate, Tommy Clare at right back. England won the match "quite comfortably" 6–1, with John Yates
John Yates (footballer)
John Yates was an English footballer who won the FA Cup with Blackburn Olympic in 1883 and made one appearance for England in 1878 playing on the left wing.-Career:...
scoring a hat trick in his only international appearance.
Rowley's only other England appearance came three years later, also against Ireland, at the Solitude Ground, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, when he was joined by his Stoke team-mates Tommy Clare and Alf Underwood
Alf Underwood
Alfred "Alf" Underwood was an English footballer who played 130 times for Stoke in the 1880s and 1890s.-Career:...
as the two full-backs. Harry Daft
Harry Daft
Harry Butler Daft was an English footballer who played for Notts County, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1894, as well as making five appearances as a left winger for the national side...
of Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
marked the occasion by scoring twice, either side of half-time, in an "unconvincing victory".
A number of serious injuries interrupted his career, with Tom Cain
Tom Cain
Thomas "Tom" Cain was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke, Everton and Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.-Football career:...
taking over in goal for most of the 1893–94 season. Although Rowley recovered his place for the next season, he suffered from further injuries, including a broken breastbone, with George Clawley
George Clawley
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
replacing him. Clawley now established himself as first-choice 'keeper, and in his final three seasons at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
, Rowley managed only twelve further League appearances.
In 1896, he ceased playing and became Stoke's club secretary, a position he held for two years.
In August 1898, he joined Leicester Fosse
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
as player-secretary but, following an objection from Stoke, he was suspended in October, resulting in his retirement.
He later emigrated to America where he lived the rest of his life.
Playing career
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
1886–87 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1887–88 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1888–89 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| 1889–90 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
|6||0||0||0||6||0
|-
|1891–92
|24||0||4||0||28||0
|-
|1892–93
|30||0||1||0||31||0
|-
|1893–94
|10||0||2||0||12||0
|-
|1894–95
|7||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|1895–96
|1||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|1896–97
|4||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|Leicester Fosse
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
|1897–98
|1||0||0||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!125!!0!!16!!0!!141!!0
|}
Manager
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Stoke Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
May 1895 | August 1897 | 66 | 29 | 4 | 33 | |
Honours
with Burlsem Port Vale- Burslem Challenge Cup winner: 1885
- North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup winner: 1885 (shared)
with Stoke
- Football AllianceFootball AllianceThe Football Alliance was an association football league in England which ran for three seasons, from 1889–90 to 1891–92.It was formed by 12 clubs as a rival to the Football League, which had begun in the 1888–89 season, also with 12 member clubs...
champions: 1890–91