Jack Fowler (footballer born 1899)
Encyclopedia
Jack Fowler was a Welsh
professional footballer, who played as a centre forward for Plymouth Argyle
, Swansea Town and Clapton Orient as well as making six appearances for his country
.
and started his football career with Mardy
, who were then playing in the Southern League Second Division
before transferring to the Welsh Section. Whilst with Mardy, Fowler was selected to represent the Southern League (Welsh Section) in a match against the Football League. In 1921 he turned down a move to Brighton & Hove Albion
as he was unable to agree terms, but signed for Plymouth Argyle in May.
Initially he found it hard to break into the first team, with Frank Richardson
leading the forward line. Fowler made his debut replacing Tommy Gallogley
at inside right on 17 December 1921, scoring in a 4–0 victory over Southend United
. He retained his place for the next three games before Gallogley returned on New Year's Eve
. Plymouth finished the season as runners-up in the Third Division South to Southampton
, but with only one team being promoted missed out on promotion on goal average. This was the start of a run of six consecutive seasons in which Plymouth finished as runners-up but were denied promotion.
For the following season, Fowler was used intermittently until mid-March, generally playing as an inside forward, until Richardson left to join Stoke. Fowler then took over as the recognized centre-forward and, despite making only 22 league appearances, he was the club's top scorer for the season with 17 goals, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 victory over local rivals Exeter City
on 30 March 1923.
In the summer of 1923, Plymouth signed Percy Cherrett
from Portsmouth
and Fowler once again found himself second choice at centre forward, making only ten league appearances (scoring seven goals) in the 1923–24 season. Fowler became unsettled and in February 1924, he returned to Wales to join Swansea Town for a fee of £1280, then a record for the Welsh club. In his three years at Home Park
, Fowler scored 25 goals in 39 appearances for Argyle.
Despite having left Argyle in February, Fowler accompanied the Plymouth Argyle side on a tour of South America in the summer of 1924, although he did not play in any of the nine matches against various club and scratch sides.
The following season, Fowler was ever-present and with 28 goals he was the club's top-scorer for the season at the end of which Swansea claimed the Third Division South title, one point ahead of Fowler's former club. Fowler's goal tally made him the top-scorer across the Third Division South. Fowler's goal tally included five in a match against Charlton Athletic
on 27 September 1924, which remains the club's record for the most goals in a match.
Described as a "player of strength and brain", Fowler was a shrewd and determined leader of the Swansea forward line and continued his goal-scoring exploits in the Second Division
, scoring 28 goals for the second consecutive year. Fowler soon became a favourite at the Vetch Field
, with the crowd urging him on with their own version of a popular song of the time: "Chick chick chick chicken, score a little goal for me". Between 1924 and 1929, Fowler scored nine hat-tricks for Swansea.
Fowler received his first international call up for the visit of England
to Vetch Field on 28 February 1925, with the visitors running out 2–1 winners. The following year, Wales visited London and in the match at Selhurst Park
on 1 March 1926, Fowler scored twice to enable his country to claim a 3–1 victory.
By 1930, Fowler had lost his place in the Swansea Town side to Ronnie Williams and after only making one appearance in the 1929–30 season, he was transferred to Clapton Orient. In his seven seasons with Swansea, Fowler scored 113 goals from 183 appearances.
where he kept the Rhyddings Hotel in Brynmill
for 35 years.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
professional footballer, who played as a centre forward for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, Swansea Town and Clapton Orient as well as making six appearances for his country
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...
.
Plymouth Argyle
Fowler was born in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and started his football career with Mardy
Mardy A.F.C.
Mardy A.F.C. was a Welsh football team that played in the Southern League in the 1910s and 1920s. They were based in the village of Maerdy, Glamorgan....
, who were then playing in the Southern League Second Division
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
before transferring to the Welsh Section. Whilst with Mardy, Fowler was selected to represent the Southern League (Welsh Section) in a match against the Football League. In 1921 he turned down a move to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
as he was unable to agree terms, but signed for Plymouth Argyle in May.
Initially he found it hard to break into the first team, with Frank Richardson
Frank Richardson
Frank Richardson was a footballer who played in the Football League for Reading, Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town, West Ham United and Stoke. He made fourteen appearances for Stoke.-External links:**...
leading the forward line. Fowler made his debut replacing Tommy Gallogley
Tommy Gallogley
Thomas "Tommy" Gallogley was a Scottish professional footballer who scored 10 goals from 83 appearances in the Football League playing for Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City in the 1920s. He played as an inside forward....
at inside right on 17 December 1921, scoring in a 4–0 victory over Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. He retained his place for the next three games before Gallogley returned on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
. Plymouth finished the season as runners-up in the Third Division South to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, but with only one team being promoted missed out on promotion on goal average. This was the start of a run of six consecutive seasons in which Plymouth finished as runners-up but were denied promotion.
For the following season, Fowler was used intermittently until mid-March, generally playing as an inside forward, until Richardson left to join Stoke. Fowler then took over as the recognized centre-forward and, despite making only 22 league appearances, he was the club's top scorer for the season with 17 goals, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 victory over local rivals Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
on 30 March 1923.
In the summer of 1923, Plymouth signed Percy Cherrett
Percy Cherrett
Percy Albert Mark Cherrett was an English footballer who played as a centre forward.He began his career in non-league football with Boscombe before moving to Portsmouth in 1921, where he scored 36 goals in a two year spell at Fratton Park. He was transferred to Plymouth Argyle in 1923, where he...
from Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
and Fowler once again found himself second choice at centre forward, making only ten league appearances (scoring seven goals) in the 1923–24 season. Fowler became unsettled and in February 1924, he returned to Wales to join Swansea Town for a fee of £1280, then a record for the Welsh club. In his three years at Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
, Fowler scored 25 goals in 39 appearances for Argyle.
Despite having left Argyle in February, Fowler accompanied the Plymouth Argyle side on a tour of South America in the summer of 1924, although he did not play in any of the nine matches against various club and scratch sides.
Swansea Town
At Swansea, Fowler replaced Jack Smith at centre forward and made 14 appearances, scoring six goals at the end of the 1923–24 season.The following season, Fowler was ever-present and with 28 goals he was the club's top-scorer for the season at the end of which Swansea claimed the Third Division South title, one point ahead of Fowler's former club. Fowler's goal tally made him the top-scorer across the Third Division South. Fowler's goal tally included five in a match against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 27 September 1924, which remains the club's record for the most goals in a match.
Described as a "player of strength and brain", Fowler was a shrewd and determined leader of the Swansea forward line and continued his goal-scoring exploits in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, scoring 28 goals for the second consecutive year. Fowler soon became a favourite at the Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
, with the crowd urging him on with their own version of a popular song of the time: "Chick chick chick chicken, score a little goal for me". Between 1924 and 1929, Fowler scored nine hat-tricks for Swansea.
Fowler received his first international call up for the visit of 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...
to Vetch Field on 28 February 1925, with the visitors running out 2–1 winners. The following year, Wales visited London and in the match at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
on 1 March 1926, Fowler scored twice to enable his country to claim a 3–1 victory.
By 1930, Fowler had lost his place in the Swansea Town side to Ronnie Williams and after only making one appearance in the 1929–30 season, he was transferred to Clapton Orient. In his seven seasons with Swansea, Fowler scored 113 goals from 183 appearances.
Clapton Orent
At Orient, Fowler had dropped to the Third Division South, where he made a total of 80 appearances, but was unable to replicate his goal-scoring exploits with Swansea, managing only 15 goals in two seasons, before injury brought his career to a close.Later career
On retirement from football, Fowler returned to SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
where he kept the Rhyddings Hotel in Brynmill
Brynmill
Brynmill is a suburb of the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. It lies about two miles to the west of Swansea city centre. It is a residential area forming the southern part of the Uplands electoral ward. As it is close to Swansea university, many students choose to rent rooms here during...
for 35 years.
International appearances
In all, Fowler made six appearances for Wales in international matches, as follows:| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goals | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 February 1925 | Vetch Field Vetch Field The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak... , Swansea Swansea Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands... |
1–2 | 0 | British Home Championship 1925 British Home Championship The 1925 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1924/25 season. It was one of six tournaments in seven years won by the strong Scottish team of the early 1920s, and was achieved with a whitewash of all three rivals, including England... |
|
| 13 February 1926 | Windsor Park Windsor Park Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:... , 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... |
0–3 | 0 | British Home Championship 1926 British Home Championship The 1926 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1925–26 season between the British Home Nations... |
|
| 1 March 1926 | Selhurst Park Selhurst Park Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
3–1 | 2 | British Home Championship | |
| 30 October 1926 | Ibrox Park Ibrox Stadium Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
0–3 | 0 | British Home Championship 1927 British Home Championship The 1927 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1926–27 season. It was shared by England and Scotland after a series of high scoring draws in the opening matches left England, Wales and Ireland well behind with Scotland ahead,... |
|
| 29 October 1927 | Racecourse Ground Racecourse Ground The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
2–2 | 0 | British Home Championship 1928 British Home Championship The 1928 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1927–28 season between the British Home Nations. The competition was won by Wales who did not lose a game and only dropped a single point during the tournament... |
|
| 17 November 1928 | Vetch Field, Swansea | 2–3 | 1 | British Home Championship 1929 British Home Championship The 1929 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1928–29 season. The competition was won by Scotland, who won all three matches with strong attacking football epitomised by Hughie Gallacher, who scored seven of his team's 12 goals... |
|
Honours
Swansea Town- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
champions: 1924–25