John Rowlands (footballer)

John Rowlands
Personal information
Date of birth (1947-02-07)7 February 1947
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Date of death 13 April 2020(2020-04-13) (aged 73)
Place of death Holyhead, Wales
Position(s) Defender, Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Marine
Skelmersdale United
1967–1968 Mansfield Town 13 (3)
1968–1969 Torquay United 18 (4)
1968 → Exeter City (loan) 1 (0)
1969 Cape Town City
1969–1971 Stockport County 46 (11)
1971–1972 Barrow 54 (6)
1972–1974 Workington 51 (11)
1974 Crewe Alexandra 35 (1)
1974–1975 Seattle Sounders 41 (19)
1975–1977 Hartlepool United 49 (10)
1976 → San Jose Earthquakes (loan) 20 (1)
1977–1978 San Jose Earthquakes 36 (1)
1978 Oakland Stompers 7 (0)
1979 Tulsa Roughnecks 6 (0)
1979–1980 San Jose Earthquakes 22 (0)
Total 399 (67)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Glyn Rowlands (7 February 1947 – 13 April 2020) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender and a forward. Active in England, South Africa and the United States, Rowlands made nearly 400 appearances in a 13-year career.

Career

Born in Liverpool, Rowlands began his career in non-league football with Marine and Skelmersdale United, before signing for Mansfield Town as an amateur in October 1967.[1] He went on to play professionally in England, South Africa and the United States for Mansfield Town, Torquay United, Exeter City, Cape Town City, Stockport County, Barrow, Workington, Crewe Alexandra, the Seattle Sounders, Hartlepool United, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Oakland Stompers and the Tulsa Roughnecks.[2][3][4]

In 1980 he was contracted to play with ASL expansion team the Phoenix Fire,[5] but the team folded in pre-season.[6]

Later life and death

After retirement, Rowlands moved to Florida and opened a number of bars and restaurants, before later returning to the UK.[1]

He died on 13 April 2020, in Holyhead at the age of 73, from COVID-19.[1][4][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Rest In Peace, John Rowlands". Stockport County. 26 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Profile". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database.
  3. ^ "Profile". NASL Jerseys.
  4. ^ a b Greene, Tommy (26 April 2020). "Fondly-remembered former Barrow AFC player passes away". The Mail. Barrow-in-Furness. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Phoenix Fire Rosters". www.nasljerseys.com.
  6. ^ "1980 Phoenix Fire • Fun While It Lasted". 3 May 2011.
  7. ^ Announcing the passing of John Glyn Rowlands