- Alan Gowling
Infobox Football biography
playername = Alan Gowling
fullname = Alan Gowling
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1949|3|16
cityofbirth =Stockport
countryofbirth =England
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1966-1972
1972-1975
1975-1978
1978-1982
1982-1983
clubs = Manchester United
Huddersfield Town
Newcastle United
Bolton Wanderers
Preston North End
caps(goals) = 071 (18)
128 (58)
092 (30)
149 (28)
040 0(5)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 17:06, 28 July 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =Alan Gowling (born
16 March 1949 inStockport ,England ) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward for many clubs in the north ofEngland . He was a powerful shooter with a bit of pace and craft.POV-statement|date=July 2008Gowling came to Manchester United by way of county schools and Manchester University, where he studied for a degree in Economics. He played for United juniors while at University, and once scored seven goals in a 'B' game. Due to his degree, he earned the nickname "Bamber", after the host of
University Challenge . He is one of only seven graduates to have played for United.Gowling made a goalscoring league debut against Stoke City. Coincidentally, he also played his last game for United against Stoke City, coming on as a substitute for Bobby Charlton. He played 87 times for United and once scored four in a game against Southampton on
20 February 1971 . Nevertheless, Gowling was never really a first choice player at the club, and he enjoyed his longest run in the side when playing in midfield in his final season in 1971-72. He was sold to Huddersfield Town for £65,000 in June 1972.After a disappointing period at Huddersfield, he joined Newcastle United as a strike partner for
Malcolm MacDonald . He matured under the guidance ofGordon Lee , before moving to Bolton Wanderers in 1978. He retired from football in 1984, aged 36, after a period at Preston North End.Gowling gained England caps at amateur, Schoolboy and Under-23 level. Alan represented the British Olympic side at the
1968 Summer Olympics .He is now the secretary of the Manchester United old boys association and regularly summarises Bolton Wanderers games on
BBC Radio Manchester .
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