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. "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. 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