James Cowan (footballer), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

James Cowan (footballer)

Scottish footballer, born 1868

Date of Birth: 17-Oct-1868

Place of Birth: Bonhill, Scotland, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 12-Dec-1918

Profession: association football manager, association football player

Zodiac Sign: Libra


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About James Cowan (footballer)

  • James Cowan (17 October 1868 – 12 December 1918) was a Scottish football player and manager. Born in Jamestown, Dunbartonshire, Cowan was a Scottish international half-back who played with local sides Renton and Vale of Leven before moving to England in 1888 to play for the Warwickshire County FC.
  • The following season, he wished to pursue a professional career and joined Aston Villa and spent 14 years with the Birmingham side.
  • When Cowan played for the club in the 1890s and early 1900s, they were the giants of the Football League.
  • While at Villa, he won five First Division titles and two FA Cup winners medals.
  • In all he played 354 times for Aston Villa and is considered to be one of the finest players of the Victorian era.
  • He was renowned for his speed.
  • On one occasion he missed a Villa match due to his attending (and winning) the illustrious 100 yard New Year Sprint event held at Powderhall.
  • The club fined him but he still made a healthy profit due to the prize money! After retiring from playing in 1902, he coached the young players at Villa for a few years before deciding to accept the role of manager of Queens Park Rangers in 1907.
  • QPR had just moved to a new ground designed By Archibald Leitch at Park Royal and Cowan was the club's first official manager.
  • In his initial season he led them to the Southern League title and held Manchester United to a fine 1-1 draw in the Charity Shield. Four years later he led QPR to another Southern League title.
  • Off-the-field problems however prevented him from leading the club into the Football League.
  • Prior to the start of the 1913/14 season he offered his resignation on the grounds of ill health which the directors accepted.
  • He died at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, in December 1918.

Read more at Wikipedia

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