Paul Michael Anthony Bowles (31 May 1957 – 14 March 2017) was an English footballer. A central defender, he scored 26 goals in 346 league appearances in an eleven-season career in the Fourth Division of the Football League.
Career Crewe Alexandra Bowles spent time as a youth player at Manchester United, before he started his career with Crewe Alexandra. He scored 20 goals in 178 Fourth Division appearances in four seasons at Gresty Road. He helped Harry Gregg's "Railwaymen" to finish 16th in 1975–76, 12th in 1976–77, and 15th in 1977–78, before Crewe fell to last place in the 1978–79 campaign under the stewardship of Warwick Rimmer.
Port Vale He was signed by Alan Bloor at league rivals Port Vale for a £30,000 fee in October 1979. However, two months later Bloor was replaced by John McGrath, who seemed not to rate Bowles. He was sent out on loan to Southampton in January 1980, although he never played first-team football for the "Saints", and instead made three appearances for the reserves. Back at Vale Park, he featured just eleven times in the 1979–80 campaign. Despite struggling with his weight, as one of the more experienced players in a youthful squad, he was given the captaincy and featured 49 times in the 1980–81 season, scoring four goals. He played 53 of the "Valiants" 55 games in the 1981–82 season. He was given a free transfer to league rivals Stockport County in May 1982.
Stockport County He played 70 league games for Eric Webster's "Hatters", helping the Edgeley Park club to post 16th and 12th places finishes in 1982–83 and 1983–84. However, he picked up a double fracture to his ankle playing against Liverpool at Anfield in the League Cup and was unable to recover from the injury fully. He was released in summer 1985 and moved on to Northern Premier League side Barrow.
Style of play Former Port Vale teammate Peter Farrell stated that Bowles was a good technical central defender.
Family Paul Bowles was a cousin of Stan Bowles, though Stan said they had never met.Bowles, Stan (1975) Stan Bowles: The Autobiography, Orion Books, London. p.43.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCrewe Alexandra1974–75Fourth Division800000801975–76Fourth Division43510504951976–77Fourth Division33230203821977–78Fourth Division43530204851978–79Fourth Division458214251111979–80Fourth Division60001070Total178209114220123Port Vale1979–80Fourth Division10010001101980–81Fourth Division44450004941981–82Fourth Division4425040532Total986110401136Stockport County1982–83Fourth Division29010203201983–84Fourth Division38010404301984–85Fourth Division30003060Total7002090810Career total3462622127239529
References