Martin Rowlands
Encyclopedia
Martin Charles Rowlands (born 8 February 1979) is an English - born - Irish footballer who plays for Wycombe Wanderers F.C on loan from Queens Park Rangers F.C. He formerly played for Brentford F.C
in 1997 before moving to Brentford
in August 1998 for a transfer fee of £45,000. In five season with Brentford, he made 186 appearances in all competitions, scoring 23 goals.
After suffering a broken leg, QPR
manager Ian Holloway
took a gamble on Rowlands and signed him on a free transfer from local rivals Brentford
in the summer of 2003. This gamble paid off, as Rowlands scored 12 goals from midfield, helping his new side to promotion from the Second Division. That season, Rowlands also showed versatility, playing right back, right midfield, left midfield and centre midfield; excelling in all positions. He won both the supporters and players' player of the year competitions. However, the move proved controversial, resulting in Rowlands becoming a hate figure amongst Brentford
supporters. During the derby match that season, Rowlands taunted Bees fans throughout, deliberately & repeatedly kissing the QPR badge with the intention of goading supporters of his former club.
Since then, Rowlands has suffered many injuries and has never truly recaptured his outstanding form of 2003/04. However, in 2006/07 he managed to score 10 goals from midfield.
In 2007/08 he was selected captain, and was regularly among Rangers` best performers. He played 43 league games, scoring 6 goals, including a memorable brace in Rangers'
4–2 victory at Watford
. He won both the Supporters' Player of the Year and the Ray Jones Players' Player of the Year award. As of August 2008 Rowlands was the longest-serving member of the QPR
squad having spent 5 years at the club.
On 25 February 2011 Rowlands signed for Millwall, on an emergency one month loan, after only playing 23 minutes of competitive football for QPR in the 2010/11 season.
, Rowlands was called up to the Republic of Ireland
squad in the summer of 2004, playing two games. His good club form in season 2007/2008 and his subsequent player of the year awards with QPR
led to Rowlands being included in Giovanni Trappatoni's first Republic of Ireland
squad.
After a substitute appearance against Italy in Ireland's penultimate qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup, Rowlands was chosen to start for Ireland against Montenegro in their final group game.
On 14 October 2009, he injured his anterior cruciate ligament
while playing for the Republic of Ireland v Montenegro, resulting in him being ruled out of the rest of the 2009/10 season for QPR.
Queens Park Rangers
Club career
After starring for Kilburn Gaels GAA club at underage level, Rowlands started his football career at Wycombe Wanderers, but did not earn a professional contract and joined Farnborough TownFarnborough Town F.C.
Farnborough Football Club is an English football team currently in the Conference South after finishing top of Southern League Premier Division in 2009–10. Their home ground is known as the Rushmoor Stadium, formerly Cherrywood Road, based in Farnborough, Hampshire...
in 1997 before moving to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in August 1998 for a transfer fee of £45,000. In five season with Brentford, he made 186 appearances in all competitions, scoring 23 goals.
After suffering a broken leg, QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
manager Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
took a gamble on Rowlands and signed him on a free transfer from local rivals Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in the summer of 2003. This gamble paid off, as Rowlands scored 12 goals from midfield, helping his new side to promotion from the Second Division. That season, Rowlands also showed versatility, playing right back, right midfield, left midfield and centre midfield; excelling in all positions. He won both the supporters and players' player of the year competitions. However, the move proved controversial, resulting in Rowlands becoming a hate figure amongst Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
supporters. During the derby match that season, Rowlands taunted Bees fans throughout, deliberately & repeatedly kissing the QPR badge with the intention of goading supporters of his former club.
Since then, Rowlands has suffered many injuries and has never truly recaptured his outstanding form of 2003/04. However, in 2006/07 he managed to score 10 goals from midfield.
In 2007/08 he was selected captain, and was regularly among Rangers` best performers. He played 43 league games, scoring 6 goals, including a memorable brace in Rangers'
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
4–2 victory at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. He won both the Supporters' Player of the Year and the Ray Jones Players' Player of the Year award. As of August 2008 Rowlands was the longest-serving member of the QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
squad having spent 5 years at the club.
On 25 February 2011 Rowlands signed for Millwall, on an emergency one month loan, after only playing 23 minutes of competitive football for QPR in the 2010/11 season.
International career
Following good displays with QPRQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Rowlands was called up to the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
squad in the summer of 2004, playing two games. His good club form in season 2007/2008 and his subsequent player of the year awards with QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
led to Rowlands being included in Giovanni Trappatoni's first Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
squad.
After a substitute appearance against Italy in Ireland's penultimate qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup, Rowlands was chosen to start for Ireland against Montenegro in their final group game.
On 14 October 2009, he injured his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
while playing for the Republic of Ireland v Montenegro, resulting in him being ruled out of the rest of the 2009/10 season for QPR.
Honours
Brentford- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
winner: 1998–99 - Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
runner-up: 20012001 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2001 Football League Trophy Final was the 18th final of the Football League Trophy, the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Football League Second and Third Divisions...
Queens Park Rangers
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
runner up: 2003–2004
External links
- Martin Rowlands player profile at qpr.co.uk