Ray Bowden
Encyclopedia
Edwin Raymond "Ray" Bowden (13 September 1909 – 23 September 1998) was an English football
er.
Born in Looe
, Cornwall
, he played for local non-league side Looe; a prolific centre forward
, despite his slight frame he scored over 100 goals in a season, including ten in a single match. He was spotted by Plymouth Argyle
, and signed for the Pilgrims as an amateur in 1926; he still worked as an auctioneer in his day job. By the start of the 1928–29
season, Bowden had impressed enough to win a first-team place, and was a regular goalscorer for the club for the next five seasons; Argyle were promoted in 1929–30
from the Third Division South
to the Second Division
. In all he scored 83 goals in 149 league matches for Argyle, more than a goal every other game.
Bowden signed for Herbert Chapman
's Arsenal
in March 1933 for £4,500, as the intended replacement for David Jack
. Although he did not play enough games to win a First Division
winners' medal that season, he was a regular for the next two seasons, as Arsenal won two more titles on the trot. Playing mainly as an inside forward, behind Ted Drake
, he still scored his fair share despite his slight build in what was a very physical game at the time; his goalscoring included a haul of 13 in 1933–34
, which made him Arsenal's joint-top score in the league, along with Cliff Bastin
.
In 1934–35
Bowden scored 14 league goals and also won his first cap for England
, against Wales
on 29 September 1934. Two months later, Bowden was one of the seven Arsenal players who played for England against World Champions Italy
in the "Battle of Highbury
" match, which England won 3–2. In all Bowden represented his country six times, scoring once, against Wales in February 1936.
Bowden won an FA Cup
winners' medal in 1935–36
, but by then his ankle
was causing him problems, limiting his appearances for the club that season and the next. By the start of the 1937–38
season he had seemingly bounced back, playing ten matches in the first two months of the season, but in a reshuffle of the Arsenal side he was sold to Second Division Newcastle United
in November 1937 for £5,000. In all he played 138 matches for the Gunners, scoring 48 goals.
Bowden was a regular for Newcastle United for the next two years (although the club narrowly escaped relegation in his first season). With the outbreak of World War II
, first-class football was suspended, and the 30-year-old Bowden decided to call it quits. He returned to Plymouth
, where he ran a sports shop with his brother Austin. He died in 1998, aged 89, by which time he was the last surviving player of the great interwar Arsenal side.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
Born in Looe
Looe
Looe is a small coastal town, fishing port and civil parish in the former Caradon district of south-east Cornwall, England, with a population of 5,280 . Looe is divided in two by the River Looe, East Looe and West Looe being connected by a bridge...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, he played for local non-league side Looe; a prolific centre forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, despite his slight frame he scored over 100 goals in a season, including ten in a single match. He was spotted by Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, and signed for the Pilgrims as an amateur in 1926; he still worked as an auctioneer in his day job. By the start of the 1928–29
1928-29 in English football
The 1928–29 season was the 54th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season, Bowden had impressed enough to win a first-team place, and was a regular goalscorer for the club for the next five seasons; Argyle were promoted in 1929–30
1929-30 in English football
The 1929–30 season was the 55th season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Wednesday officially changed their name to Sheffield Wednesday prior to the start of this season....
from the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 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...
. In all he scored 83 goals in 149 league matches for Argyle, more than a goal every other game.
Bowden signed for Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
's Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in March 1933 for £4,500, as the intended replacement for David Jack
David Jack
David Bone Nightingale Jack was an English footballer, the first player ever to score at Wembley, and the first footballer in the world to be transferred for more than £10,000...
. Although he did not play enough games to win a First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
winners' medal that season, he was a regular for the next two seasons, as Arsenal won two more titles on the trot. Playing mainly as an inside forward, behind Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
, he still scored his fair share despite his slight build in what was a very physical game at the time; his goalscoring included a haul of 13 in 1933–34
1933-34 in English football
The 1933–34 season was the 59th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, which made him Arsenal's joint-top score in the league, along with Cliff Bastin
Cliff Bastin
Clifford Sydney Bastin was an English football player.Born in Heavitree near Exeter, Bastin started his career at Exeter City, making his debut for the club in 1928, at the age of 16...
.
In 1934–35
1934-35 in English football
The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
Bowden scored 14 league goals and also won his first cap for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 29 September 1934. Two months later, Bowden was one of the seven Arsenal players who played for England against World Champions Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in the "Battle of Highbury
Battle of Highbury
The "Battle of Highbury" was the name given to the football match between England and Italy that took place on 14 November 1934 at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London...
" match, which England won 3–2. In all Bowden represented his country six times, scoring once, against Wales in February 1936.
Bowden won an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners' medal in 1935–36
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
, but by then his ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
was causing him problems, limiting his appearances for the club that season and the next. By the start of the 1937–38
1937-38 in English football
The 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...
season he had seemingly bounced back, playing ten matches in the first two months of the season, but in a reshuffle of the Arsenal side he was sold to Second Division Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in November 1937 for £5,000. In all he played 138 matches for the Gunners, scoring 48 goals.
Bowden was a regular for Newcastle United for the next two years (although the club narrowly escaped relegation in his first season). With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, first-class football was suspended, and the 30-year-old Bowden decided to call it quits. He returned to Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, where he ran a sports shop with his brother Austin. He died in 1998, aged 89, by which time he was the last surviving player of the great interwar Arsenal side.