Jack Rowley, Manchester United player

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Jack Rowley was a powerful, goal-scoring centre-forward. He played for Manchester United for twelve seasons (ten of them following the second world war) and scored over two hundred goals.

Rowley joined Manchester United in 1937 when he was seventeen. He came from Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic, to where he had gone upon lack of opportunity at his home club Wolverhamton Wanderers. In 1937 Manchester United were in the second division. Rowley played twenty-nine games in his first season, scored nine goals and helped the team win promotion. In 1939 league football was suspended following the outbreak of war and it wasn’t until 1946-1947 that Rowley was able to return to his career. In the post-war years Matt Busby built a strong side. In 1947-1948, it won the FA Cup (with Rowley scoring two goals in the final) and, in 1951-1952, it won the League Championship for the first time since 1910-1911. Rowley played at centre-forward (after initially playing at outside-left) and was joined in a famous forward line by Jimmy Delaney and Johnny Morris on his right, and by Stan Pearson and Charlie Mitton on his left. He enjoyed a particularly productive goal-scoring partnership with Stan Pearson. Rowley scored two hundred and eleven goals for Manchester United, a total so far bettered only by Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. He also scored six goals for England in his six appearances.

Rowley was a hard, aggressive player. He was fearless in his play and quite intimidating to the opposition. He had the nickname ‘the gunner’ in lieu of his explosive shooting. He scored goals with both feet, he was quick on the ground and powerful in the air. Though his goals earned him respect, his personality never brought him popularity. He was rough and ready, with an abrasive character that didn’t mind who it upset.

Rowley left Manchester United in 1955 to become player-manager of Plymouth Argyle. After finishing playing, he remained in management for a number of years before becoming a sub-postmaster in Oldham. Rowley died in 1998, aged seventy-seven.