| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Fowler | ||
| Date of birth | 17 October 1933 | ||
| Place of birth | Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 28 March 1976 (aged 42) | ||
| Playing position | Fullback | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| ?–1955 | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | ? | (?) |
| 1955–1966 | Colchester United | 415 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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John Fowler (17 October 1933–28 March 1976) was a Scottish professional footballer, who played for Colchester United.
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Fowler was born in Leith. In his early days he played for junior side Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, during which time he played for a Scotland amateur team against England at Middlesbrough.
Fowler was one of three players brought down from Scotland to Colchester United,[1] along with Sammy McLeod[2] and Bobby Hill[3] from Easthouses Lily, by manager Benny Fenton in 1955. Astute purchases, all three gave lengthy service to the club. Fowler made his debut along with Hill on 20 August 1955 in a goalless draw away to Exeter City. Initially an inside left, he switched to left back later that season.[4]
In thirteen seasons at Layer Road Fowler made 442 appearances, including one as substitute, 21 FA Cup matches and 7 League Cup matches and scored five goals. Fowler still holds sixth place in Colchester's all-time list of long serving players and fifth on the League appearances list and made the number 3 shirt his own for the majority of his career, being an integral part of the promotion sides of 1962 and 1966.
Between 1956–1963 Fowler missed only eight matches, becoming known as "Mr Reliable". He was an ever-present during the 1957–58, 1959–60, 1961–62 and 1962–63 seasons and only missed one game during 1960–61.
Although he left the club at the end of the 1965–66 season, Fowler returned briefly for three games during 1967–68, his final appearance occurring on November 13, 1967 at home to Barrow.
After leaving Colchester United, John became player-manager at Heybridge Swifts. He then moved on to Eastern Gas and finally onto Severalls Athletic where he helped to win the East Essex League Knockout Cup against Stanway.
John was also a regular member of Peter Wright's Ex-Colchester United XI.
Playing against Layer Fox, John collapsed and died aged just 42, leaving behind daughter Karen, three-year-old son Scott and wife Shirley.
This is played for each season by teams in the Colchester & District Sunday League.[5]
Previous winners:
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1976–77 Rose & Crown 1977–78 Elmstead Athletic 1978–79 Moler 1979–80 Elmstead Athletic 1980–81 Severalls 1981–82 Telecomms 1982–83 Lexden Sun 1983–84 Brantham Colts 1984–85 Colchester Gaslights 1985–86 Lexden Sun |
1986–87 Competition declared void 1987–88 Dog & Pheasant 1988–89 Colchester Gaslights 1989–90 Colchester Gaslights 1990–91 Tiptree Monarchs 1991–92 Royal London 1992–93 AFC Pegasus 1993–94 Arena 1994–95 Mercian 1995–96 Colchester Gaslights |
1996–97 Colchester Gaslights 1997–98 Riverside 1998–99 Arena 1999–2000 Gas Recreation 2000–01 AFC Pegasus 2001–02 Brooklands 2002–03 Gas Recreation 2003–04 AFC Pegasus 2004–05 AFC Pegasus 2005–06 Bayern Monkwick |
2006–07 Real BTS 2007–08 Brightlingsea Regent 2008–09 Prettygate 2009–10 Elmstead Athletic |