John Frederick "Jack" Rowley was an English football striker from the 1930s to the 1950s, mainly remembered for playing for Manchester United.
He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific and explosive goalscoring, achieving scoring statistics with United of 208 goals in 422 appearances. His younger brother, Arthur, still holds the record for the most number of goals scored in the Football League during a career with 434.
Rowley started his professional career in 1935 with Wolverhampton Wanderers, although he never found a place in the first team.
In 1937, he moved to Bournemouth & Boscombe, scoring 10 goals in his first 11 games.
His talent soon brought him to the attention of larger clubs and Rowley was purchased 8 months later by Manchester United for £3,000.
Still only 17, his debut for the club came
on 23 October 1937 against Sheffield Wednesday.
In his second game, he scored 4 goals against Swansea Town.
Initially bought as an left sided winger, he was to develop into a highly effective centre forward in Matt Busby's first United team.
He helped United to the 1948 FA Cup and their 1952 championship.
He left the club in 1955 to become player/manager of Plymouth Argyle.
He later went on to manage Oldham Athletic, gaining promotion to the Third Division in 1963.
From here, he went on to manage AFC Ajax for the 1963-64 season, before returning to Britain to manage Wrexham, Bradford, and a second spell at Oldham.
Jack retired from management in December 1969 to run a sub post office/newsagent in the Shaw district of Oldham.
Rowley died on 28th June 1998, at the age of 77.
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He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific and explosive goalscoring, achieving scoring statistics with United of 208 goals in 422 appearances. His younger brother, Arthur, still holds the record for the most number of goals scored in the Football League during a career with 434.
Rowley started his professional career in 1935 with Wolverhampton Wanderers, although he never found a place in the first team.
In 1937, he moved to Bournemouth & Boscombe, scoring 10 goals in his first 11 games.
His talent soon brought him to the attention of larger clubs and Rowley was purchased 8 months later by Manchester United for £3,000.
Still only 17, his debut for the club came
on 23 October 1937 against Sheffield Wednesday.
In his second game, he scored 4 goals against Swansea Town.
Initially bought as an left sided winger, he was to develop into a highly effective centre forward in Matt Busby's first United team.
He helped United to the 1948 FA Cup and their 1952 championship.
He left the club in 1955 to become player/manager of Plymouth Argyle.
He later went on to manage Oldham Athletic, gaining promotion to the Third Division in 1963.
From here, he went on to manage AFC Ajax for the 1963-64 season, before returning to Britain to manage Wrexham, Bradford, and a second spell at Oldham.
Jack retired from management in December 1969 to run a sub post office/newsagent in the Shaw district of Oldham.
Rowley died on 28th June 1998, at the age of 77.
*************************************************
John Frederick "Jack" Rowley was an English football striker from the 1930s to the 1950s, mainly remembered for playing for Manchester United.
He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific and explosive goalscoring, achieving scoring statistics with United of 208 goals in 422 appearances. His younger brother, Arthur, still holds the record for the most number of goals scored in the Football League during a career with 434.
Rowley started his professional career in 1935 with Wolverhampton Wanderers, although he never found a place in the first team.
In 1937, he moved to Bournemouth & Boscombe, scoring 10 goals in his first 11 games.
His talent soon brought him to the attention of larger clubs and Rowley was purchased 8 months later by Manchester United for £3,000.
Still only 17, his debut for the club came
on 23 October 1937 against Sheffield Wednesday.
In his second game, he scored 4 goals against Swansea Town.
Initially bought as an left sided winger, he was to develop into a highly effective centre forward in Matt Busby's first United team.
He helped United to the 1948 FA Cup and their 1952 championship.
He left the club in 1955 to become player/manager of Plymouth Argyle.
He later went on to manage Oldham Athletic, gaining promotion to the Third Division in 1963.
From here, he went on to manage AFC Ajax for the 1963-64 season, before returning to Britain to manage Wrexham, Bradford, and a second spell at Oldham.
Jack retired from management in December 1969 to run a sub post office/newsagent in the Shaw district of Oldham.
Rowley died on 28th June 1998, at the age of 77.
*************************************************
He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific and explosive goalscoring, achieving scoring statistics with United of 208 goals in 422 appearances. His younger brother, Arthur, still holds the record for the most number of goals scored in the Football League during a career with 434.
Rowley started his professional career in 1935 with Wolverhampton Wanderers, although he never found a place in the first team.
In 1937, he moved to Bournemouth & Boscombe, scoring 10 goals in his first 11 games.
His talent soon brought him to the attention of larger clubs and Rowley was purchased 8 months later by Manchester United for £3,000.
Still only 17, his debut for the club came
on 23 October 1937 against Sheffield Wednesday.
In his second game, he scored 4 goals against Swansea Town.
Initially bought as an left sided winger, he was to develop into a highly effective centre forward in Matt Busby's first United team.
He helped United to the 1948 FA Cup and their 1952 championship.
He left the club in 1955 to become player/manager of Plymouth Argyle.
He later went on to manage Oldham Athletic, gaining promotion to the Third Division in 1963.
From here, he went on to manage AFC Ajax for the 1963-64 season, before returning to Britain to manage Wrexham, Bradford, and a second spell at Oldham.
Jack retired from management in December 1969 to run a sub post office/newsagent in the Shaw district of Oldham.
Rowley died on 28th June 1998, at the age of 77.
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