Harry Cowan

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Harry Cowan
Personal information
Full name Henry Cowan
Date of birth 5 December 1893
Place of birth Rutherglen, Scotland[a]
Date of death c. 1974 (aged 80–81)
Place of death United States
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1916–1924 Clyde 265 (3)
1924–1925 Dunfermline Athletic 35 (0)
1925–1927 New Bedford Whalers 76 (1)
1927 Hartford Americans 9 (0)
1927 New York Nationals 3 (0)
1928 Fall River F.C. 4 (0)
1928–1929 Pawtucket Rangers 5 (0)
1929–1931 New Bedford Whalers 8 (0)
Total 405 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Henry Cowan (5 December 1893 – 1974) was a Scottish footballer who played for Clyde and Dunfermline Athletic in his native country and for several clubs – primarily the New Bedford Whalers – in the United States, mainly as a full back. Reports from the time indicate that he was deaf and/or mute.[3][4]

Career[edit]

Scotland[edit]

Raised in Eastfield, South Lanarkshire,[a] Cowan began his known senior career with local club Clyde in 1916[5][6] (he was around 22 years old and it is likely he played for other clubs earlier, but this is unconfirmed). He was ever-present in his first season at Shawfield Stadium – 38 league appearances – and continued to feature regularly for the club throughout the duration of World War I (when many competitions were suspended but the Scottish Football League continued for public morale), suggesting that he was employed in a reserved occupation in addition to being a sportsman, although his later marriage and travel documentation listed him as a dyer outwith football[7][8] so it may have been his hearing impairment which excused him from active service. A match report from October 1918 stated that Cowan "was again a dominating personality at pivot" in a victory over Hearts.[9]

His eight years at Clyde also included reaching three finals of the Glasgow Cup, all ending in defeat (twice losing out to Celtic[10][11][12] and once to Rangers after a replay, in which Cowan conceded a penalty kick for handball which resulted in the only goal).[13] His spell at the club ended at the same time as their relegation from the top division in 1923–24, ending an 18-year run in the top division. A benefit match was played for him against Rangers in March 1924 to recognise his long service.[14][15]

United States[edit]

Cowan moved on to Dunfermline Athletic for one season[5] before heading to the United States, aged 31, to play in the American Soccer League.[2][b]

Initially he was with the New Bedford Whalers, playing regularly for two seasons[18] and winning the Lewis Cup in 1926.[16] He then had short spells with other clubs:[19] he began 1927–28 with the Hartford Americans before they were withdrawn from the league, then played a few matches each for the New York Nationals and the Fall River F.C. – he was not involved in the later stages of the Nationals' winning run in the 1928 National Challenge Cup. In 1928–29 he played for J. & P. Coats who changed identity mid-season to become the Pawtucket Rangers.[19] By now at the veteran stage, he returned to the Whalers in 1929 and played a handful of games for them, likely as an emergency stand-in, over the next two seasons,[2][19] a somewhat chaotic period known as the 'soccer wars', featuring several disputes, teams resigning and rival leagues being created, coinciding with the great depression which brought about the end of the system altogether a few years later.

Personal life[edit]

His son of the same name was born in Scotland but grew up in New Bedford and became an American citizen in order to serve in the US Air Force during World War II; he was killed in action in 1944.[20][21]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Cowan was raised in Eastfield, a small community in Lanarkshire situated between Cambuslang and Rutherglen (nowadays a suburb connecting them), with both towns being quoted as his hometown in sources as a result.[1][2]
  2. ^ Although by no means a new development, the timing of his departure coincided almost exactly with the Scottish Football Association hierarchy meeting to discuss the "American menace",[16][17] as they described the exodus of players crossing the Atlantic for a new challenge with attractive wages, in many cases circumventing the 'retain or transfer' system in Britain by which a club could hold on to registered players whom they did not intend to utilise until another club paid a nominated transfer fee, without having to pay them; however this was only applicable to the Scottish and English leagues, and moving abroad (Ireland was also a popular choice) was at times the only career continuation option available to out-of-favour players with a high transfer price and no bidders for their services.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 3 December 2021
  2. ^ a b c Harry Cowan, Stats Crew
  3. ^ New Bedford Soccer Team Meets Bethlehem F.C. Tomorrow, The Globe, 18 December 1925, via Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club
  4. ^ Brooklyn Soccer Team Has Many Stars From Abroad, The Standard Union, 25 March 1926, scan via Newspapers.com
  5. ^ a b John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Cowan H Image 1 Clyde 1922, Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 21 February 2022
  7. ^ Statutory registers - Marriages - Search results, ScotlandsPeople. Retrieved 3 December 2021
  8. ^ UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, 22 August 1925, via Ancestry (subscription required)
  9. ^ Clyde Clever. The Sunday Post, 27 October 1918, scan via London Hearts Supporters Club
  10. ^ Association Football. | An Uninteresting Final., The Glasgow Herald, 9 October 1916
  11. ^ Celtic Win The Cup—30,000 Onlookers–£600 At The "Gate"—Champions' Great Gallop. The Sunday Post, 8 October 1916. Scan via London Hearts Supporters Club
  12. ^ Association Football. | Celtic Win A Cup., The Glasgow Herald, 4 October 1920
  13. ^ Football. | Glasgow Cup–Replayed Final Tie., The Glasgow Herald, 5 October 1922
  14. ^ Football. | Benefit match for Clyde player., The Scotsman, 25 March 1924; scan via London Hearts Supporters Club
  15. ^ On this day – March 25th, Rangers Today, 25 March 2021
  16. ^ a b The American Soccer League: The Golden Years of American Soccer 1921-1931; Colin Jose; Scarecrow Press, 1998; ISBN 9781461716129
  17. ^ The Secret History of American Soccer, Brian Philips, Slate, 9 June 2010
  18. ^ New Bedford Has Never Won Game Here, The Globe-Times, 11 November 1926, via Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club
  19. ^ a b c Henry Cowan, SoccerStats.us
  20. ^ New Bedford's Henry Cowan Jr. went from an athlete to a war hero, Buddy Thomas, SouthCoastToday, 13 July 2021
  21. ^ Sgt Henry Cowan Jr., Find A Grave
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