John Cowan

Name: John Cowan
Born: 8 January 1949, Belfast
Height: 5.09 ft
Weight: 9.08 st
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1970).

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Crusaders	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Newcastle United	69/0-72/3	Feb-67	-	6(3)/0	-	0(1)/0	-	-
Drogheda	-	-73	-	/5	-	-	-	-
Darlington	75/6	Aug-75	-	10(0)/0	1(0)/0	-	-	-
Queen of the South	-	-76	-	-	-	-	-	-
Scarborough	-	-76	-	-	(Northern Premier League)

Biography:
John Cowan began his career as a wing-half with Crusaders before joining Newcastle United for £300 in February 1967. He was one of a number of Northern Ireland players to feature at St. James’ Park through the late-sixties and early-seventies, including Iam McFaul, Tommy Cassidy and Dave Craig – with whom he shared ‘digs’. Cowan’s chances were few-and-far-between, and it was two years before he made his Football League debut.

Almost immediately on his Newcastle debut Cowan was called into the Northern Ireland set-up. He was denied an Under-23 cap when a game against Wales was snowed-off early in 1970. He did however gain a place in Billy Bingham’s Full squad for the 1970 Home Nations Championship, making his only international appearance as a substitute against England at Wembley.

Despite his ability to play either in defence or midfield, Cowan had to wait until the 1972/73 season before making the Newcastle first eleven again, coming in for the injured Tommy Gibb early in the season. After a total of just ten appearances in six years at Newcastle, Cowan was released in the summer of 1973.

He returned to Ireland, taking the position of player-manager at Drogheda while in his mid-20s. In two seasons at Lourdes Stadium he stabilised an oft rock-bottom club, and he could take much credit for putting in place the beginnings of Jimmy McAlinden’s successful squad of the late-seventies.

Cowan returned to the north-east of England with Darlington in 1975, but was dogged by a niggling hamstring injury and dropped into non-league football with Scarborough after just a year.

From a footballing family, his three brothers also played Irish League football. With his footballing career behind him, John Cowan formed successful a sports trophy business in Newcastle.

Toon1892

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
21-04-1970 England A BC L 1-3 sub

Summary: 0(1)/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.