Dick Rowley - Club Career

Club Career

He played for Andover as an amateur from September 1922, and after scoring a few goals from the wing, he was signed by Swindon Town in November 1924, still retaining his amateur status.

He made his Swindon debut away to Exeter City on 5 April 1926, when he scored twice in a 2–1 victory. His next appearance came a few weeks later, in a 3–2 defeat at Watford. While he was regiestered with Swindon Town, Rowley also made two appearances in November 1925 for the Casuals amateur team in the Isthmian League, scoring once.

In May 1926, he was signed by Southampton of the Football League Second Division, as a replacement for Arthur Dominy who had joined Everton in the summer. He was initially registered as an amateur, but signed his first professional contract in November 1926.

Described as "a gangly inside-forward", he made his debut at inside left in the opening match of the 1926–27 season. After two matches, he lost his place to Alf Bishop but was recalled, as inside right in October and retained his place for the rest of the season. Rowley soon developed a good relationship with centre-forward Bill Rawlings, as the Saints reached second place in the division by the New Year. After that, the club's fortunes turned and they only managed a further four victories in the league. In the FA Cup, however, five goals each from Rowley and Rawlings helped the Saints reach the semi-finals where they lost 2–1 to Arsenal of the First Division.

Rowley's form attracted interest from several larger clubs, but he remained at The Dell. In 1927–28, he was a regular in the side until December when he lost his place to Charlie Petrie. Rowley was recalled to the side in March, playing at centre-forward, after Rawlings had been sold to Manchester United.

In the following season, with first Petrie and then Herbert Coates being preferred at inside-right, it was not until the end of October that Rowley was once again given a run in the team, this time playing at outside-right. After a few matches at centre-forward, he reverted to inside-right in December, retaining his place for the remainder of the season.

Rowley's best season for the Saints came in 1929–30, when he scored 25 goals from 25 appearances, including hat-tricks in successive matches against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest in September and four goals at Bradford City on 2 November, thus becoming the first Southampton player to score four goals in an away game.

In February 1930, another Second Division club, Tottenham Hotspur made a bid of £3,750 for Rowley which the Southampton board found "irresistible". His spell at Southampton was particularly prolific as he scored 52 goals in his 104 league appearances together with six goals in nine FA Cup matches.

He spent much of his time at White Hart Lane in the reserves and remained at Tottenham until midway through the following season, having scored ten goals in 24 matches.

In December 1931, he was signed by Preston North End (also in the Second Division) for a fee of £5,000, with Ted Harper also making the same move. In Rowley's first full season at Deepdale, Rowley's crosses helped Harper score 37 goals but after Harper was sold to Blackburn Rovers, injuries restricted Rowley's appearances. He was only able to play five times in 1933–34 as Preston gained promotion as runners-up. Rowley retired in the summer of 1934, and was never to play in the First Division.