Derby County
He was signed for Derby County by manager George Jobey on 5 May 1928, on the same day as future England international Jack Barker. He made his debut in a 2–1 win over Bolton Wanderers at the Baseball Ground on 2 February 1929 and celebrated his first appearance by scoring.
It was not until the 1930–31 season that Bowers was to become a regular selection at centre forward after the transfer of Harry Bedford to Newcastle United. His first match in this season came against Arsenal, which launched Bowers on the way to breaking the club's goal-scoring record. Having sat out the first nine matches of the season, Bowers scored 37 goals in the remaining 33 matches, including four in one game against Chelsea when the Rams beat the Londoners 6–2. He scored 15 goals in a run of six consecutive matches in January and February 1931. This magnificent spell of goal-scoring was the main reason why Derby reached sixth place and, for most of the season, were sitting on the edge of the leading pack. Bowers holds Derby County's record for the number of League goals in a season (37), although this was equalled by Ray Straw in the Third Division North campaign of 1956–57.
The following season, he was again Derby's top-scorer despite only scoring 25 goals, but improved on this in 1932–33 with 35 league goals, thus making him the top scorer in the Football League First Division as Derby finished in seventh place in the table. Bowers also contributed eight goals in the FA Cup as Derby reached the semi-finals where they lost to Manchester City. This was the only round in the cup run in which Bowers failed to score, as he finished the season with a total of 43 goals from 47 matches. This remains Derby's goal-scoring record.
His form continued into the next season, when he was again top scorer in the top flight with 34 league goals, plus three in the cup, with Derby reaching fourth place in the table.
His form for Derby brought him to the notice of the England selectors and he was given his first international cap in the 1934 British Home Championship against Ireland played at Windsor Park, Belfast on 14 October 1933. Bowers scored England's third goal in the 60th minute in a 3–0 victory. He retained his place for the next match against Wales on 15 November, but failed to score as England went down 2–1. As this victory enabled Wales to claim the British Home Championship title, Bowers' next match against Scotland was to have no bearing on the destiny of the title. Bowers scored in the 85th minute as England defeated the Scots 3–0. Bower also made two appearances for the Football League.
In September 1934, a serious knee injury sustained in a match against Spurs curtailed his Derby career and he lost his place to Hughie Gallacher. His recovery was slow, although in 1935–36 his 30 goals for the Reserves helped Derby to the Central League championship. He returned to the side for the start of the 1936–37 season; on 5 September 1936, Derby were losing 4–1 at home to Manchester United, when Bowers struck with four goals in an amazing 15-minute spell (between the 64th and 79th minute) to give his side a spectacular 5–4 victory.
By now he was no longer first choice and in November 1936 he moved to Leicester City for a fee of £6,000. In his eight years with Derby, he made 220 appearances, scoring 183 goals. Only Steve Bloomer and Kevin Hector have scored more goals for Derby.
Read more about this topic: Jack Bowers, Playing Career
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