Bowler was born in Derry, Ireland and began his senior footballing career with Derry City FC immediately prior to World War II, having previously turned out for Derry Municipal Training College. On 24 April 1943 he was signed by Distillery, in an Irish League record £1,000 deal, where he played 122 first-team games, scoring just once (a penalty against Cliftonville FC in 1946). At Distillery, Bowler played in the 1946 Irish Cup final, losing out 3-0 to Linfield FC, and the same season picked up a County Antrim Shield winner's medal (defeating Bangor FC Reserves 3-0 in a replayed final).
In the summer of 1946 Bowler was signed by Portsmouth FC (at the time one of the top teams in the Football League), but made just eight league appearances in three seasons, missing out on a championship medal in 1948-49.
Signed by Hull City A.F.C. for the 1949-50 season, Bowler made 38 Division Two appearances, and was selected to play for Ireland. That season he played in all three games of the 1950 British Home Championship. Normally a centre-half, all three of his international appearances were made in unfamiliar positions - two at right-back, and one at right-half.
In 1950, Bowler moved on again, signing for Division Three (South), Millwall. He helped the club to runners-up position in 1952-53, but in those days that was not good enough for promotion. Although he never added to his collection of international caps, Bowler was a member of the IFA's touring party to North America in the summer of 1953. After 165 league appearances for the Lions, Gerry Bowler was forced to retire due to injury in 1955, although he did continue to turn out as player-manager for his work team, the Crawley-based APV Chemical Company, until the 1962/63 season. Having settled in the south of England, Bowler died in Redhill, Surrey in March 2006.
Referencesedit
^"Gerry Bowler". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
External linksedit
Gerry Bowler, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
Bowler on Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
March 22, 2024
gerry, bowler, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2020,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gerry Bowler news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gerard Columba Gerry Bowler 8 June 1919 26 March 2006 was a Northern Irish footballer He played in the right back or right half positions Gerry BowlerPersonal informationFull nameGerard Columba Bowler 1 Date of birth 1919 06 08 8 June 1919Place of birthDerry IrelandDate of death26 March 2006 2006 03 26 aged 86 Place of deathRedhill EnglandPosition s DefenderSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls Distillery1946 1949Portsmouth8 0 1949 1950Hull City38 0 1950 1955Millwall165 0 Total211 0 International careerNorthern Ireland3 0 Club domestic league appearances and goalsCareer editBowler was born in Derry Ireland and began his senior footballing career with Derry City FC immediately prior to World War II having previously turned out for Derry Municipal Training College On 24 April 1943 he was signed by Distillery in an Irish League record 1 000 deal where he played 122 first team games scoring just once a penalty against Cliftonville FC in 1946 At Distillery Bowler played in the 1946 Irish Cup final losing out 3 0 to Linfield FC and the same season picked up a County Antrim Shield winner s medal defeating Bangor FC Reserves 3 0 in a replayed final In the summer of 1946 Bowler was signed by Portsmouth FC at the time one of the top teams in the Football League but made just eight league appearances in three seasons missing out on a championship medal in 1948 49 Signed by Hull City A F C for the 1949 50 season Bowler made 38 Division Two appearances and was selected to play for Ireland That season he played in all three games of the 1950 British Home Championship Normally a centre half all three of his international appearances were made in unfamiliar positions two at right back and one at right half In 1950 Bowler moved on again signing for Division Three South Millwall He helped the club to runners up position in 1952 53 but in those days that was not good enough for promotion Although he never added to his collection of international caps Bowler was a member of the IFA s touring party to North America in the summer of 1953 After 165 league appearances for the Lions Gerry Bowler was forced to retire due to injury in 1955 although he did continue to turn out as player manager for his work team the Crawley based APV Chemical Company until the 1962 63 season Having settled in the south of England Bowler died in Redhill Surrey in March 2006 References edit Gerry Bowler Barry Hugman s Footballers Retrieved 15 May 2015 External links editGerry Bowler Post War English amp Scottish Football League A Z Player s Transfer Database Bowler on Northern Ireland s Footballing Greats Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gerry Bowler amp oldid 1166013723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,