David Cowling
Encyclopedia
David Roy "Dave" Cowling (born 27 November 1958, in Doncaster, England) is an English former professional
footballer who played in the Football League
as a midfielder
for Huddersfield Town
, where he played 340 league games during the 1970s and 1980s, Scunthorpe United
and Reading
.
, Cowling started his career at Mansfield Town
, but never appeared for their first team before moving to Huddersfield Town
in 1977. He is particularly remembered for two goals he scored during the 1982–83 season: the winner against Leeds United
in the Football League Cup
, and the only goal of the game against Newport County
which secured Huddersfield's promotion
to the Second Division
.
He was regarded as a very promising prospect and was linked with moves to Manchester United
, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest
on more than one occasion.
He later signed for Reading
in 1988, before returning to Glanford Park
.
. He then moved to Doncaster Rovers
, where he coached the youth teams before taking over as first team manager in October 1997, a post which he resigned after ten days because of interference from the chairman regarding team selection. He remained on the staff under Danny Bergara's management, but was laid off a few months later.
After a short stint at Goole AFC, Cowling went on to become director of youth at Bury F.C.
, youth development officer for Darlington F.C.
, then director of a football development centre at Darlington College, and established a soccer school in partnership with his son Lee
, also an ex-professional footballer. Dave also holds a UEFA A qualified coach badge.
As well as his position with Darlington, and has spent time working for Southampton FC as a club scout. David is also a Northern scout for Liverpool F.C.
.
Dave also works for The FA Premier League as a Staff Coach at The Premier League Exit trials.
As of 2011, Cowling set up and runs a footballing academy based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, England with his son Lee Cowling
. The academy is the only one of it's kind in the United Kingdom, providing formal education and footballing education to teenagers and young adults.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, where he played 340 league games during the 1970s and 1980s, Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
.
Playing career
Born in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, Cowling started his career at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, but never appeared for their first team before moving to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in 1977. He is particularly remembered for two goals he scored during the 1982–83 season: the winner against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, and the only goal of the game against Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
which secured Huddersfield's promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
He was regarded as a very promising prospect and was linked with moves to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on more than one occasion.
He later signed for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in 1988, before returning to Glanford Park
Glanford Park
Glanford Park is a football stadium in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and the current home of Scunthorpe United. It is the smallest stadium by capacity in the Championship ....
.
Managerial career
After his playing days, Cowling joined the coaching staff at Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
. He then moved to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, where he coached the youth teams before taking over as first team manager in October 1997, a post which he resigned after ten days because of interference from the chairman regarding team selection. He remained on the staff under Danny Bergara's management, but was laid off a few months later.
After a short stint at Goole AFC, Cowling went on to become director of youth at Bury F.C.
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, youth development officer for Darlington F.C.
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
, then director of a football development centre at Darlington College, and established a soccer school in partnership with his son Lee
Lee Cowling
Lee Cowling is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a defender for Nottingham Forest and Mansfield Town.-Playing career:...
, also an ex-professional footballer. Dave also holds a UEFA A qualified coach badge.
As well as his position with Darlington, and has spent time working for Southampton FC as a club scout. David is also a Northern scout for Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Dave also works for The FA Premier League as a Staff Coach at The Premier League Exit trials.
As of 2011, Cowling set up and runs a footballing academy based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, England with his son Lee Cowling
Lee Cowling
Lee Cowling is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a defender for Nottingham Forest and Mansfield Town.-Playing career:...
. The academy is the only one of it's kind in the United Kingdom, providing formal education and footballing education to teenagers and young adults.
External links
- League stats at Neil Brown's site