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Michael McGowan (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Valentine "Mikey" McGowan (born 22 February 1985 in Glasgow
) is a Scottish
-born Northern Irish
football
defender
who currently plays for Ayr United
, where he played a handful of games, before moving to Dundee
. McGowan failed to make a single appearance for Dundee, and subsequently joined Clyde
.
McGowan made his Clyde debut as a substitute in the first league game of the 2005/2006 season
against Ross County
, and went on to cement his place in the team, missing only 1 more game that season. During that season, McGowan was rewarded for his consistent performances by being named Clyde F.C player of the year and a call up to the Northern Ireland U21 squad
, after discovering he was eligible to play for them. He has since has been capped on a few occasions.
McGowan temporarily took over the captains armband at Clyde under Joe Miller in February 2007
, due to an injury to recently appointed captain Neil McGregor
. McGowan captained the side for the rest of the season, and was officially appointed Team Captain in August 2007 under new manager Colin Hendry . He left the club in July 2008, after failing to agree a new contract.
He then joined Queen of the South
in July 2008 after impressing in a trial.
McGowan signed for Dundalk FC in the League of Ireland in July 2009. In his first season with the club he played 18 games and scored 6 goals despite only joining half way through the season he became a fans favourite and was named Dundalk F.C player of the year. On the last day of the season, and on McGowan's last game for the Lilywhites on the 5th of November he scored a goal from the halfway line against Derry City. This earned him the Goal of the Season award on Monday Night Soccer
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/mns/features/gotm.html.
Despite being offered an improved contract at the end of the 2009 season (the only player to do so), he chose to reject the offer in order to focus on signing with a Scottish club. He trained with Rangers for 4 months before re-signing for Dundalk on May 6, 2010, helping them get to the second round of the Europa League. In August 2010 he left Dundalk again when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
In September 2010, McGowan was on trial with Scottish side St Mirren. The trial came to nothing but he was picked up by Alloa Athletic in November.
He has since signed for Ayr United.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who currently plays for Ayr United
Career
He began his senior career with StenhousemuirStenhousemuir F.C.
Stenhousemuir FC is a Scottish football club located in Stenhousemuir. The club is a member of the Scottish Football League and currently plays in the Scottish Second Division....
, where he played a handful of games, before moving to Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
. McGowan failed to make a single appearance for Dundee, and subsequently joined Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
.
McGowan made his Clyde debut as a substitute in the first league game of the 2005/2006 season
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
against Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
, and went on to cement his place in the team, missing only 1 more game that season. During that season, McGowan was rewarded for his consistent performances by being named Clyde F.C player of the year and a call up to the Northern Ireland U21 squad
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
, after discovering he was eligible to play for them. He has since has been capped on a few occasions.
McGowan temporarily took over the captains armband at Clyde under Joe Miller in February 2007
Clyde F.C. season 2006-07
In season 2006-07, Clyde competed in their seventh consecutive season in the Scottish First Division. Joe Miller was appointed as new manager, after Graham Roberts was dismissed for gross misconduct on a tour of Canada....
, due to an injury to recently appointed captain Neil McGregor
Neil McGregor
Neil McGregor , is a Scottish football defender who currently plays for Dundee FC.-Career:McGregor began his career with Kilmarnock, but failed to make the grade with them and was released. He subsequently signed for Clyde in the summer of 2005, and scored on his début for them in the Scottish...
. McGowan captained the side for the rest of the season, and was officially appointed Team Captain in August 2007 under new manager Colin Hendry . He left the club in July 2008, after failing to agree a new contract.
He then joined Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in July 2008 after impressing in a trial.
McGowan signed for Dundalk FC in the League of Ireland in July 2009. In his first season with the club he played 18 games and scored 6 goals despite only joining half way through the season he became a fans favourite and was named Dundalk F.C player of the year. On the last day of the season, and on McGowan's last game for the Lilywhites on the 5th of November he scored a goal from the halfway line against Derry City. This earned him the Goal of the Season award on Monday Night Soccer
Monday Night Soccer
Monday Night Soccer is the RTÉ's main football television programme. It is shown on RTÉ Two on Monday evenings during the Irish football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in Irish football's top division, the League of Ireland Premier Division...
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/mns/features/gotm.html.
Despite being offered an improved contract at the end of the 2009 season (the only player to do so), he chose to reject the offer in order to focus on signing with a Scottish club. He trained with Rangers for 4 months before re-signing for Dundalk on May 6, 2010, helping them get to the second round of the Europa League. In August 2010 he left Dundalk again when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
In September 2010, McGowan was on trial with Scottish side St Mirren. The trial came to nothing but he was picked up by Alloa Athletic in November.
He has since signed for Ayr United.
See also
- Clyde F.C. season 2005-06Clyde F.C. season 2005-06In season 2005-06, Clyde competed in their sixth consecutive season in the Scottish First Division. Graham Roberts was appointed as new manager, after Billy Reid left to join Hamilton Academical. Roberts appointed ex-Celtic player Joe Miller as his assistant....
| 2006–07Clyde F.C. season 2006-07In season 2006-07, Clyde competed in their seventh consecutive season in the Scottish First Division. Joe Miller was appointed as new manager, after Graham Roberts was dismissed for gross misconduct on a tour of Canada....
| 2007–08Clyde F.C. season 2007-08Season 2007-08 saw Clyde compete in their eighth consecutive season in the Scottish First Division. Former Scotland captain Colin Hendry was appointed manager in June 2007, replacing Joe Miller. Hendry resigned in January 2008, and was replaced by John Brown. The clun finished 9th in the division...