Terry Owen
Encyclopedia
Leslie Terence "Terry" Owen (born 11 September 1949 in Liverpool
, Merseyside
) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker
with several clubs in the 1970s, and is best known as the father of Manchester United
striker, Michael Owen
.
and made two top–flight appearances for the Toffees in the 1967–68 season. However a place in the Everton side was always going to be difficult to come across and he moved to Bradford City
in June 1970. His two seasons with the Bantams saw Owen manage six goals in 47 league appearances, but Bradford were relegated to the Fourth Division
shortly before his departure to Chester
in June 1972 for £1,000.
Owen spent five years at Sealand Road
from 1972–77 in one of the most successful periods in the club's history
. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Cambridge United
in August 1972 and went on to bag 41 league goals in 199 appearances.
The best remembered campaign was 1974–75, when Division Four side Chester defied the odds to reach the League Cup
semi-finals. Playing in arguably the biggest game of his career, Owen scored in the 2–2 first-leg draw with Aston Villa
and played in the return game as Chester narrowly lost 3–2 to deny Owen a Wembley Stadium date. However, the season was to end in glory as Chester finished fourth in Division Four and won promotion
for the first time. Owen finished as the club's top league scorer during the momentous season, with 14 efforts to his name.
He managed double-figures again in 1975–76 and played in the FA Cup
fifth round for Chester at Wolves
in February 1977 but left the club at the end of the campaign.
Owen played just one Football League
game for his next club Cambridge United
(against Chester) before returning to the north-west
with Rochdale
. He scored 21 goals in 82 league games for Dale from 1977–79 and finished his league career with three goals in 17 outings for Port Vale
in the 1979–80
.
After finishing his professional career, Owen's non-league clubs included Northwich Victoria, Oswestry Town
, Colwyn Bay
, Caernarfon Town
and Prestatyn Town
.
international Michael Owen
. As the younger Owen began to make the mark in junior football with Hawarden Rangers
, he was regularly referred to in the Chester press as "son of former Chester striker, Terry". However, as time wore on and he began to establish himself in his own right, the roles would be reversed, with Terry Owen normally spoken of just as Michael Owen's father. Before Michael joined rivals Liverpool
as a youngster he supported Everton, the club where his father started his career.
In his role as well-known dad, Owen has often been seen at events with his son, such as when he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year
award in 1998.
Owen is also the father-in-law of Richie Partridge
, who currently plays for The New Saints. He asked his father-in-law for advice prior to joining Chester City
in 2007. One of Owen's other sons, Andrew, spent time with Chester as a youngster without making any appearances and later played for Holywell Town
.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
with several clubs in the 1970s, and is best known as the father of 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...
striker, Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
.
Playing career
Owen came through the ranks with EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and made two top–flight appearances for the Toffees in the 1967–68 season. However a place in the Everton side was always going to be difficult to come across and he moved to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in June 1970. His two seasons with the Bantams saw Owen manage six goals in 47 league appearances, but Bradford were relegated to the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
shortly before his departure to Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in June 1972 for £1,000.
Owen spent five years at Sealand Road
Sealand Road
Sealand Road was the home stadium of Chester City Football Club from 1906 until 1990. Although officially known simply as The Stadium, it was more commonly referred to as Sealand Road...
from 1972–77 in one of the most successful periods in the club's history
History of Chester City F.C.
Chester F.C. were founded in 1885 as an amalgamation of Chester Rovers and Old King's Scholars and initially played their home games at Faulkner Street...
. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in August 1972 and went on to bag 41 league goals in 199 appearances.
The best remembered campaign was 1974–75, when Division Four side Chester defied the odds to reach the 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...
semi-finals. Playing in arguably the biggest game of his career, Owen scored in the 2–2 first-leg draw with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and played in the return game as Chester narrowly lost 3–2 to deny Owen a Wembley Stadium date. However, the season was to end in glory as Chester finished fourth in Division Four and won 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...
for the first time. Owen finished as the club's top league scorer during the momentous season, with 14 efforts to his name.
He managed double-figures again in 1975–76 and played in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
fifth round for Chester at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in February 1977 but left the club at the end of the campaign.
Owen played just one 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...
game for his next club Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
(against Chester) before returning to the north-west
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
with Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. He scored 21 goals in 82 league games for Dale from 1977–79 and finished his league career with three goals in 17 outings for Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in the 1979–80
1979–80 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1979–80 season was Port Vale's sixty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season in the Fourth Division. One of the club's worst ever seasons, Vale finished twentieth in the league, and exited both cup competitions at the first stage. They also lost a...
.
After finishing his professional career, Owen's non-league clubs included Northwich Victoria, Oswestry Town
Oswestry Town F.C.
Oswestry Town F.C. was a football club, formerly playing in the League of Wales.The club was founded as Oswestry United in 1860, which meant they were one of the world's oldest football clubs. Matches were latterly played at Park Hall stadium, Oswestry, after a spell at Victoria Road...
, Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
, Caernarfon Town
Caernarfon Town F.C.
Caernarfon Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance. The club ia nicknamed The Canaries because of its yellow and green strip. Caernarfon Town plays at The Oval, Caernarfon, Gwynedd.-History:...
and Prestatyn Town
Prestatyn Town F.C.
Prestatyn Town Football Club is a Welsh association football club based in Prestatyn, Denbighshire.- History :Prestatyn town FC played their first-ever game on Thursday October 20th 1910 when they travelled to Rhyl Amateurs and got off to a flying start, winning 3-2 thanks to goals by Gratton,...
.
Family links with football
One of Owen's five children is former EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
. As the younger Owen began to make the mark in junior football with Hawarden Rangers
Hawarden Rangers F.C.
Hawarden Rangers F.C. is a Welsh football club playing in Hawarden, Clwyd. Since 2005, the Senior teams have been members of the Welsh National League , having previously been members of the Clwyd League....
, he was regularly referred to in the Chester press as "son of former Chester striker, Terry". However, as time wore on and he began to establish himself in his own right, the roles would be reversed, with Terry Owen normally spoken of just as Michael Owen's father. Before Michael joined rivals Liverpool
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...
as a youngster he supported Everton, the club where his father started his career.
In his role as well-known dad, Owen has often been seen at events with his son, such as when he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year
BBC Sports Personality of the Year
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year is an awards ceremony that takes place annually in December. Devised by Paul Fox in 1954, it originally consisted of one titular award. Several new awards have been introduced, and , eight awards are presented. The oldest of these are the Team of the Year and...
award in 1998.
Owen is also the father-in-law of Richie Partridge
Richie Partridge
Richard Joseph "Richie" Partridge is a retired Irish footballer. Active in senior football between 2000 and 2011, he was capped at Under 18 and Under 21 level by the Irish national team, called up by the senior national team in 2002, and played for nine English clubs before finishing his career in...
, who currently plays for The New Saints. He asked his father-in-law for advice prior to joining Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in 2007. One of Owen's other sons, Andrew, spent time with Chester as a youngster without making any appearances and later played for Holywell Town
Holywell Town F.C.
Holywell Town F.C. is a football club representing the Flintshire town of Holywell in Wales. They are nicknamed the The Wellmen, and play their home games at Halkyn Road, Holywell...
.
Honours
Chester City- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
: Promotion as fourth placed team: 1974–75 - Football League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
: Semi-finalist 1974–75.