Walter Gowers

Walter Gowers (first ¼ 1903[2] – third ¼ 1965) was a professional rugby league and association football (soccer) footballer who played in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He played representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain (non-Test matches), and Lancashire, and at club level for Platt Lane ARLFC (in Wigan), the Rochdale Hornets (two spells), and St. Helens (Heritage № 450), as a goal-kicking fullback, i.e. number 1,[1] and club level association football (soccer) for Preston North End (reserves in 1926), as a full-back.

Walter Gowers

Personal information
Full name	Walter Gowers
Born	24 December 1902 Wigan district, England
Died	September 1965 (aged 62) Rochdale district, England
Playing information
Position	Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1922–36 Rochdale Hornets 455 5 733 24 1497 1936 St. Helens 6 0 7 2 18 1946 Rochdale Hornets 1 0 0 0 0 Total 462 5 740 26 1515 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P ≥1922–≤36 Lancashire ≥4 1928 Great Britain 0
Source: [1]

Background

Walter Gowers' birth was registered in Wigan district, Lancashire, England, he worked as a gardener, he lived at High Birch Terrace, Rochdale, and he died aged 62 in Rochdale district, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Walter Gowers represented Great Britain in non-Test matches on the 1928 Great Britain rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand, scoring 27-goals.[3]

County honours

Walter Gowers represented Lancashire while at Rochdale Hornets, winning four County Championship medals.

Club career

Walter Gowers came out of retirement aged c. 42–43 to play one match for Rochdale Hornets against Wigan at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 12 January 1946.

Career records

Walter Gowers holds Rochdale Hornets' "most appearances in a career" record with 456-appearances between 1922 and 1946, and holds Rochdale Hornets' "most points in a career" record with 1497-points scored between 1922 and 1946. He previously held Rochdale Hornets' "most goals in a season" record with 109-goals during the 1933–34 season, this record was extended by Graham Starkey during the 1966–67 season.

Genealogical information

Walter Gowers' marriage to Mary E. (née Prescott) was registered during first ¼ 1929 in Chorley district.[4] They had children; Winifred J. Gowers (birth registered third ¼ 1930 in Rochdale district), John Gowers (birth registered first ¼ 1934 in Wigan district), and the rugby league footballer; Ken Gowers. Walter Gowers was the great-grandfather of the Middlesex cricketer John Simpson (Ken Gowers' grandson).

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
3. "Profile at saints.org.uk". saints.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
4. "Marriage details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links

• Profile at saints.org.uk
• Rochdale Hornets statistics at greyhoundderby.com