Josh Gowling

English football player and manager (born 1983) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Josh Gowling

Joshua Anthony Isaac Gowling (born 29 November 1983) is an English football coach, former manager and former professional footballer, who played as a centre-back. He is currently U18 lead coach at EFL Championship club Coventry City.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Josh Gowling
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Gowling in 2011
Personal information
Full name Joshua Anthony Isaac Gowling
Date of birth (1983-11-29) 29 November 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Coventry, England
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Coventry City (U18 lead coach)
Youth career
1998–2002 West Bromwich Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 West Bromwich Albion 0 (0)
2003–2005 Herfølge 30 (0)
2004–2005Ølstykke FC (loan) 13 (0)
2005–2008 AFC Bournemouth 83 (1)
2008 Carlisle United 4 (0)
2008–2009Hereford United (loan) 13 (0)
2009Gillingham (loan) 4 (0)
2009–2011 Gillingham 52 (4)
2010Lincoln City (loan) 4 (0)
2011–2012 Lincoln City 37 (0)
2012–2015 Kidderminster Harriers 106 (6)
2015Grimsby Town (loan) 3 (1)
2015–2017 Grimsby Town 58 (3)
2017–2018 Torquay United 25 (0)
2018Alfreton Town (loan) 10 (0)
2018–2020 Hereford 38 (3)
Total 398 (17)
Managerial career
2020–2023 Hereford
2023 Darlington
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Close

Gowling began his career with West Bromwich Albion and saw action on the continent when he moved to Danish side Herfølge, where he also took in a loan spell with Ølstykke FC. He returned to England in 2005 and played professionally for AFC Bournemouth, Carlisle United, Hereford United, Gillingham, Lincoln City, Kidderminster Harriers and Grimsby Town. In 2017 he joined Torquay United and had a spell on loan with Alfreton Town before joining Hereford. He was appointed manager in January 2020 and left the role in February 2023.

Playing career

Summarize
Perspective

Early career

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Gowling with The Gills

A central defender, Gowling began his career as a trainee at West Bromwich Albion aged just 14 under the guidance of Richard O'Kelly.[1]

Following his release from Albion, he signed for Danish Premier Division club Herfølge Boldklub, making 17 appearances in 2003–04 and 13 appearances in 2004–05. He soon became disillusioned with life in Denmark, and returned to England.[1]

AFC Bournemouth

He joined AFC Bournemouth on a trial basis to begin with in the 2005 close season, and signed a one-year contract after impressing in various pre-season friendlies.[2] He began the 2005–06 season in good form before rupturing his knee ligaments after about a minute's play in the away match to Brentford – this serious injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.[3] Having gradually returned to full fitness following his injury, Gowling featured in over 30 league games during the 2006–07 season, scoring his first professional goal in the process in a game against Rotherham United.[4]

His performance in the 2–0 home win against Yeovil Town on 15 March 2008 saw him named in the League One Team of the Week.[5] In 2007–08 he made 39 league appearances as Bournemouth were relegated to League Two.

Carlisle United

On 19 June 2008 Gowling, whose contract with Bournemouth had run out, signed for Carlisle United on a free transfer. He agreed a two-year contract with the club, who had lost in the League One play-offs the previous season,[6] but spent most of that season on loan at Hereford, against whom he had made his league debut for Carlisle.[7]

Gillingham

In July 2009 Gowling joined Gillingham on loan, initially for a month,[8] and made his debut on 8 August in a 5–0 home win over Swindon Town. On 26 August 2009, Gowling transferred to Gillingham on a two-year contract, just two days after extending the loan deal for another month.[9]

On 28 October 2010 he agreed to join Lincoln City on a month-long loan deal[10] with the paperwork being completed the following day.[11] He returned to Gillingham at the end of his loan deal.[12]

In July 2011, he joined Crewe Alexandra on trial playing seventy minutes in the club's 4–0 friendly victory at Congleton Town on 11 July 2011[13] but was not offered a contract.[14]

Lincoln City

On 14 July 2011, he agreed a two-year contract to return to Lincoln City.[15] On 31 August 2012 he left Lincoln City by mutual consent[16]

Kidderminster Harriers

On the same day he agreed a deal to sign for Kidderminster Harriers.[17] Gowling became a key figure in the Harriers defence, ending the 2012–13 season in the Conference team of the year alongside teammates Lee Vaughan and Anthony Malbon,[18] a season where Harriers finished 2nd, behind Mansfield Town. Gowling took the captain's armband for the 2014–15 season and also took a player/coach role within the club.[19]

Grimsby Town

On 26 March 2015, Gowling joined Grimsby Town on loan till the end of the season.[20] He scored on his debut for the Mariners on 6 April 2015, from a corner he fired in Jack Mackreth's cross in the 69th minute, breaking the deadlock in the 0–2 victory over Alfreton Town, with a right footed shot 3 yards out from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.[21]

On 28 May 2015, Gowling signed a permanent two-year deal with the club.[22] Gowling played in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off final at Wembley, seeing Grimsby promoted to League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League.[23][24] His efforts over the season earned him a place in the 2015–16 National League team of the year, alongside the league's outstanding players.[25]

After making 21 appearances for Grimsby in the 2016–17 season he was released by the club on 9 May 2017.[26][27]

Torquay United

He then signed for Torquay United on 13 June 2017.[28] Gowling made 25 appearances for The Gulls as they were relegated from the National League.[29]

He was transfer-listed by Torquay at the end of the 2017–18 season.[30]

Alfreton Town

On 13 August 2018, Gowling joined Alfreton Town on loan,[31] making 10 league appearances in the National League North.[29]

Hereford

Gowling signed for National League North club Hereford on 7 December 2018.[32]

Managerial career

Hereford

On 21 January 2020, he was appointed as interim manager, following the departure of Russell Slade.[33] Hereford encountered mixed form in Gowling's first months as interim manager, with the 2019–20 National League North season eventually curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June 2020, he was given the job on a permanent basis, appointing Steve Burr as his assistant.[34]

On 5 February 2023, Gowling left Hereford by mutual consent.[35][36]

Darlington

Gowling was appointed manager of National League North club Darlington on 19 September 2023, but was dismissed from the role three months later.[37][38]

Career statistics

As of end of 2017–18 season[39][40]
More information Club, Season ...
Club Season League National cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Bromwich Albion 2002–03 Premier League 0000000000
Herfølge 2003–04 Danish Superliga 170000000170
2004–05 Danish Superliga 130000000130
Total 300000000300
Ølstykke FC (loan) 2004–05 Danish 1st Division 130000000130
AFC Bournemouth 2005–06[41] League One 13000101[a]0150
2006–07[42] League One 33110101[a]0361
2007–08[43] League One 37030102[a]0420
Total 831403040941
Carlisle United 2008–09[44] League One 4010001[a]060
Hereford United (loan) 2008–09[44] League One 130000000130
Gillingham 2009–10[45] League One 30130201[a]0361
2010–11[46] League One 22200101[a]0242
Total 523303020603
Lincoln City 2010–11[46] League Two 4020000060
2011–12[47] Conference Premier 370002[b]0390
Total 410200020450
Kidderminster Harriers 2012–13[48] Conference Premier 404204[c]0464
2013–14[49] Conference Premier 3627000422
2014–15[50] Conference Premier 300001[b]1311
Total 10669000511207
Grimsby Town 2014–15[50] Conference Premier 31002[d]051
2015–16[51] National League 372306[e]0462
2016–17[26] League Two 18010002[f]0210
Total 5834000100723
Torquay United 2017–18[52] National League 2500000250
Career total 425132306024147814
Close
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. Two appearances in FA Trophy, two in Football Conference play-offs
  4. Appearances in Football Conference play-offs
  5. Three appearances in FA Trophy, three in National League play-offs
  6. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Managerial statistics

As of 16 December 2023
More information Team, From ...
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
G W D L Win %
Hereford 21 January 2020 5 February 2023 112432742038.39 [53]
Darlington 19 September 2023 26 December 2023 16349018.75 [54]
Total 128463151035.94
Close

Honours

As a player

Grimsby Town

Individual

As a manager

Individual

References

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