A striker who played most of his career with Manchester United, Jack Rowley turned out for Spurs in the War years as a guest.
A heavy scorer, nicknamed "Gunner", because of the firing of shots he made during games, he had kicked off his career with local club Wolverhampton Wanderers, but got nowhere near the first team, so left to start in the first team at Bournemouth. His scoring ability was quickly spotted by Manchester United, who signed Rowley up at the end of his first season on the South Coast and he went on to score over 200 goals for the club.
During World War II Jack played war-time games for Aldershot, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Distillery (Northern Ireland) and while at the latter, was invited to play for Spurs, when he was in London by Les Bennett.
Played the whole of the 1943-44 season and ended up top scorer in the league with more than a goal a game, as Tottenham won the Football League South title. It was this form that saw him selected for England for the first time in a war-time international v Wales in May 1944.
After Jack had finished playing, he went into coaching and started as player/manager at Plymouth Argyle in 1955, getting them into Division Two in 1959. Was Oldham manager when they got promoted to the Third Division in 1963, leaving them to be Ajax manager for the 1963-64 season. Also managed Wrexham, Bradford Park Avenue and Oldham again on his return to Britain.
Represented England on six occasions, scoring six goals, with four of them coming against Northern Ireland on 16th November 1949.
Jack Rowley died on 28th June 1988.