17 Facts About Bill Rowley

William Spencer Rowley was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke in the 1880s and 1890s, making two appearances for England.

Bill Rowley later became Stoke's manager between 1895 and 1897.

Bill Rowley played for Burslem Port Vale before joining Stoke in 1887.

William Spencer Bill Rowley was born on 11 September 1865 in Hanley, Staffordshire.

Bill Rowley married dressmaker Ellen Rhodes on 29 April 1893 in Edensor.

In 1890, Bill Rowley played professional baseball for Stoke in the National League of Baseball of Great Britain.

Bill Rowley was born in Hanley, Staffordshire and started his professional career playing in Stoke's reserve team as a forward in August 1883.

Bill Rowley switched to goalkeeping and joined local rivals Burslem Port Vale in April 1884.

Bill Rowley was called up to the England national team for the match against Ireland in 1886, to act as William Rose's reserve.

Bill Rowley was a member of the Stoke side that were founder members of the English Football League in 1888.

Bill Rowley played 21 of Stoke's 22 Football League matches and kept three clean sheets whilst restricting the opposition to a single goal on four occasions.

Bill Rowley was a virtual ever-present throughout his first six years with Stoke, and his form earned him a call into the national team for the match against Ireland on 2 March 1889.

The match was played at Anfield, then the home of Everton, and the selectors made eleven changes to the side that had beaten Wales a week before with nine new caps, including Bill Rowley's Stoke teammate, Tommy Clare at right-back.

Clawley now established himself as first-choice 'keeper, and in his final three seasons at the Victoria Ground, Bill Rowley managed only twelve further League appearances.

In September 1897, Horace Austerberry was appointed secretary-manager of Stoke, and Bill Rowley was made general secretary.

Bill Rowley handled the ball well and was never afraid to go in where it hurts.

Bill Rowley picked up numerous injuries from his fearless play in defending his goal from sometimes violent attackers, and his resilience made him a popular figure with football supporters across the country.