Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager.
17 Facts About Sam Cowan
2.
Sam Cowan made his league debut for Doncaster Rovers in 1923, and signed for First Division Manchester City the following season.
3.
Sam Cowan returned to Manchester City as manager in 1946, winning the Second Division in his only season in charge.
4.
Sam Cowan continued to work in sports and physiotherapy until his death in 1964.
5.
Sam Cowan was born on 10 May 1901 in Chesterfield, but moved further north in his early years and was raised in Adwick le Street near Doncaster.
6.
Sam Cowan did not play football as a child, only gaining an interest in the sport when he took part in a game at a local park aged 17.
7.
Sam Cowan then started to play for local teams, including Adwick Juniors, Bullcroft Main Colliery and Denaby United and had an unsuccessful trial at Huddersfield Town.
8.
In 1923, Sam Cowan gained his first professional contract following a successful trial at his local league club, Doncaster Rovers of the Third Division.
9.
Sam Cowan's performances gained the attention of bigger clubs, and in December 1924 he joined Manchester City, who sought a successor to the likes of Mick Hamill and Max Woosnam.
10.
Sam Cowan played in all but one of the remaining league matches that season, 21 in total.
11.
Sam Cowan made appearances for the Football League team, including a trial match against England in 1931.
12.
Sam Cowan missed just three of the club's remaining fixtures that season, playing 29 times in the league and three in the FA Cup as City finished 12th.
13.
Sam Cowan missed just one of the first 23 games, but after Christmas, he was restricted to just six; and without Sam Cowan, Bradford finished 21st and were relegated to the Third Division.
14.
Sam Cowan led the club to the seventh place in the Cheshire League and to the Manchester Challenge Shield title.
15.
In November 1946, Sam Cowan became Manchester City manager, succeeding Wilf Wild, who moved to a purely administrative role.
16.
Sam Cowan had been known for his motivational skills as a player, and was part of a new generation of managers who took responsibility for tactics and team selection, of which Sam Cowan's contemporary and former teammate Matt Busby became the most well-known.
17.
Sam Cowan died on 4 October 1964 aged 63, when he suffered a heart attack, while refereeing a football charity match in aid of Sussex wicket keeper Jim Parks.