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Gavin Cowan (footballer)

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Gavin Cowan
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-05-24) 24 May 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Hanover, West Germany
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Brackley Town (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 Braintree Town 43 (5)
2003–2005 Canvey Island 44 (4)
2005 → Nuneaton Borough (loan) 13 (2)
2005–2007 Shrewsbury Town 24 (1)
2006 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 5 (0)
2007 Grays Athletic 8 (0)
2007 → Nuneaton Borough (loan) 8 (2)
2007–2008 Nuneaton Borough 30 (1)
2008–2010 AFC Telford United 89 (5)
2010 Fleetwood Town
2010–2012 Gainsborough Trinity
2012–2015 Nuneaton Town 88 (4)
2015–2016 Solihull Moors 6 (1)
2016–2018 AFC Telford United 0 (0)
Managerial career
2018–2021 AFC Telford United
2023– Brackley Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gavin Cowan (born 24 May 1981) is an English football manager and former player, he is the manager of National League North club Brackley Town.

As a player he was a footballer and a centre-back. He notably played as a professional in the Football League for Shrewsbury Town. He has also played for Braintree Town, Canvey Island, Nuneaton Borough, Kidderminster Harriers, Grays Athletic, AFC Telford United, Fleetwood Town and Gainsborough Trinity.

Career

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Cowan began his career at non-League club Braintree Town and moved to Canvey Island in 2003. He fell out of favour with Canvey Island manager Jeff King and in early 2005 was sent out on loan to Nuneaton Borough.

Impressing for the Football Conference side, he was spotted by Shrewsbury Town who signed him on a permanent deal in March 2005.

Shrewsbury did not use him regularly, with Cowan playing 15 times in the 2005–06 season. Early into the 2006–07 season he was sent out on loan to Kidderminster Harriers to gain more experience.[1] He was recalled from this loan a few days short of the agreed month, in order to give him more preparation time for Shrewsbury's next league game, for which he appeared on the bench.[2]

Shrewsbury Town cancelled his contract on 1 January 2007, allowing him to join Grays Athletic. In March 2007, Cowan returned to Nuneaton Borough on one-month loan. Cowan was released by Grays Athletic by mutual consent on 9 June 2007.[3]

Finally after two loan previous spells in his career, he returned to Nuneaton Borough signing a two-year contract on 17 June 2007 ready for the club's Conference North promotion campaign ahead. Cowan's contract with Nuneaton was however announced to have been cancelled by mutual consent on 30 May 2008.

After returning to Essex briefly Cowan decided Shropshire was the place for him and so returned opting to come out of full-time football signing a two-year at Nuneaton Borough while looking to pursue a career in sports development.

He studied for a sports science degree at Shrewsbury College and had taken his coaching badges. He had also been involved with the Football Association helping to coach children of all ages and abilities. Cowan then signed for AFC Telford which enabled him to combine football with studying and coaching which he is hoping will all benefit him in his desire to give something back into a game that has been so good to him.

In January 2010, Cowan signed for Conference North rivals Fleetwood Town following his release by Telford, making his debut on 7 February away at Corby. He joined Gainsborough Trinity in March 2010.

Cowan left Gainsborough after the 2011/12 season to join Nuneaton Town, the club that reformed from Cowan's former team Nuneaton Borough, after they were promoted to the Conference Premier. Coincidentally Nuneaton had been promoted by beating Cowan's Gainsborough in the playoff final the previous season (although Cowan did not play in the final due to injury).

On 18 May 2015, Cowan signed for National League North side Solihull Moors as player/coach.[4] He left at the end of the 2015–2016 season.

Coaching career

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In May 2023, Cowan was appointed manager of the defeated National League North play-off final club Brackley Town.[5]

Outside football

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Cowan is both founder, and head coach of his own Football Academy, coaching Children on Football, life skills and general guidance on a healthy life style.[6]

Cowan is married to wife Holly and they have 4 children together.

In December 2021 Cowan, along with his ex Shrewsbury Town teammates Dave Edwards and Sam Aiston, launched the podcast, In The Stiffs.[7]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 4 May 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
AFC Telford United England 11 May 2018 5 October 2021 116 42 31 43 171 170 +1 036.21 [8]
Brackley Town England 16 May 2023 Present 54 27 13 14 73 47 +26 050.00 [9]
Career Total 170 69 44 57 244 217 +27 040.59 —

References

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  1. ^ "Cowan Goes Out on Loan". shrewsburytown.co.uk (registration required). Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2006.
  2. ^ "Cowan back at Town". shrewsburytown.co.uk (registration required). Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2006.
  3. ^ "Defender Cowan seals Grays exit". BBC Sport. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
  4. ^ "Former skipper returns to strengthen Solihull Moors' defence". Solihull News. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  5. ^ "GAVIN COWAN IS THE NEW BRACKLEY TOWN MANAGER". brackleytownfc.com. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  6. ^ http://telfordutd.com/[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ Cox, Lewis. "Shrewsbury Town old boys have tales aplenty with new podcast". shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  8. ^ "AFC Telford United: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Brackley Town: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
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