Stanley Bowles (born 24 December 1948 in Manchester) was a leading English footballer who gained a reputation as one of the game's greatest mavericks.
Bowles began his career at Manchester City, although his fiery temper resulted in him being released after a series of off-field incidents. After a brief, and unsuccessful, stay at Bury he was signed by Crewe Alexandra where his skill caught the eye of a number of bigger clubs. In October 1971 he was signed by Carlisle United, at the time a Second Division club, scoring 13 goals in 36 appearances for the club. After a managerial change at the club, he joined Queens Park Rangers (QPR) for £110,000.
Bowles spent nearly eight years at QPR, playing a central role in arguably the club's greatest ever team, that which finished as league runner-up in 1975-76 under Dave Sexton. Whilst at the club he also won 5 caps for England (and scored his only international goal in a 2-0 win over Wales at Ninian Park). A 2004 fans poll saw him voted the club's all-time greatest player. He left QPR in 1979 to join Nottingham Forest, although he failed to settle under the management of Brian Clough and was sold in 1981 to Leyton Orient for £100,000. He joined Brentford the following year and remained at the club until his retirement in 1984.
His 1996 autobiography revealed the extent of his drinking, womanizing and gambling during his playing days, and also helped to secure a role as a pundit on Sky Sports, where he replaced the equally redoubtable Rodney Marsh.
Something of a cult icon because of his chaotic personal life, he is amongst the few footballers to have a single released bearing his name, in this case the 2004 release by the The Others. He also written betting columns in the national press and a column in 'lads' mag' Loaded and is also in demand on the after dinner speaker circuit.
31st July 2006, 11:05 PM
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