Ray Bowden facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Edwin Raymond Bowden | ||
| Date of birth | 13 September 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Looe, England | ||
| Date of death | 23 September 1998 (aged 89) | ||
| Place of death | Plymouth, England | ||
| Playing position | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| Looe | |||
| 1926–1933 | Plymouth Argyle | 145 | (82) |
| 1933–1937 | Arsenal | 123 | (42) |
| 1937–1939 | Newcastle United | 48 | (6) |
| National team | |||
| 1934–1936 | England | 6 | (1) |
|
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Ray Bowden (born September 13, 1909 – died September 23, 1998) was an English footballer. He played as an inside forward, which is a player who helps both attack and midfield. Ray Bowden scored 130 goals in 316 games in the Football League. He played for famous clubs like Plymouth Argyle, Arsenal, and Newcastle United. He also played for the England national team six times, scoring one goal.
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Ray Bowden's Early Life and Football Start
Ray Bowden was born in a town called Looe in Cornwall, England. After finishing school, he worked as a clerk for a lawyer. But his real passion was football!
He started playing for his local team, Looe F.C. Ray was an amazing scorer, getting more than 100 goals in just one season. In one game, he even scored 10 goals by himself!
A bigger club, Plymouth Argyle, noticed his talent. In 1926, when he was only 17, Ray signed with them. He became a professional player the next year.
Becoming a Star at Plymouth Argyle
Even though he was young and seemed a bit small, Ray quickly became important for Plymouth Argyle. In his first full season, he scored four goals in just two games.
He then became the main forward for the team. In the 1928–29 season, he scored 20 goals. The next year, his 18 goals helped Plymouth Argyle win their league. This meant they moved up to a higher division!
In 1931, Ray was chosen to join a special football tour to Canada. When he came back, he kept scoring goals for Plymouth. By the time he left the club, he had scored 82 goals in 145 league games.
Joining Arsenal: A Top Club
In March 1933, Ray Bowden moved to Arsenal, one of England's biggest clubs. Arsenal paid £4,500 for him, which was a lot of money back then! He was meant to replace another great player, David Jack.
Ray scored in his first two games for Arsenal. He quickly became a regular player for the team. Arsenal won the league title two years in a row with Ray on the team.
Winning Titles and Scoring Goals
Ray played mostly as an inside forward, helping to set up goals for striker Ted Drake. Even though the game was very physical, Ray scored many goals.
In the 1933–34 season, he was Arsenal's top scorer in the league with 13 goals. The next season, he scored 14 goals, including three goals in one game against Liverpool. Arsenal won that game 8-1!
Ray also won his first cap for England in 1934. He played against Wales.
The "Battle of Highbury"
Two months later, Ray was part of a famous game called the "Battle of Highbury". England played against Italy, who had just won the World Cup. Seven Arsenal players, including Ray, were in the England team. England won 3-2, but Ray hurt his ankle during the tough match.
In total, Ray played for England six times and scored one goal. He also played twice for a special team made up of players from the Football League.
Later Career and Retirement
Ray and Arsenal won the FA Cup in 1936. But his ankle injury kept bothering him. It meant he couldn't play as many games for Arsenal.
In November 1937, Ray moved to Newcastle United for £5,000. Arsenal went on to win the league title that season without him. Ray played 138 games for Arsenal and scored 48 goals.
He played regularly for Newcastle United for two years. When World War II started, professional football stopped. Ray, who was 30 years old, decided to retire from playing.
After the war, Ray went back to Plymouth. He opened a sports shop with his brother. Ray Bowden passed away in 1998 at the age of 89. He was the last player still alive from that amazing Arsenal team of the 1930s.
Achievements and Awards
Ray Bowden won many important trophies during his career:
Plymouth Argyle
- Third Division (South): 1929–30 (They were champions!)
Arsenal
- First Division: 1933–34, 1934–35 (These are the top league titles!)
- FA Cup: 1935–36 (A very famous cup competition!)
- FA Charity Shield: 1933 (A game played between the league champions and FA Cup winners)
