Barrow AFC is mourning the loss of John Rowlands, a beloved former player who passed away at the age of 73. Rowlands, known for his versatility on the field, had a distinguished career spanning 13 years, during which he made nearly 400 appearances across clubs in England, South Africa, and the United States.
Originally from Liverpool, Rowlands spent much of his playing career in the North of England and the North West, contributing to teams such as Mansfield Town, Stockport County, Workington, Crewe Alexandra, and Hartlepool United. His career also took him to Torquay United, Exeter City, and Cape Town City, the latter of which was part of his 1969 stint in South Africa.
Rowlands later continued his football journey in the United States, playing for the Seattle Sounders, San Jose Earthquakes, Tulsa Roughnecks, and the Oakland Stompers, with his final professional stop believed to be San Jose in 1980.
In January 1971, he was signed by then-Barrow AFC manager Don McEvoy to help address the team’s goal-scoring issues. Although not a prolific striker, with just 67 goals to his name over his career, Rowlands made a significant impact at Barrow, scoring 54 goals during his tenure. His contributions were invaluable during several campaigns, even as the team struggled in the old Division Four.
Rowlands is remembered fondly by his former teammates and fans. Sid Blain, a club director, shared his memories of Rowlands, highlighting his affable nature and his willingness to share stories from his career. Blain expressed his condolences, noting that Rowlands would be deeply missed by everyone at the club and beyond.