Ian Bowyer

Lore & Background

He started his professional career at Manchester City, winning the Football League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup both in 1970. He then played two seasons at Orient before his lengthy career at Forest. His playing days at Forest were interrupted with a season at Sunderland. After Forest he went to Hereford United, who he player-managed. He has also been involved after playing at Plymouth Argyle, Rotherham United, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Rushden and Diamonds.

Reader's Guide

Playing career: Manchester City – debuting for the first team at Newcastle United on 16 November 1968. City won the 1969 FA Cup final but Bowyer did not feature. In 1969–70 he made 33 league appearances and one as substitute, scored twice in the League Cup semi-final against Manchester United, came on as a substitute in the 1970 League Cup final win over West Bromwich Albion, and played in the European Cup Winners' Cup final, replacing Mike Doyle after 23 minutes in a 2–1 win over Górnik Zabrze. He made 13 appearances the following season, his last game on 1 May 1971 against Tottenham Hotspur. He scored 13 goals in 57 City appearances. Sold to Orient for £25,000. Orient – Bowyer was an ever-present and top scorer with 14 goals in 1971–72, scoring a hat-trick in his first game at Brisbane Road. He scored in FA Cup wins over Wrexham and Leicester City. The next season he made 33 appearances and three as substitute. Nottingham Forest – Signed by Dave Mackay for £40,000 in 1973. Debut at Blackpool on 20 October 1973, scoring in a 2–2 draw. He scored twice in a 4–1 FA Cup win over his old club Manchester City. Forest reached the FA Cup quarter-final, which after a pitch invasion and replay was lost to Newcastle. Brian Clough took over in 1975. Forest were promoted in 1976–77. In 1977–78 Forest won the league and League Cup. Bowyer played in the 1979 European Cup final and the 1980 final. He scored the decisive goal in the 1979 semi-final against FC Köln. He was an unused substitute in the 1979 League Cup final. Sunderland – Left Forest in January 1981, debuting for Sunderland on 28 January 1981 against Manchester United. Return to Forest – Re-joined the following year, making another 200 league appearances, finishing with 564 Forest senior games and 96 goals. Coaching and management – Joined Hereford United as player-manager in July 1987, succeeding John Newman as manager three months later. He led Hereford to Welsh Cup glory in 1990 before leaving. Finished playing at Grantham Town. Became assistant manager to Peter Shilton at Plymouth Argyle in 1994, later moved to Rotherham United until September 1996. Later a coach at Birmingham City. Returned to Forest as coach in 2002 for three years. In 2006 appointed assistant manager to Paul Hart at Rushden & Diamonds, later scouted for Portsmouth.

Did You Know?

• Bowyer scored a hat-trick in his first home game for Orient, a 4–1 win against Cardiff City.
• He scored the decisive goal in the 1979 European Cup semi-final against FC Köln in Germany.