Barney Bowers

Barney Bowers
Personal information
Full name	Robert Bowers
Date of birth	(1959-08-19) 19 August 1959 (age 64)
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1978–1978	Cliftonville
1978–1981	Derby County	0	(0)
1981–1995	Glentoran	524	(108)
1995–1997	Ards	25	(1)
Total		549	(109)
International career
1987–1989	Irish League XI	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Bowers (born 19 August 1959), better known as Barney Bowers, is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Derby County, Cliftonville, Ards and Glentoran.

He has won every medal possible in the Irish League during his career for Glentoran, where he played from 1981 to 1995. He is also in the club's top 10 players in terms of appearances, ranking 7th, and is one of 27 players to score over 100 goals for the club.

Early years and family

Robert Bowers is the second child of George "Geordie" Bowers (1933–2012) and Christina Bowers (1938–1987). He was born on the 19 August 1959. He has three sisters and three brothers. He grew up in east Belfast. He was given the nickname Barney by friends and family, which he became better known by.

Career

Early career (1978–1981)

As an 18-year-old Barney was a part of the Glentoran scouting network, only to be signed by Cliftonville. Derby manager Tommy Docherty signed him for £25,000.

Despite an offer from Swindon Town, Barney opted to return to Belfast, and join his boyhood favourites at The Oval in August 1981.

Glentoran (1981–1995)

Bowers made his debut in a match against Dundalk at home in August 1981, which finished 0-0.

Despite missing so much Barney still amassed over 500 appearances for Glentoran after joining from Derby County in August 1981, but for those two broken legs and a fractured cheekbone Barney would have been the record holder for Glentoran appearances.^[1]

In 1992 he led Glentoran to the League title, the only medal he had previously not won in the Irish League, having missed out on a medal during their double year, when out with a broken leg.

As of 2019, he is 7th place on the list of most appearances for Glentoran with 524.^[2] This also means he is a member of the 250 Club.^[3] He is also on the list for top goal scorers with 108.^[4]

Ards (1995–1997)

Bowers scored Ards only goal in their 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup campaign.^[5]

He is the record holder for European appearances for a Glentoran player & Irish League player, with a number of appearances for Ards in Europe towards the end of his career.

Retirement from league football

Since retiring from league football, Bowers has still appeared in charity games. In July 2008, the Glentoran Legends team was set up, in which Barney has been a part of since the first match.^[6]

Personal life

Bowers lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland with his wife. He has two sons.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cliftonville	1977–1978	Irish League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cliftonville	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Derby County	1978–1979	Football League First Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1979–1980	Football League First Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1980–1981	Football League First Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Glentoran	1981–1982^[7]	Irish League											44	4
	1982–1983^[8]	Irish League											37	12
	1983–1984^[9]	Irish League											51	16
	1984–1985^[10]	Irish League											50	18
	1985–1986^[11]	Irish League											22	7
	1986–1987^[12]	Irish League											28	5
	1987–1988^[13]	Irish League											18	3
	1988–1989^[14]	Irish League											35	3
	1989–1990^[15]	Irish League											55	7
	1990–1991^[16]	Irish League											43	3
	1991–1992^[17]	Irish League											39	7
	1992–1993^[18]	Irish League											40	6
	1993–1994^[19]	Irish League											40	10
	1994–1995^[20]	Irish League											21	3
	Total												524	108
Ards	1995–1996	Irish League		0		0		0		0		0		0
	1996–1997	Irish League		0		0		0		1		0		1
	Total			0		0		0		1		0	25	1
Career total													549	109

Honours

Glentoran

IFA Premiership: 1991–92
Irish Cup: 1989–90
Irish League Cup: 1988–89, 1990–91
County Antrim Shield: 1984–85, 1986–87
Irish FA Charity Shield: 1992–93 (shared with Glenavon)
Gold Cup: 1982–83, 1986–87, 1991–92, 1994–95
Ulster Cup: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1988–89, 1989–90
Floodlit Cup: 1989–90

Notes

^ "Glentoran: Legends: Barney Bowers".
^ "All-Time Player Appearances | Glentoran FC".
^ "250 Club | Glentoran FC".
^ "All-Time Leading Goal Scorers | Glentoran FC".
^ "Ards Football Club - Ards in the Intertoto Cup". www.ardsfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
^ "Glentoran Legends XI". Glentoran FC. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ "Barney Bowers profile". Glentoran. Retrieved 24 May 2016.

This page was last edited on 9 July 2023, at 04:27

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