b. Shrewsbury 24 April 1869

d. Atcham,Shrewsbury 18 July 1927

Debut 3 September 1892 (23y 132d) Final Game 3 April 1893(23y 344d)

First Goal 1 October 1892 Final Goal 31 March 1893

CAREER: Shrewsbury School;Shrewsbury Town '85;Wolverhampton Wanderers '90[24-3];Blackburn Rovers Jul'92-Apr'93;Shrewsbury Town '93;Blackburn Rovers Jul'96;Shrewsbury Town '96-'98.

INTERNATIONALS Wales  5 apps 3 gls

’90 v Ire.’91 v Ire,Sco 2gls.’92 v Ire.’94 v Eng 1gl.

FL        22 apps  5 gls

FAC      4 apps   2 gls

Total  26 apps   7 gls

LC       1 app    1 gl

Bowdler’s father was a prosperous cutler who later became an assistant overseer of the poor in Shrewsbury. His son was a founder member of Shrewsbury Town and the first man from Shrewsbury to play in the Football League. He could play inside forward but was best on the left wing. The Rovers spotted him when he played against them in the semi-final of the English Cup and he came to Ewood with his brother Harry Ernest Bowdler. Although he did well in his first season he was serving his articles as a solicitor and had to return to be near his principal, Hawley Edwards. The brothers returned and participated in pre-season trials in 1896 but he found his work too demanding and went home. A town councillor and a member of the Shropshire FA he was a corporal in the Shropshire Regiment in the Great War and acted as agent for the town's MP. He was also secretary and chairman of Shrewsbury Town and sometimes used his own resources to keep the club in existence. He played right half when Shrewsbury won the Shropshire Senior Cup in 1898, their goalkeeper being another ex Rover, Adam Ogilvie