Walter Rowley

Walter James Rowley (14 April 1891 – 22 March 1976) was an English footballer around World War I and a manager during and after World War II. He spent some 47 years playing and coaching in the Football League.

He played for Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers, spending 13 years with the latter club. After spending many years as part of Bolton's backroom staff, he was appointed manager in August 1944. He spent six years in charge before retiring due to ill health. He coached Middlesbrough from June 1952 to February 1954 before again stepping aside due to illness. His final management role was at Shrewsbury Town from July 1955 until June 1957.

Rowley played village football before joining Oldham Athletic of the Football League First Division in 1910. The "Latics" finished seventh in 1910–11 and 18th in 1911–12 (just one place and one point above the relegation zone). He left Boundary Park and moved on to Bolton Wanderers in 1912, and made his debut against West Bromwich Albion in February 1913.^[3] The "Trotters" finished eighth in 1912–13, sixth in 1913–14, and 17th in 1914–15. During the war he played two games for Port Vale in 1919 in the war league, before returning to Burnden Park.^[1] Bolton finished sixth in 1919–20, third in 1920–21, sixth again in 1921–22, and 13th in 1922–23. Wanderers also won the FA Cup. However, Rowley missed the 1923 FA Cup final against West Ham United because he was serving a six-week suspension for being sent off against Huddersfield Town.^[3] They went on to finish in fourth place in 1923–24 and third place in 1924–25. He retired through injury in May 1925 and joined the club's coaching staff.^[3] He had made 191 league and FA Cup appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.^[4]