Quick Facts
Biography
Thomas "Tom" Cowan (born 28 August 1969) is a former Scottish footballer who played as a defender.
During his career he played for Clyde, Rangers, Sheffield United, Stoke City, Huddersfield Town, Burnley, Cambridge United, Peterborough United, York City, Dundee, Carlisle United, Barrow, Workington, Hucknall Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Hyde United and Retford United.
Career
Cowan wan born in Bellshill and began his career with Netherdale Boys Club before joining Clyde in 1988. He spent the 1988–89 season with Clyde and was signed by Rangers. He spent two years at Ibrox before earning a move to English club Sheffield United. Cowan played in 24 matches in 1991–92 as the Blades finished in 9th position consolidating their place in the inaugural season of the new Premier League. They finished in 14 position in 1992–93 with Cowan playing in 25 matches. He lost his place in the side under Dave Bassett and joined Stoke City on loan in 1993–94. He played 18 matches for Stoke 14 of which came in the league. Cowan joined Huddersfield Town, initially on loan in March 1994, and then permanent for a fee of £150,000 in July 1994.
Cowan enjoyed the most successful period of his career with the Terriers as he made 155 appearances for the club in six seasons helping them gain promotion in 1994–95 and reach the 1994 Football League Trophy Final where they lost on penalties to Swansea City. He then had short spells at Burnley, Cambridge United, Peterborough United (scoring once against Wrexham) and York City (scoring once against Bury) before returning to Scotland in August 2003, joining Dundee. He made his debut for Dundee on 31 August 2003 against Kilmarnock and scored on his second appearance in a 2–0 victory over Aberdeen on 20 September 2003. However, after making six appearances for the club his contract was terminated after Dundee entered into administration and he joined Carlisle United on 27 November 2003. His first season with ended with the club being relegated to the Conference National, he did help them gain an instant return to the Football League as they beat Stevenage Borough in the play-off final. He decided not to sign a new deal at Brunton Park and was released at the end of the season.
After leaving Carlisle Cowan joined Barrow in the Conference North. From there he played for Workington, Hucknall Town and Stalybridge Celtic.
After football
After retiring from playing Cowan became a firefighter and joined the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Career statistics
- Sourced from The English National Football Archive
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[A] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Clyde | 1988–89 | Scottish First Division | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Total | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | ||
| Rangers | 1988–89 | Scottish Premier Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989–90 | Scottish Premier Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1990–91 | Scottish Premier Division | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Sheffield United | 1991–92 | First Division | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 1992–93 | Premier League | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 1993–94 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
| Stoke City (loan) | 1993–94 | First Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Huddersfield Town | 1993–94 | Second Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 1994–95 | Second Division | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 2 | |
| 1995–96 | First Division | 43 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 3 | |
| 1996–97 | First Division | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 5 | |
| 1997–98 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1998–99 | First Division | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 127 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 155 | 10 | ||
| Burnley | 1998–99 | Second Division | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| 1999–2000 | Second Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Cambridge United | 1999–2000 | Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | Second Division | 41 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| 2001–02 | Second Division | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 50 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 3 | ||
| Peterborough United (loan) | 2001–02 | Second Division | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| York City | 2002–03 | Third Division | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Total | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| Dundee | 2003–04 | Scottish Premier League | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
| Carlisle United | 2003–04 | Third Division | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| 2004–05 | Conference National | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| Total | 29 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 57 | 3 | ||
| Career Total | 356 | 20 | 16 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 414 | 22 | ||
- A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Conference National play-offs, Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs, Full Members Cup and UEFA Cup.
Honours
- Rangers
- Scottish Football League Premier Division winners: 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-1991
- Huddersfield Town
- Football League Second Division runner-up: 1994–95
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 1994
- Huddersfield Town player of the year: 1996, 1997
- Burnley
- Football League Second Division runner-up: 1999–2000
- Carlisle United
- Conference National play-off final winner: 2005