Paul Bowles

Paul Michael Anthony Bowles (31 May 1957 – 14 March 2017) was an English footballer. A central defender, he scored 26 goals in 346 league appearances in an eleven-season career in the Fourth Division of the Football League.

Career Crewe Alexandra Bowles spent time as a youth player at Manchester United, before he started his career with Crewe Alexandra. He scored 20 goals in 178 Fourth Division appearances in four seasons at Gresty Road. He helped Harry Gregg's "Railwaymen" to finish 16th in 1975–76, 12th in 1976–77, and 15th in 1977–78, before Crewe fell to last place in the 1978–79 campaign under the stewardship of Warwick Rimmer.

Port Vale He was signed by Alan Bloor at league rivals Port Vale for a £30,000 fee in October 1979. However, two months later Bloor was replaced by John McGrath, who seemed not to rate Bowles. Back at Vale Park, he featured just eleven times in the 1979–80 campaign. He played 53 of the "Valiants" 55 games in the 1981–82 season. He was given a free transfer to league rivals Stockport County in May 1982. though Stan said they had never met.

Career statistics