Cyril Gowland was always going to be a footballer, enjoying his schoolboy games at Cockfield.  He played for his local team Cockfield then West Auckland and Evenwood Town, and for the top Northern League teams of the 1950’s, Bishop Auckland and Crook Town, before returning to West.  This tribute will provide some team photos and action shots from his career, courtesy of Johnny Weir.

1949

Cockfield

West Auckland

Cyril Gowland, half back, scores for West with a free kick, beating Bishop Auckland’s legendary goalie, Harry Sharratt.

Evenwood Town

Crook Town

Playing at Roker Park, Sunderland – opposition?

Bishop Auckland

Below: 5 November 1960: FA Cup 1st Round: Bishop Auckland 3 Bridlington 2

Gowland, Bishop’s inside right, scores the second goal.

Below: 24 March 1962: FA Amateur Cup Semi-Final at Brentford

Immediately after breakfast, the Bishop Auckland team left their hotel for a limber up in London’s Regent’s Park.

Below: Hounslow Town 2 Bishop Auckland 1

O’Connell, Bishop’s centre forward just misses as this shot flashes past the upright, with Rhodes, Hounslow’s keeper, looking on (photo credit H. Tonge)

Below: Rhodes, Hounslow’s keeper, saves from Wright, Bishop’s outside left (H. Tonge)

Below: Rhodes, Hounslow’s keeper does an acrobatic twist in the goalmouth when he pushed the ball over the bar when Wright, Auckland’s outside left, made a great attempt to score in the closing minutes of the game (E.C. Webb)

For the record, in the other semi-final Crook Town beat West Auckland 2 – 0 at Middlesbrough.  In the final, at Wembley 14 April 1962, Crook Town drew 1 – 1 with Hounslow Town.  The replay, held 21 April at Middlesbrough, resulted in a comfortable 4 – 0 victory for Crook Town.

West Auckland

Below: 30 April 1965: Cyril Gowland, captain of West Auckland Town with the Durham Challenge Cup.

Below: Cyril Gowland, West Auckland Town captain with another Evenwood character, Andy Gordon 2nd right, front row.

Below: 13 March 1967:  Details from the Cyril Gowland Testimonial Match Programme.

Cyril Gowland was born 12 September 1933 at Cockfield, the son of Wilfred and May Gowland.  There were at least 5 siblings, Albert, Eric, Iris, Alwyn and Douglas.  In 1954, Cyril married Norma Gallagher and they lived at Shirley Close, Evenwood.  In 1966, Cyril was tragically killed at work.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Johnny Weir