Mark Gower

Mark Gower (born 5 October 1978) is a former English footballer, who played for several clubs including Barnet, Southend United and Swansea City.

Mark Gower
Personal information
Full name Mark Gower[1]
Date of birth (1978-10-05) 5 October 1978
Place of birth Edmonton, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Gidea Park Rangers
Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2001 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
1999 → Motherwell (loan) 9 (1)
2001–2003 Barnet 90 (15)
2003–2008 Southend United 203 (35)
2008–2013 Swansea City 129 (3)
2013 → Charlton Athletic (loan) 6 (0)
2013–2014 Charlton Athletic 7 (0)
2015 Ebbsfleet United 2 (0)
Total 446 (54)
International career
2002 England C 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Edmonton, London and moving to Romford, Gower began his career at Gidea Park Rangers, alongside Danny Cowley, before joining Tottenham Hotspur, where he was a member of the League Cup winning squad in the 1998–99 season.[2] He had a spell on loan at Motherwell before joining Barnet in January 2001 for £32,500. At Motherwell he scored his first career goal in a 2–1 loss at Rangers.[3] He joined Swansea City after declining a new contract at Southend United. He has the ability to play across the midfield, and he signed for Swansea City on a free transfer.[4]

A midfielder, he is predominantly right-footed but can play on either flank or in the middle. Gower played for England schoolboys through to the under 18 team from the age of 14.

Gower played for Southend for five seasons, scoring 39 goals in the process. He moved to Swansea City when his contract at Southend expired. Gower failed to score in his first season with Swansea.

Before the start of the 2009–10 season, Gower revealed he would be ditching his number 11 shirt, when he chose that number all the squad told him it was 'cursed' and fail to find good form. Gower from then on wore the number 27 shirt.[5] Shortly after changing shirt numbers he scored four goals in two pre-season friendlies. He finally scored his first league goal for Swansea in the 2–0 win over Queens Park Rangers.[6] Since the start of the 2010–11 season under new manager Brendan Rodgers, Gower has adapted a new role in the centre of midfield and had played with eight different players this season in that very same position: Jordi López, Andrea Orlandi, Kemy Agustien, Darren Pratley, Joe Allen, David Cotterill, Scott Donnelly and the returning Leon Britton. Gower signed a one-year extension to his contract in November 2010, the extension proved Gower was viewed as integral to Brendan Rodgers plans.[7]

Gower scored two 25-yard goals in consecutive games against Norwich City[8] and Hull City respectively.[9]

Gower signed for Charlton Athletic on a free from Swansea City on 3 June 2013, after a successful loan spell towards the end of the 2012–13 Football League season.[10] On 22 May 2014, he was released from Charlton Athletic.[11]

Career statistics
As of 22 June 2011
Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
2000–01BarnetDivision Three1420010152
2001–02Conference National3552010385
2002–034164181531
2003–04Southend UnitedDivision Three4064281529
2004–05League Two4161061487
2005–06League One4061010426
2006–07Championship43831515110
2007–08League One4494010499
2008–09Swansea CityChampionship3603020410
2009–103111020341
2010–114221020452
2011–12Premier League2001010220
2012–1310002030
Total England 4055321332445860
Career total 4055321332445860

Honours
Southend United
Swansea City

References
  1. "Mark Gower". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  2. "Danny Cowley recalls his years on the books of Wimbledon during the Crazy Gang era". Lincolnshire Echo. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  3. "Rangers title bid intact". BBC. 13 March 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  4. "Martinex confirms Gower signing". BBC Sport. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  5. "No more 11 curse for Gower". Planet Swans. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  6. "Swansea 2–0 QPR". Sky Sports. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. "Gower signs new Swans deal". Sky Sports. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  8. "Swansea 3–0 Norwich". BBC. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  9. "Swansea 1–1 Hull". BBC. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  10. "Mark Gower joins Charlton Athletic after Swansea City exit". BBC Sport. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  11. "Charlton announce list of released players". Charlton Athletic. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016.
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