{{short description|American-born Irish footballer}} {{for|the Darlington goalkeeper|Don Cowan (footballer, born 1931)}} {{Use British English|date=June 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Don Cowan | image = Don Cowan (cropped).jpg | caption = Cowan with Longford Town in 2014 | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|11|16|df=y}}<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile">{{cite news | title = Don Cowan – Profile | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/players/don-cowen/83978/ | website = Soccerway | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref> | birth_place = New York City, U.S.<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/> | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref>{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin|title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013|year=2012|publisher=Headline|location=London|isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8|page=533|edition=43rd}}</ref> | position = Winger, forward | youthyears1 = 2008–2009 | youthclubs1 = Shamrock Rovers A | years1 = 2009–2010 | years2 = 2010 | years3 = 2010–2011 | years4 = 2011–2013 | years5 = 2012 | years6 = 2013 | years7 = 2013 | years8 = 2013 | years9 = 2014–2017 | clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers | clubs2 = → Longford Town (loan) | clubs3 = Longford Town | clubs4 = Stevenage | clubs5 = → Braintree Town (loan) | clubs6 = Dundee | clubs7 = Southend United | clubs8 = Stevenage | clubs9 = Longford Town | caps1 = 8 | caps2 = 13 | caps3 = 19 | caps4 = 8 | caps5 = 1 | caps6 = 2 | caps7 = 2 | caps8 = 1 | caps9 = 73 | goals1 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | goals3 = 8 | goals4 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | goals6 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | goals8 = 0 | goals9 = 4 | club-update = | totalcaps = 127 | totalgoals = 12 }}
'''Don Cowan''' (born 16 November 1989) is an American former professional footballer who played as a winger or forward.
Cowan began his career with Shamrock Rovers, playing for the club's reserve team before making several substitute appearances for the first team over two seasons. He joined Longford Town on loan to gain first-team experience, a move that was made permanent ahead of the 2011 season. After establishing himself as a regular at Longford, Cowan signed for League One club Stevenage for an undisclosed fee in August 2011. He later joined Braintree Town on loan in November 2012, though the spell was curtailed by injury, and he left Stevenage by mutual consent in January 2013.
He subsequently had brief stints with Scottish Premier League club Dundee and Southend United of League Two in 2013, as well as a one-month return to Stevenage later that year. Cowan rejoined Longford in January 2014 and helped the club gain promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division during the 2014 season. He remained with Longford for four seasons, scoring four goals in 78 appearances, before retiring from professional football in 2017.
==Early life== Cowan was born in New York City.<ref name="Under Pressure – Don Cowan">{{cite news | title = Under Pressure – Don Cowan | url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2546364,00.html | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 13 December 2011 | access-date = 14 December 2011}}</ref> During his youth, he cited Andy Cole as his footballing idol.<ref name="Under Pressure – Don Cowan"/>
==Career== ===Early career=== Cowan began his career with Shamrock Rovers A, playing in the 2009 A Championship.<ref name="Stevenage announce signing of new striker">{{cite news |title = Stevenage announce signing of new striker |url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2438101,00.html |publisher = Stevenage F.C. |date = 31 August 2011 |access-date = 1 September 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120612031009/http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0%2C%2C10839~2438101%2C00.html |archive-date = 12 June 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Don Cowan – Longford Town">{{cite news | title = Don Cowan – Longford Town | url = http://www.extratime.ie/squads/players/15/1239959/ | website = extratime.ie | publisher = Extra Time | access-date = 1 September 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810194917/http://www.extratime.ie/squads/players/15/1239959/ | archive-date = 10 August 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref> He progressed to the first team and made his senior debut as an 87th-minute substitute in a 2–1 victory over St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division on 4 July 2009.<ref name="St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Shamrock Rovers">{{cite news | title = St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Shamrock Rovers | url = http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/premier-division/match-reports/2009-match-reports/136-series-23/1025-drogheda-united-0-1-shamrock-rovers | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130217212053/http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/premier-division/match-reports/2009-match-reports/136-series-23/1025-drogheda-united-0-1-shamrock-rovers | url-status = dead | archive-date = 17 February 2013 | website = RTÉ Sport | date = 24 July 2009 | access-date = 1 September 2011 }}</ref><ref name="St Patrick's Athletic vs Shamrock Rovers">{{cite news | title = St Patrick's Athletic vs Shamrock Rovers | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/07/04/ireland-republic/premier-league/st-patricks-athletic-fc/shamrock-rovers-football-club/753353/ | website = Soccerway | date = 4 July 2009 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref> He made four further substitute appearances during the 2009 season.<ref name="Bray Wanderers 1–2 Shamrock Rovers">{{cite news | title = Bray Wanderers 1–2 Shamrock Rovers | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/07/10/ireland-republic/premier-league/bray-wanderers-fc/shamrock-rovers-football-club/753358/ | website = Soccerway | date = 10 July 2009 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Drogheda United 0–1 Shamrock Rovers">{{cite news | title = Drogheda United 0–1 Shamrock Rovers | url = http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/premier-division/match-reports/2009-match-reports/136-series-23/1025-drogheda-united-0-1-shamrock-rovers | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130217212053/http://www.loi.ie/index.php/matchzone/premier-division/match-reports/2009-match-reports/136-series-23/1025-drogheda-united-0-1-shamrock-rovers | url-status = dead | archive-date = 17 February 2013 | publisher = Airtricity League | date = 7 August 2009 | access-date = 1 September 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Shamrock Rovers 2–2 Dundalk">{{cite news | title = Shamrock Rovers 2–2 Dundalk | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/08/22/ireland-republic/premier-league/shamrock-rovers-football-club/dundalk-football-club/753381/ | website = Soccerway | date = 22 August 2009 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Derry City 0–1 Shamrock Rovers">{{cite news | title = Derry City 0–1 Shamrock Rovers | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/10/09/ireland-republic/premier-league/derry-city-football-club/shamrock-rovers-football-club/753418/ | website = Soccerway | date = 9 October 2009 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref>
===Longford Town=== He made three substitute appearances for Shamrock Rovers during the early stages of the 2010 season,<ref name="Galway United 0–1 Shamrock Rovers">{{cite news | title = Galway United 0–1 Shamrock Rovers | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/03/26/ireland-republic/premier-league/galway-united-football-club/shamrock-rovers-football-club/913232/ | website = Soccerway | date = 26 March 2010 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Shamrock Rovers 0–0 UCD">{{cite news | title = Shamrock Rovers 0–0 UCD | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/04/02/ireland-republic/premier-league/shamrock-rovers-football-club/university-college-dublin-football-club/913239/ | website = Soccerway | date = 2 April 2010 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref> before joining First Division club Longford Town on 19 July 2010 to gain first-team experience.<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/><ref name="Club News">{{cite news | title = Club News | url = http://www.ltfc.ie/news/article/?id=7425efc2-af02-4337-9f9a-b0e92c6fe444 | publisher = Longford Town F.C. | date = 19 July 2010 | access-date = 1 September 2011 | archive-date = 30 September 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110930165841/http://www.ltfc.ie/news/article/?id=7425efc2-af02-4337-9f9a-b0e92c6fe444 | url-status = dead }}</ref> He made his debut in a 1–1 home draw with Cork City on 3 July 2010, his first senior start.<ref name="Longford Town 1–1 Cork City">{{cite news | title = Longford Town 1–1 Cork City | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/07/03/ireland-republic/division-1/longford-town-football-club/cork-city-football-club/913495/ | website = Soccerway | date = 3 July 2010 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref> Cowan made 13 appearances for Longford during the season, eight of which were starts, without scoring.<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/>
Ahead of the 2011 season, Cowan signed for Longford on a permanent basis.<ref name="Don Cowan – Longford Town"/> He scored his first goal in the opening match of the season, a 2–1 defeat to Shelbourne on 5 March 2011.<ref name="Longford Town 1–2 Shelbourne">{{cite news | title = Longford Town 1–2 Shelbourne | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/03/05/ireland-republic/division-1/longford-town-football-club/shelbourne-fc/1089789/ | website = Soccerway | date = 5 March 2011 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Match Report – Longford Town 1–2 Shelbourne">{{cite news | title = Match Report – Longford Town 1–2 Shelbourne | url = http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/Fixtures.aspx?fixtureID=7632&matchID=9438 | publisher = Airtricity League | date = 5 March 2011 | access-date = 1 September 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> He added further goals in home victories against Waterford United and Salthill Devon in April, taking his tally to four for the season.<ref name="Match Report – Longford Town 1–0 Waterford United">{{cite news | title = Match Report – Longford Town 1–0 Waterford United | url = http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/Fixtures.aspx?fixtureID=7663&matchID=9469 | publisher = Airtricity League | date = 16 April 2011 | access-date = 1 September 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name="Match Report – Longford Town 2–0 Salthill Devon">{{cite news | title = Match Report – Longford Town 2–0 Salthill Devon | url = http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/Fixtures.aspx?fixtureID=7673&matchID=9479 | publisher = Airtricity League | date = 30 March 2011 | access-date = 1 September 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In July 2011, Cowan underwent a trial with English Championship club Millwall, after impressing their management team in a friendly between the two clubs.<ref name="Longford Town 0 Millwall 1">{{cite news |title = Longford Town 0 Millwall 1 |url = http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10367~2392153,00.html |publisher = Millwall F.C. |date = 14 July 2011 |access-date = 1 September 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110914165802/http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10367~2392153%2C00.html |archive-date = 14 September 2011 }}</ref> He featured for Millwall's reserves in a match against Brighton & Hove Albion reserves, although no transfer followed.<ref name="Longford's Cowan signs for Stevenage">{{cite news | title = Longford's Cowan signs for Stevenage | url = http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/6563/ | website = extratime.ie | publisher = Extra Time | date = 31 August 2011 | access-date = 1 September 2011 | first = Deniese | last = O'Flaherty | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120904063822/http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/6563/ | archive-date = 4 September 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Boro still wait on Cowan">{{cite news | title = Boro still wait on Cowan | url = http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/boro_still_wait_on_cowan_1_1011161 | newspaper = The Comet | publisher = Archant Community Media Ltd | date = 1 September 2011 | access-date = 2 September 2011}}</ref> Cowan returned to Longford and scored his final goal for the club in a home defeat to Shelbourne on 13 August 2011, having scored his first against the same opposition five months earlier.<ref name="Longford 1–3 Shelbourne">{{cite news | title = Longford 1–3 Shelbourne | url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/08/13/ireland-republic/division-1/longford-town-football-club/shelbourne-fc/1089899/ | website = Soccerway | date = 13 August 2011 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="Match Report – Longford Town 1–3 Shelbourne">{{cite news | title = Match Report – Longford Town 1–3 Shelbourne | url = http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/Fixtures.aspx?fixtureID=7742&matchID=9548 | publisher = Airtricity League | date = 13 August 2011 | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref> He made 33 appearances in all competitions during the season, scoring eight goals.<ref name="Player Statistics – Don Cowan">{{cite news | title = Player Statistics – Don Cowan | url = http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerID=99138 | publisher = Airtricity League | access-date = 1 September 2011 | archive-date = 20 November 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191120084427/http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerID=99138 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
===Stevenage=== Following a trial, Cowan signed for League One club Stevenage on 31 August 2011 for an undisclosed five-figure fee.<ref name="Stevenage announce signing of new striker"/> His debut was delayed due to international clearance issues,<ref name="Graham Westley waiting on Don Cowan clearance">{{cite news | title = Graham Westley waiting on Don Cowan clearance | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14763172.stm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110904025113/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14763172.stm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 September 2011 | website = BBC Sport | date = 2 September 2011 | access-date = 11 September 2011}}</ref> with the transfer formally completed on 13 September 2011 after clearance was granted.<ref name="Stevenage complete signing of Don Cowan">{{cite news | title = Stevenage complete signing of Don Cowan | url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2449275,00.html | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 14 September 2011 | access-date = 14 September 2011}}</ref> A series of minor injuries limited his involvement during the first two months of his spell with the club,<ref name="Paul Dando – Physio">{{Cite book | title = Stevenage v Yeovil Town matchday programme | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | year = 2011 | page = 29 }}</ref> and he made his first-team debut as a 77th-minute substitute in a 2–1 home victory against Tranmere Rovers on 17 December 2011.<ref name="Stevenage 2–1 Tranmere Rovers">{{cite news |title = Stevenage 2–1 Tranmere Rovers |url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10839~58302,00.html |publisher = Stevenage F.C. |date = 17 December 2011 |access-date = 17 December 2011 |archive-date = 9 April 2025 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250409210903/https://www.stevenagefc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10839~58302,00.html |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Stevenage 2–1 Tranmere">{{cite news | title = Stevenage 2–1 Tranmere | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/16124121.stm | website = BBC Sport | date = 17 December 2011 | access-date = 17 December 2011}}</ref> He made his first start nine days later in a 6–1 away victory at Colchester United on 26 December 2011.<ref name="Colchester 1–6 Stevenage">{{cite news | title = Colchester 1–6 Stevenage | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/16240753.stm | website = BBC Sport | date = 26 December 2011 | access-date = 26 December 2011}}</ref> Cowan scored four first-half goals in a 5–0 Herts Senior Cup victory over Barnet on 31 January 2012.<ref name="Stevenage progress to the semi-finals">{{cite news | title = Stevenage progress to the semi-finals | url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2595656,00.html | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 31 January 2012 | access-date = 2 February 2012}}</ref> In the following round against Bishop's Stortford,<ref name="Boro knocked out of Herts Senior Cup">{{cite news | title = Boro knocked out of Herts Senior Cup | url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2688205,00.html | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 22 March 2012 | access-date = 30 March 2012}}</ref> he sustained a transverse fracture at the base of his tibia after a "rather innocuous tackle",<ref name="Paul Dando – Physio's Room">{{Cite book | title = Stevenage FC v AFC Bournemouth matchday programme | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | year = 2012 | page = 23 }}</ref> ruling him out for six months and sidelining him for the remainder of the 2011–12 season as well as the start of the following season.<ref name="Paul Dando – Physio's Room"/><ref name="Cowan out for six months">{{cite news | title = Cowan out for six months | url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2692534,00.html | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 25 March 2012 | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120329054138/http://www.stevenagefc.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10839~2692534,00.html | archive-date = 2012-03-29}}</ref>
Having not made any first-team appearances following his recovery from injury, Cowan joined Conference Premier club Braintree Town on a one-month loan on 22 November 2012.<ref name="Iro and Cowan out on loan">{{cite news | title = Iro and Cowan out on loan | url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/article/transfer-iro-and-cowan-out-on-loan-503483.aspx | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 22 November 2012 | access-date = 22 November 2012 | first = Mitchell | last = Jones | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141108015306/https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/article/transfer-iro-and-cowan-out-on-loan-503483.aspx | archive-date = 2014-11-08}}</ref> He sustained an injury eight minutes into his debut in an away match against Southport on 8 December 2012,<ref name="Southport 0–2 Braintree">{{cite news | title = Southport 0–2 Braintree | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20564982 | website = BBC Sport | date = 8 December 2012 | access-date = 11 January 2013}}</ref> resulting in his early return to Stevenage.<ref name="Movements within first-team squad">{{cite news | title = Movements within first-team squad | url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/news/article/transfer-news-iro-comminges-cowan-591930.aspx | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 11 January 2013 | access-date = 11 January 2013}}</ref> In January 2013, Cowan left the club by mutual consent, having made nine appearances in all competitions during an injury-affected spell.<ref name="Movements within first-team squad"/>
===Dundee and Southend United === Cowan signed for Scottish Premier League club Dundee on a free transfer on 19 February 2013.<ref name="free transfer">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-fc/86509/dundee-cheered-by-the-return-of-davide-grassi/|title = Dundee cheered by the return of Davide Grassi|work=The Courier |publisher=DC Thomson Co Ltd |date = 19 February 2013 |accessdate=8 October 2025 |first=Craig |last=Smith}}</ref> He made his debut on 17 March 2013, as an 80th-minute substitute in a 1–1 away draw with rivals Dundee United.<ref name="Dundee Utd 1–1 Dundee">{{cite news | title = Dundee Utd 1–1 Dundee | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21732273 | website = BBC Sport | date = 17 March 2013 | access-date = 22 March 2013 | first = Andy | last = Campbell}}</ref> Following limited opportunities under new manager John Brown, he was released at the end of the season after Dundee's relegation, having made two substitute appearances.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dundee sign Peter MacDonald and Willie Dyer|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22790513|website=BBC Sport|date=5 June 2013|access-date=8 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="SB13">{{Soccerbase season|62863|2013|name=Don Cowan|accessdate=8 October 2025}}</ref>
He returned to England to sign for League Two club Southend United on a one-month contract on 5 August 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23582510|title=Southend United: Don Cowan signs one-month contract|website=BBC Sport|date=5 August 2013|access-date=6 August 2013}}</ref> Cowan made his debut in a 1–0 League Cup defeat to Yeovil Town on 6 August 2013, starting and playing 71 minutes.<ref name="Southend 0–1 Yeovil">{{cite news | title = Southend 0–1 Yeovil | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23499377 | website = BBC Sport | date = 6 August 2013 | access-date = 19 October 2013}}</ref> He made two further appearances before leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract on 2 September 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cowan leaves Shrimpers|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11065/8903239/cowan-leaves-shrimpers|website=Sky Sports|publisher=Sky UK|date=2 September 2013|access-date=1 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="Don Cowan – 2013–14">{{cite news | title = Don Cowan – 2013–14 | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=62863 | website = Soccerbase | publisher = Centurycomm | access-date = 19 October 2013}}</ref>
===Return to Stevenage=== Without a club for a month, Cowan returned to League One club Stevenage on 27 September 2013, signing a one-month contract.<ref name="Stevenage re-sign striker Don Cowan on one-month contract">{{cite news | title = Stevenage re-sign striker Don Cowan on one-month contract | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24316933 | website = BBC Sport | date = 28 September 2013 | access-date = 28 September 2013}}</ref> A day later, he played as a second-half substitute in Stevenage's 4–1 away defeat to Milton Keynes Dons.<ref name="MK Dons 4–1 Stevenage">{{cite news | title = MK Dons 4–1 Stevenage | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24184935 | website = BBC Sport | date = 28 September 2013 | access-date = 28 September 2013}}</ref> After two appearances during his brief return, Cowan left the club after his one-month contract concluded on 21 October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/cowan_leaves_stevenage_1_2909820 |title=Cowan leaves Stevenage |newspaper=The Comet | publisher = Archant Community Media Ltd |access-date=1 August 2014 |date=21 October 2013 |first=Damion |last=Roberts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801213123/http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/cowan_leaves_stevenage_1_2909820 |archive-date=1 August 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>
===Return to Longford Town=== Cowan rejoined Longford Town on 10 January 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ltfc.ie/index.php/return-of-the-don/ |title=Return of the Don |publisher=Longford Town F.C. |access-date=1 August 2014 |date=10 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801214712/http://ltfc.ie/index.php/return-of-the-don/ |archive-date=1 August 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ltfc.ie/index.php/don-cowan-im-faster-and-stronger-than-i-ever-was/ |title=Don Cowan: "I'm faster and stronger than I ever was." |publisher=Longford Town F.C. |access-date=1 August 2014 |date=18 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801215709/http://ltfc.ie/index.php/don-cowan-im-faster-and-stronger-than-i-ever-was/ |archive-date=1 August 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> He made his first appearance in the opening game of the 2014 season, a 1–0 victory against Galway on 7 March 2014,<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ltfc.ie/index.php/squad-numbers-for-new-season/ |title=Squad numbers for new season |publisher=Longford Town F.C. |access-date=1 August 2014 |date=21 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801224904/http://ltfc.ie/index.php/squad-numbers-for-new-season/ |archive-date=1 August 2014 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> and scored his first goal of the season in a 6–0 victory against Shamrock Rovers B on 30 May 2014.<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/> He scored three goals in 24 appearances as Longford won the League of Ireland First Division title.<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/>
In Longford's first season back in the Premier Division in 2015,<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/> Cowan made 10 appearances, scoring once in a 2–1 victory away at Galway United on 27 March 2015.<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/> He featured 21 times during the 2016 season, which ended in relegation to the First Division,<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/> and played 23 matches in 2017,<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/> before retiring from football in October 2017.<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/><ref name="Don Cowan – Forward">{{cite news | title = Don Cowan – Forward | url = https://www.extratime.com/player/1239959/don_cowan/ | website = extratime.ie | publisher = Extra Time | access-date = 15 July 2021}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, FAI Cup}} !colspan="2"|League Cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Shamrock Rovers |{{center|2009<ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan">{{cite web | title = Matches played by Don Cowan | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/players/don-cowen/83978/ | website = Soccerway | access-date = 1 September 2011}}</ref>}} |LOI Premier Division |5||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||5||0 |- |{{center|2010<ref name="Player Statistics – Don Cowan"/><ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan"/>}} |LOI Premier Division |3||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||3||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !8!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!8!!0 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Longford Town |{{center|2010<ref name="Player Statistics – Don Cowan"/><ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan"/>}} |LOI First Division |13||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||13||0 |- |{{center|2011<ref name="Player Statistics – Don Cowan"/><ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan"/>}} |LOI First Division |19||8||1||0||0||0||0||0||20||8 |- !colspan=2|Total !32!!8!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!33!!8 |- |rowspan="3" valign="center"|Stevenage |2011–12<ref name="SB11">{{Soccerbase season|62863|2011|name=Don Cowan|accessdate=8 October 2025}}</ref> |League One |8||0||1||0||colspan="2" |—||0||0||9||0 |- |2012–13<ref name="SB12">{{Soccerbase season|62863|2012|name=Don Cowan|accessdate=8 October 2025}}</ref> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !8!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!9!!0 |- |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Braintree Town (loan) |2012–13<ref name="SB12"/> |Conference Premier |1||0||0||0||colspan="2" |—||0||0||1||0 |- |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Dundee |2012–13<ref name="SB12"/> |Scottish Premier League |2||0||colspan="2" |—||colspan="2" |—||0||0||2||0 |- |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Southend United |2013–14<ref name="SB13"/> |League Two |2||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||3||0 |- |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Stevenage |2013–14<ref name="SB13"/> |League One |1||0||0||0||colspan="2" |—||1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance in Football League Trophy}}||0||2||0 |- |rowspan="5" valign="center"|Longford Town |{{center|2014<ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan"/>}} |LOI First Division |22||3||0||0||0||0||2||0||24||3 |- |{{center|2015<ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan"/>}} |LOI Premier Division |10||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||10||1 |- |{{center|2016<ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan"/>}} |LOI Premier Division |21||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||21||0 |- |{{center|2017<ref name="Matches played by Don Cowan"/>}} |LOI First Division |20||0||1||0||0||0||2||0||23||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !73!!4!!1!!0!!0!!0!!4!!0!!78!!4 |- !colspan=3|Career total !127!!12!!3!!0!!1!!0!!5!!0!!136!!12 |}
{{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Longford Town''' *League of Ireland First Division: 2014<ref name="Don Cowan – Profile"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowan, Don}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriates in Ireland Category:Soccer players from New York City Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players Category:Longford Town F.C. players Category:Stevenage F.C. players Category:Braintree Town F.C. players Category:Dundee F.C. players Category:Southend United F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:League of Ireland players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:A Championship players Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen