{{short description|GB & England international rugby league footballer}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Ken Gowers |fullname = Joseph Kenneth Gowers |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = 15 October 1936 |birth_place = Wigan, Lancashire, England |death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2017|10|19|1936|10|15}} |death_place = Bury, Greater Manchester, England |height = {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|12|st|5|lb|kg|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|FB|SH}} |club1 = Swinton |year1start = 1954 |year1end = 73 |appearances1 = 601 |tries1 = 55 |goals1 = 970 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 2105 |teamA = Lancashire |yearAstart = 1958 |yearAend = 66 |appearancesA = 12 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 27 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 54 |teamB = England |yearBstart = 1962 |yearBend = |appearancesB = 1 |triesB = 0 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 0 |teamC = Great Britain |yearCstart = 1962 |yearCend = 66 |appearancesC = 14 |triesC = 0 |goalsC = 20 |fieldgoalsC = 1 |pointsC = 42 |retired = yes |source = <ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/ken-gowers/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Rugby league records |id=8915 |title=Ken Gowers |access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref> | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = Walter Gowers | relatives = John Simpson (grandson) }} }}
'''Joseph Kenneth Gowers''' (15 October 1936<ref>[http://www.swintonlionsrlfc.com/news/389 KEN GOWERS – LOSS OF A SWINTON LEGEND]{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> – 19 October 2017) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (vice-captain), England and Rugby League XIII, and at club level for Newbold Intermediates ARLFC (in Newbold, Rochdale) and Swinton, as a goal-kicking {{rlp|fb}}, and occasionally {{rlp|sh}}.
==Background== Gowers was born in Wigan, Lancashire.
He was the son of the rugby league, and association footballer Walter Gowers, and maternal grandfather of the Middlesex cricketer John Simpson.
He died in Bury, Greater Manchester aged 81. His funeral took place at St Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Peter Street, Bury on Monday 6 November 2017,<ref>{{cite news |title=Joseph Gowers |work=Bury Times |date=26 October 2017}}</ref> followed by a wake at Woodbank Cricket Club, Stafford Street, Bury.
==Playing career==
===International honours=== Gowers won a cap for England while at Swinton in 1962 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Swinton in 1962 against France, in 1963 against France, and Australia (3 matches), in 1964 against France (2 matches), in 1965 against New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1966 against France (2 matches), and on the 1966 Great Britain Lions tour against Australia, and New Zealand (2 matches). Gowers was the tourists' vice-captain on the 1966 Great Britain tour of Australasia.
Four Swinton (''"the Lions"'') players took part in the 1966 Great Britain Lions tour to Australasia, they were; Alan Buckley, Ken Gowers (vice-captain), Dave Robinson and John Stopford.<ref name="Obituary: John Stopford">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-stopford-1200359.html|title=Obituary: John Stopford|publisher=independent.co.uk|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012}}</ref>
Gowers played {{rlp|fb}} for Rugby League XIII while at Swinton in the 8–26 defeat by France on Saturday 22 November 1958 at Knowsley Road, St. Helens.
===County Cup Final appearances=== Gowers played {{rlp|fb}} in Swinton's 9–15 defeat by St. Helens in the 1960 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 29 October 1960, played {{rlp|fb}} in the 9–25 defeat by St. Helens in the 1961 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1961–62 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 11 November 1961, played {{rlp|fb}} in the 4–7 defeat by St. Helens in the 1962 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1962–63 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 27 October 1962, played {{rlp|fb}} in the 4–12 defeat by St. Helens in the 1964 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1964–65 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 24 October 1964, played {{rlp|fb}} in the 11–2 victory over Leigh in the 1969 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 1 November 1969, and played {{rlp|sh}}, and scored 3-goals in the 11–25 defeat by Salford in the 1972 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1972–73 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 21 October 1972.
===BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances=== Gowers played {{rlp|fb}} in Swinton's 2–7 defeat by Castleford in the 1966 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1966–67 season at Wheldon Road, Castleford on Tuesday 20 December 1966.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{dead link|date=April 2018|bot=|fix-attempted=yes}} ĎŔƑ [http://www.swintonlionsrlfc.com/news/389 KEN GOWERS – LOSS OF A SWINTON LEGEND]{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} *[https://www.facebook.com/EverythingRugbyLeague/posts/1655493451182522 KEN GOWERS - LOSS OF A SWINTON LEGEND - A TRIBUTE]
{{Great Britain squad – 1966 Tour}} {{Swinton Lions Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gowers, Kenneth}} Category:1936 births Category:2017 deaths Category:England national rugby league team players Category:English rugby league players Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players Category:Lancashire rugby league team players Category:Rugby league fullbacks Category:Rugby league halfbacks Category:Rugby league players from Wigan Category:Rugby League XIII players Category:Swinton Lions players Category:20th-century English sportsmen