Bowden, Norman H

Centre Forward

Born: Glossop.

Career: Arsenal amateur, Wolves (guest) Mar 43, Leicester City (guest) Oct 43, Manchester United (loan) Dec 44, Burnley (guest) Nov 45, Blackburn Rovers (guest) Oct 1945.

He made just the one appearance for Wolves against Wrexham and top scored for Leicester City with 14 goals in 23 appearances which included hat-trick against Notts County. He then made two appearances netting one for both Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers and one for Burnley whilst making four appearances for Arsenal netting twice. Arsenal were so impressed with his war time appearances that they signed him on professional terms in February 1944, He never made a first eleven appearance for the Gunners after the war despite appearing in the Army XI v the FA XI which were virtually international trial matches. During the war he also served with the RAF and trained as air crew in Florida and before the end of the war he had to bail out of a burning aircraft at 10,000 feet.