Template:Football player infobox2David Bowman (born 10 March 1964) is a former professional footballer who played for clubs including Heart of Midlothian and Dundee United, and represented Scotland at the 1992 European Championships. He is currently assistant manager at Livingston.
Early life and Hearts career
Dave Bowman's father, Andy Bowman, was also a professional footballer, and had also played for Hearts. In 1964 he was playing for Tonbridge, hence Dave being born in Kent. Most sources gives his birthplace as being nearby Tunbridge Wells, although some also state Tonbridge. The family moved back to Scotland while Dave was a child, settling in Edinburgh, where he grew up supporting Hearts. During the 1970s, Bowman and future Hearts and Scotland team-mate John Robertson were ball boys together at Meadowbank Thistle's matches. In 1980 the two school-friends both signed for Hearts and were quickly thrust into first team duty at a time when the club were in a dire financial state and forced to rely on youth. Bowman made his Hearts debut aged only 16 and had captained the side by the time he was 18.
In 1982 he was also part of the Scotland under-18 side that became European champions, and then competed in the following year's World Youth Cup in Mexico.
Coventry and Dundee United
Bowman moved to Coventry City in 1984, where he first played alongside Jim McInally and with whom he transferred to Dundee United in the summer of 1986.
It was at United that Bowman had the longest, best-remembered and most successful spell of his playing career. He was part of the squad that played in the 1987 UEFA Cup Final, losing to IFK Göteborg. Dave was also part of the squad that played in four Scottish Cup finals in 1987, 1988, 1991 and 1994, the latter being when United recorded their only Scottish Cup victory, defeating Rangers 1-0.
During season 1995-96, Dave was awarded a testimonial and became captain of United, taking over following Christian Dailly's brief spell as captain.
Playing style and international recognition
A defensive midfielder, right full-back or right wing-back, Dave was a player who was underrated by many, but not by Dundee United supporters, who will always hold him in high esteem. Dave was renowned for the toughness of his tackling (he was nicknamed Psycho at United), but this was not his only footballing attribute and his skills saw him play for Scotland, who selected him for their squad that played in the 1992 European Championships, the first occasion that Scotland had qualified for the finals of this championship.
Later career and retirement
Dave spent the latter part of his playing career at Raith Rovers, Hong Kong club Yee Hope and Forfar Athletic. As Forfar were a part-time club, Dave was able to join the coaching staff at Dundee United, where he continued to serve the club until he left following Craig Brewster's appointment as manager in 2006. After a brief spell as a radio pundit for the BBC's Sportsound programme, he returned to coaching when old friend Robertson invited him to be his assistant at Livingston.
He has also worked in his father-in-law's floristry business, to the amusement of many who remember his uncompromising playing style.
Trivia
Dave Bowman holds the dubious honour of being one of the longest suspended footballers in the modern game. His suspension lasted 17 games, and was administered for swearing at the match official(s). His ban is only beaten in length by that of (amongst others) Éric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Shaun Newton.
External links
- Dave Bowman at Soccerbase
- Hearts career stats from London Hearts website