George Cowie

{{Infobox football biography

|name = George Cowie

|image =

|caption =

|fullname = Alexander George Cowie{{Hugman|4218|accessdate=5 April 2017}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|5|9|df=y}}

|birth_place = Buckie, Scotland

|height =

|position = Full back

|youthyears1 = 1977–1982

|youthclubs1 = West Ham United

|years1 = 1982–1983

|clubs1 = West Ham United

|caps1 = 8

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 1983–1987

|clubs2 = Heart of Midlothian

|caps2 = 68

|goals2 = 2

|years3 = 1986–1987

|clubs3 = → Morton (loan)

|caps3 = 3

|goals3 = 2

|years4 = 1987–1988

|clubs4 = Dunfermline Athletic

|caps4 = 14

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 1988–1989

|clubs5 = Deveronvale

|caps5 =

|goals5 =

|years6 = 1989–1991

|clubs6 = Morton

|caps6 = 24

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 1991

|clubs7 = Forres Mechanics

|caps7 =

|goals7 =

|totalcaps = 117

|totalgoals = 4

|manageryears1 =

|managerclubs1 = Papua New Guinea U23

|manageryears2 =

|managerclubs2 = Solomon Islands

| medaltemplates = {{medalSport|Men's football}}

{{Medal|Country|{{fb|SOL}}}} (as manager)

}}

Alexander George Cowie (born 9 May 1961) is a Scottish former professional football player and coach.

Career

Born in Buckie, Cowie joined West Ham United as an apprentice in 1977, turning professional in 1978.{{cite web|url=http://www.westhamacademyinternational.com/Bios.html|title=Bios|accessdate=7 May 2012|publisher=West Ham United International Academy}} He made his senior debut on 13 April 1982, in a Division 1 match against Ipswich Town coming on as a substitute for Jimmy Neighbour.{{cite web|url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=155&united=George_Cowie|title=Profile|accessdate=7 May 2012|publisher=West Ham Stats}} He later played for Heart of Midlothian, Morton, Dunfermline Athletic, Deveronvale and Forres Mechanics, both latter clubs play in the Scottish Highland Football League.{{cite web|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/georgecowie.html|title=Profile|accessdate=7 May 2012|publisher=Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database}}

After retiring as a player, Cowie was active as a coach in Oceania, where he served as manager of the Papua New Guinea national under-23 team and the Solomon Islands national team.

After relocating to Queensland, Australia he coached Brisbane club, Wynnum Wolves to win the Queensland Cup, their first major trophy in 77 years. He also coached Sunshine Coast FC to a Premiership Double and was voted "Queensland Coach of the Year" in 2008. He holds a UEFA A License as a qualified coach and has worked as coach instructor for Football Federation Australia and as a technical manager of Football Queensland.{{cite web | title=About | website=George Cowie Football | date=15 March 2023 | url=https://georgecowiefootball.com.au/about/ | access-date=12 July 2023}}

Cowie operates "George Cowie Football" based in Queensland which provides coaching and training camps for aspiring footballers across Australia and works in conjunction with English Premier League club, West Ham United.{{cite web | title=Foundation promotes West Ham Way Down Under with George Cowie Football | website=West Ham United F.C. | url=http://www.whufc.com/news/foundation-promotes-west-ham-way-down-under-george-cowie-football | access-date=12 July 2023}}

Honours

=Player=

Heart of Midlothian

Scottish Cup runner-up: 1985–86{{Cite web|url=http://www.afc.co.uk/news/7249.php#.VznMXYW_rDc|title=Latest News – the Official Home of Aberdeen Football Club|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108070707/http://www.afc.co.uk/news/7249.php#.VznMXYW_rDc|url-status=dead}}