James Rowberry

{{Infobox football biography

| name = James Rowberry

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = James Rowberry

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|04|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Newport, Wales

| height =

| position =

| currentclub = Stoke City (assistant manager)

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Bristol City

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Newport County

| manageryears1 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs1 = Newport County

}}

James Rowberry (born 26 April 1985) is a Welsh football manager and coach. He began his coaching career at an early age, and at 29 years old became one of the youngest people to ever gain the UEFA Pro Licence. Rowberry was team manager at Newport County 2021-22, having previously been a youth coach at Newport and Cardiff City, where he was made first-team coach in 2014.

Coaching career

Rowberry played youth football with Bristol City and Newport County, who he joined aged 16.{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Glen |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/meet-james-rowberry-cardiff-citys-17788231 |title=Meet James Rowberry, Cardiff City's coaching prodigy who has taught some of the biggest names in football |work=Wales Online |date=23 February 2020 |access-date=21 October 2021}} His father Stephen played for Newport in the {{decade|1990}}, and fellow Welsh manager Tony Pulis is a distant relative of Rowberry. He retired as a player aged 21, choosing to concentrate on his coaching career.{{cite news |last=Wathan |first=Chris |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/just-who-potential-new-cardiff-11322613 |title=Just who is potential new Cardiff City manger James Rowberry? This is everything you need to know |work=Wales Online |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=21 October 2021}} He grew up a small distance from Rodney Parade, Newport's current stadium, and was the mascot of Newport aged five.{{cite news |last=Kirwan |first=Chris |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19660965.boss-james-rowberry-thrive-pressure-newport-county/ |title=Boss James Rowberry to thrive on pressure at Newport County |work=South Wales Argus |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=21 October 2021}} Rowberry gained his UEFA Pro Licence in 2014 aged 29, making him one of the youngest people to complete the highest qualification badges in Europe. Upon gaining his badges, he was described as "one of the brightest young coaches coming through" by Football Association of Wales technical director Osian Roberts.{{cite news |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11324568.newports-james-rowberry-gains-uefa-pro-licence-at-29/ |title=Newport's James Rowberry gains UEFA Pro Licence at 29 |work=South Wales Argus |date=7 July 2014 |access-date=21 October 2021}}

He joined Newport in 2009, working with the first team and development team, before moving to Cardiff City in 2013 to work with the club's academy.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36276475 |title=Cardiff City: James Rowberry being considered as Russell Slade replacement |work=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=21 October 2021}} He also worked with the Welsh Football Trust as a football development officer, and later as a coach educator. Following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjær as Cardiff manager, Rowberry was made a first team coach under new manager Russell Slade, who described Rowberry as passionate and enthusiastic about coaching.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11704/9537681/sky-bet-championship-russell-slade-makes-cardiff-backroom-changes |title=Sky Bet Championship: Russell Slade makes Cardiff backroom changes |work=Sky Sports |date=27 October 2014 |access-date=21 October 2021}} When Slade himself left the job in 2016, Rowberry was among the candidates to take over the role.{{cite news |last=Wathan |first=Chris |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-manager-hunt-unknown-11321808 |title=Cardiff City manager hunt: Unknown 31-year-old James Rowberry is a shock contender for Bluebirds job |work=Wales Online |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=21 October 2021}} He would go on to work with Paul Trollope and Neil Warnock, and Rowberry says that he learned "pure coaching" from Slade and Trollope, while under Warnock he learned "pure management". He also credits Mick McCarthy with advising him on the role of being a manager prior to taking over at Newport.{{cite news |last=Coleman |first=Tom |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mick-mccarthy-amazing-human-being-21918072 |title='Mick McCarthy is an amazing human being' - James Rowberry explains Cardiff City exit and future Bluebirds transfer link |work=Wales Online |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=21 October 2021}}

On 19 October 2021, Rowberry was appointed manager of his hometown team, EFL League Two club Newport County, with the team 13th in the league after 13 matches of the 2021–22 season.{{cite news |last=Pearlman |first=Michael |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58983821 |title=James Rowberry: Newport County job 'a dream' for new manager |work=BBC Sport |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=21 October 2021}} He was given a contract until summer 2024,{{Cite web|title='Vital' coach Hatswell signs new deal to stay at County until 2024|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19727976.coach-wayne-hatswell-signs-new-contract-newport-county/|access-date=2021-11-19|website=South Wales Argus|language=en}} and took over from caretaker manager Wayne Hatswell, who had managed the club for four unbeaten league matches following the departure of manager Michael Flynn, with Rowberry saying he had "big shoes to fill" due to the success Flynn had at the club.{{cite news |last=Kirwan |first=Chris |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19661108.newport-boss-james-rowberry-build-michael-flynns-work/ |title=Newport boss James Rowberry to build on Michael Flynn's work |work=South Wales Argus |date=20 October 2021 |access-date=21 October 2021}} Hatswell was retained as assistant manager, but resigned his position on 22 February 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2022/february/wayne-hatswell-appointed-assistant-head-coach/|title=Wayne Hatswell appointed Assistant Head Coach|website=Walsall F.C.|date=22 February 2022|access-date=22 February 2022}} On the same day, Cardiff coach Carl Serrant was appointed as assistant to Rowberry.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60483159 |title=Carl Serrant: Newport County name Cardiff City coach as new assistant manager |work=BBC Sport |date=22 February 2022 |access-date=21 May 2022}} Newport finished the season in 11th place in League Two.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61281128 Newport 11th in League Two] On 10 October 2022 Rowberry was sacked with Newport in 18th place in League Two after 13 league matches of the 2022–23 season. Serrant was also sacked[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63205882 Rowberry sacked at Newport] and Sporting Director Darren Kelly took the role of Newport County caretaker manager.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63252548 Kelly caretaker Newport manager]

In February 2023 Rowberry was appointed as FAW Head of Elite Coach Education.[https://faw.cymru/news/james-rowberry-appointed-as-head-of-elite-coach-education/ Rowberry joins FAW] In February 2024 Rowberry was appointed assistant coach to the Wales national women's team.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68203832 Rowberry coach to Wales women's team] In August 2024 Rowberry was appointed as assistant coach to new Wales national team manager Craig Bellamy.[https://faw.cymru/news/new-cymru-mu17-mu18-head-coaches-appointed/ Rowberry Wales assistant coach]

Rowberry Joined Stoke City on 1 January 2025 as assistant manager to Mark Robins.{{cite web |title=Robins appointed Manager of the Potters |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2025/january/01/robins-appointed-Manager-of-the-Potters/ |website=Stoke City |access-date=1 January 2025}}

Personal life

In August 2022, Rowberry revealed that he considers himself 'fortunate to be here' having had a pacemaker fitted following a routine check-up showed led to him being diagnosed with third-degree atrioventricular heart block.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62684683|title=James Rowberry: Newport County boss reveals eve-of-season heart surgery|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 August 2022|accessdate=26 August 2022}}

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Nat !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align=left\|Newport County \|{{flagicon\|Wales}} \|align=left\|19 October 2021 \|align=left\|10 October 2022 {{WDL\|52\|21\|9\|22\|for=69\|against=65\|diff=yes}}
colspan="4"\|Total {{WDLtot\|52\|21\|9\|22\|for=69\|against=65\|diff=yes}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|Nat

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}