John McDowell (footballer)

{{Short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = John McDowell

| image =

| fullname = John Alfred McDowell

| height =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1951|9|7}}

| birth_place = East Ham, London, England

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = West Ham United

| years1 = 1969–1979

| years2 = 1979–1982

| clubs1 = West Ham United

| clubs2 = Norwich City

| caps1 = 249

| caps2 = 41

| goals1 = 8

| goals2 = 1

| totalcaps = 290

| totalgoals = 9

| nationalyears1 = 1970

| nationalyears2 = 1972–1974

| nationalteam1 = England Youth

| nationalteam2 = England U23

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalcaps2 = 13

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

John Alfred McDowell (born 7 September 1951) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for West Ham United and Norwich City.{{hugman|12421|accessdate=23 October 2018}}

McDowell played for West Ham United as a youth.{{Cite web |title=Stephen Gill the Apprentice |first=Roger |last=Hillier |work=theyflysohigh.co.uk |accessdate=4 February 2019 |url= http://theyflysohigh.co.uk/gill-the-apprentice/4593783326}} He made a single appearance for the England Youth team and went on to make 13 international appearances at under-23 level between 1972 and 1974.{{cite book |last=Hogg |first=Tony |title=Who's Who of West Ham United |year=2005 |publisher=Profile Sports Media| isbn= 1-903135-50-8 |page=132}}{{Cite web |title=England – U-23 International Results – Details |first=Barrie |last=Courtney |publisher=RSSSF |date=27 March 2004 |access-date=4 February 2019 |url= https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-u23-intres-det.html}}

He was a first-team regular for West Ham for ten years, missing only the 1976–77 season due to injury. He played as a defender, replacing Billy Bonds as right-back after the latter had switched to midfield. He made his league debut in October 1970 against Blackpool.

McDowell joined Norwich City in August 1979 for around £90,000,{{cite news| title=Currie signs for QPR |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24759915/john_mcdowell_transfer_to_norwich/ |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 August 1979| page=16| via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=23 October 2018}} {{free access}} making his debut in a 4–2 win at Everton on 18 August 1979. He made 45 appearances for the club, scoring one goal. He joined the staff at Norwich in August 1981, coaching the reserve team, but left in May 1982 to become assistant manager at Bristol Rovers.{{cite web| url=http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/mcdowell.htm| title=John McDowell| first=Steve| last=Whitlam| work=Flown From The Nest| accessdate=23 October 2018}}{{cite web| url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/norwich-city-fc/john-mcdowell-7677/league-appearances_a16539/| title=John McDowell, Norwich City FC| website=sporting-heroes.net| accessdate=23 October 2018}}