Club Born in
Stockport,
Cheshire, Gowling went to
Manchester United by way of county schools and Manchester University, where he studied for a degree in economics. He played for Manchester United juniors while at university, and once scored seven goals in a 'B' game. Due to his degree, he earned the nickname "Bamber", after
Bamber Gascoigne, the host of
University Challenge. Gowling made a goalscoring league debut against
Stoke City. Coincidentally, he also played his last game for Manchester United against Stoke City, coming on as a substitute for
Bobby Charlton. He played 87 times for Manchester United and scored four in a game against
Southampton on 20 February 1971. Nevertheless, Gowling was never really a first choice player at the club, and he enjoyed his longest run in the side when playing in midfield in his final season in 1971–72. He was sold to
Huddersfield Town for £65,000 in June 1972. After a disappointing period at Huddersfield that resulted in two relegations, he joined
Newcastle United as a strike partner for
Malcolm Macdonald. At Newcastle, he scored their only goal in the
1976 League Cup Final defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Nicknamed the "Galloping Chip", the workmanlike Gowling was preferred by
Gordon Lee to the stylish Macdonald, scoring 30 goals in 92 league appearances before moving to
Bolton Wanderers in 1978. He retired from football in 1984, aged 36, after a period at
Preston North End.
International Gowling gained England caps at amateur, schoolboy and under-23 level. Gowling represented the British Olympic side in the qualifying tournament for the
1968 Summer Olympics. ==After football==