Lew Bowen

Lew Bowen
Bowen while at West Ham United
(taken from the 1901–02 Handbook)
Born
Swansea
NationalityWelsh
Occupation(s)Club secretary, West Ham United (later financial director)
Years active1900 – after 1903

Lew M. Bowen was the first club secretary of English football club West Ham United.

Born in Swansea, Bowen was a clerk at the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company and had reported on predecessor club Thames Ironworks F.C. for the Thames Ironworks Gazette.[1] He was installed immediately following the new club's formation in June 1900.[2][3]

Bowen remained at the club as financial director after Syd King was appointed secretary during the 1901–02 season.[4] He would also perform the role of league delegate.[5] In 1903, Bowen was involved in an application to the Football Association for West Ham's home, the Memorial Grounds, to host an FA Cup final or semi-final. "I think that we have fairly proved the possibilities of putting a crowd of over 100,000 in the Grounds. I believe the correct figures are 133,000 allowing for 16 inches for each person", he stated in a letter to the FA.[6]

  1. ^ Blows, Kirk; Hogg, Tony (2000). The Essential History of West Ham United. Headline. p. 28. ISBN 0-7472-7036-8.
  2. ^ Belton, Brian (2010) [2003]. Founded on Iron. The History Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-7524-2928-1.
  3. ^ Cook, Lal. "West Ham United F.C. – A 'Brief' History". LalAmy. Archived from the original on 7 May 2007.
  4. ^ Powles, John (2008). Irons of the South. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-905891-08-5.
  5. ^ Marsh, Steve. "Handbooks". theyflysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  6. ^ Powles, John (2005). Iron in the Blood. SoccerData. p. 37. ISBN 1-899468-22-6.