Footballers who have played league football for PNE & Wolves since 1888
L-Z
585) MCILMOYLE Hugh (PNE signed July 71 60 apps 10 gls) (Wolves 90 apps 35 gls)
358) NELSON Jack (PNE signed 1928/29 71 apps 2 gls) (Wolves 74 apps 4 gls)
407) PRITCHARD Tommy (PNE signed 1933/34 1 app 0 gls) (Wolves 56 apps 3 gls)
489) RAMSCAR Fred (PNE signed Nov 49 19 apps 4 gls) (Wolves 16 apps 1 goal)
826) RANKINE Mark (PNE signed Sept 96 233 apps 12 gls) (Wolves 132 apps 1 goal)
664) RUDGE Dale (PNE signed Sept 84 47 apps 2 gls) (Wolves 27 apps 0 gls)
726) STOWELL Mike (PNE signed Feb 90 2 apps 0 gls) (Wolves 385 apps 0 gls)
763) TAYLOR Colin (PNE signed Nov 92 4 apps 0 gls) (Wolves 19 apps 2 gls)
13) THOMSON Sammy (PNE signed 1888/89 34 apps 10 gls) (Wolves 21 apps 9 gls)
704) ZELEM Peter (PNE signed Mar 87 6 apps 1 goal) (Wolves 45 apps 1 goal)
Player Profile MIKE STOWELL
Michael Stowell was born in Preston on 19 April 1965. When Stowell left school, instead of signing for a football club he signed a four year contract with BT as an apprentice telecommunications engineer in Preston . Stowell played for non-league Leyland Motors as well as for the regional BT Team.
Stowell got his first experience of professional football in February 1985 with his home town club, but could not break into the first team at Preston with John Platt, Glen Campbell and Alan Kelly Jnr in front of him. Stowell left Preston without making a first team appearance.
In December 1985 Alan Kelly Senior, who had resigned as Preston manager the previous February, was the goalkeeping coach at Everton and offered Stowell a trial at Everton. After a week he was rewarded two and a half year contract at Everton on the same wage as his BT job.
Stowell was the understudy to Welsh International goalkeeper Neville Southall for four and a half years. Although he didn't make a league appearance for the club Stowell did make a first team appearance for Everton in the Simod Cup against Millwall in which he kept a clean sheet.
Whilst at Goodison Park, Stowell gained first team experience with loan moves to six clubs making a total of fifty league appearances.
His first loan move was with Third Division Chester City in September 1987. Harry McNally signed Stowell after Billy Stewart had conceded 12 goals in his first four games of the 1987/88 season. Stowell in his short spell at Sealand Road made a lasting impression conceding only 13 goals in 14 appearances including a 2-0 victory at Sunderland in their first ever meeting.
In December 1987, Stowell joined another Third Division club in York City making 6 appearances for the club.
His third loan move of the 1987/88 season was with Second Division Manchester City in February 1988 making 14 league appearances.
The 1988/89 season saw Stowell join Port Vale on loan in October 1988 making 7 appearances. On the 17 March 1989 Stowell joined Wolves on loan until the end of the season, making his debut the following day in a 4-0 home win against Bury. Stowell made a further 6 appearances for Wolves in his first spell.
On 8 February 1990 Stowell joined Preston on loan replacing Alan Kelly Junior for two matches. Unfortunately both matches ended in defeat at Deepdale. The first on 10 February in a 1-0 defeat against Bristol Rovers, his final game was three days later was a 3-0 home defeat against Leyton Orient.
On 17 March 1989 Stowell joined Wolves on a permanent basis for a fee of £250,000 with a chance of regular first team football. Although Stowell didn't make any first team appearances in the remainder of the season he was going to hold the keepers jersey for Wolves in the 1990's.
Stowell made 37 appearances in 1990/91 and his early appearances for Wolves led him to be selected for the England 'B' squad. The following season was the first of four ever present seasons for Stowell in his Wolves career. Stowell was an ever-present again in the 1993/94 season and made 37 appearances the following season as Wolves finished fourth but lost the Play Off Semi Final against Bolton . After Wolves finished fifth from bottom in 1995/96, Stowell was an ever present for the third time in 1996/97 as Wolves finished third but was defeated by Crystal Palace in the Play Off Semi Finals. Stowell made his 300 appearance for the club in December 1996 against Ipswich.
Stowell was ever present as well in 1998/99 and made his 400 appearance in December 1998 against Norwich . Stowell eventually beat the record of 420 appearances for Wolves by England keeper Bert Williams (1946-1957) in April 1999 in a 1-0 win at Birmingham.
Appearances were limited to 18 league games in 1999/2000 as Michael Oakes replaced Stowell in goal. In July 2000 Stowell was rewarded with a testimonial against Aston Villa.
Stowell made his 448 and last appearance for the club on the final day of the 2000/01 season. It was his only league appearance of that season as Wolves drew 1-1 with QPR at Molyneux.
Stowell was released by Wolves and joined Bristol City making 18 league appearances in 2001/02. His debut for the club was a 3-0 win at Northampton on 11 August 2001. Stowell became the understudy for Steve Phillips and only made one more appearance for the club in a 4-0 win against Plymouth in the LDV Cup in October 1983.
At the end of the 2004/05 Stowell was released from his playing contract by Brian Tinnion. He was offered a goalkeeping coach role by Bristol City but turned it down to join Craig Levein in a similar position. at Leicester City. On Levein's dismissal in February 2006 Stowell became assistant manager to Rob Kelly.
Stowell has been in hot water recently after having words with referee Rob Stiles in the 4-1 home defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, resulting in a £300 fine and a 2 match touchline ban.