- Birthdate: 19 September 1929
- Birthplace: Porthcawl, Wales
- Date of death: 28 April 2006
- Other clubs: Wellington Town, Birmingham City (1949-51), Stourbridge (1951-53), Tranmere Rovers (1958-61), Bangor City (1961-62), Northwich Victoria (1962-63), Mossley (1963-64)
- Signed from: Stourbridge
- Signed for LFC: 17.10.1953
- International debut: 22.04.1959 vs. Northern Ireland
- International caps: 1/0
- Liverpool debut: 19.04.1954
- Last appearance: 01.02.1958
- Debut goal: 19.04.1954
- Last goal: 08.01.1958
- Contract expiry: 13.03.1958
- Win ratio: 52.38% W:33 D:12 L:18
- Games/goals ratio: 1.66
- League games / goals: 60 / 37
- Total games / goals: 63 / 38
Player Profile
Antonio Camilio Rowley, who was of Italian descent but born in Wales, scored a hat-trick on the opening day of the 1954/55 season after featuring mostly for the reserves in his debut campaign when Liverpool got relegated to the Second Division. Rowley didn't score in the following two games and he was back in the reserves as John Evans and Billy Liddell were both scoring plenty of goals. When Rowley did get a chance with the first team he usually scored. Rowley's career at Liverpool was bizarre. He didn't play much during the regular season due to injuries or bad form, but always managed to reclaim his place in the starting 11 and score more than his fair share of goals. He scored eight goals in 13 matches in his first full season, six goals in seven matches the next, followed by another half a dozen in 14 matches in 1956/57.
Rowley finally put a run together of 19 games in his final season, scoring eight goals in six consecutive matches, but then injuries prevailed again and he was sold to third division Tranmere when two months were left of the campaign. While at Tranmere Rowley was chosen for the Welsh national side, making his only international appearance against Northern Ireland on 22 April 1959. Rowley continued to score goals for Tranmere, 47 goals in 100 league matches, which is still below his Liverpool average, a goal every 1.66 games, an impressive ratio at any level. After retiring from playing Rowley ran a printing business which he had established in the 1950s with teammate Doug Rudham.
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
5 |
450 |
Rotherham United |
4 |
360 |
Bristol Rovers |
4 |
360 |
Bristol City |
4 |
360 |
Lincoln City |
4 |
360 |
Notts County |
3 |
270 |
Swansea City |
3 |
270 |
Middlesbrough |
3 |
270 |
Huddersfield Town |
2 |
180 |
Ipswich Town |
2 |
180 |
Leeds United |
2 |
180 |
Derby |
2 |
180 |
Stoke City |
2 |
180 |
Leyton Orient |
2 |
180 |
Cardiff City |
2 |
180 |
Doncaster Rovers |
2 |
180 |
Southend |
2 |
180 |
Grimsby Town |
2 |
180 |
West Ham United |
2 |
180 |
Fulham |
2 |
180 |
Port Vale |
1 |
90 |
Northampton Town |
1 |
90 |
Nottingham Forest |
1 |
90 |
Birmingham City |
1 |
90 |
Plymouth Argyle |
1 |
90 |
Sheffield United |
1 |
90 |
Bury |
1 |
90 |
Blackpool |
1 |
90 |
Blackburn Rovers |
1 |
90 |
Charlton Athletic |
Total |
Venue |
36 |
Away |
27 |
Home |
Goals per season
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
19.04.1954 |
Middlesbrough |
Anfield |
League |
50 |
26.10.1957 |
Bristol Rovers |
Anfield |
League |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
29 |
19.04.1954 |
Middlesbrough |
Anfield |
League |
Scrapbook
Rowley on the cover of the Evening Express on 26 October 1957
Tony Rowley remembers his career
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Wellington Town |
|
Cheshire County League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Birmingham City |
1949-1951 |
England First and Second Division |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Stourbridge |
1951-1953 |
Birmingham & District League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Tranmere Rovers |
1957-1958 |
England Third Division North |
9 |
1 |
9 |
1 |
Tranmere Rovers |
1958-1959 |
England Third Division |
36 |
24 |
38 |
26 |
Tranmere Rovers |
1959-1960 |
England Third Division |
39 |
14 |
40 |
14 |
Tranmere Rovers |
1960-1961 |
England Third Division |
16 |
6 |
21 |
8 |
Bangor City |
1961-1962 |
England Cheshire County League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Northwich Vict. |
1962-1963 |
England Cheshire County League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mossley |
1963-1964 |
England Cheshire County League |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
100 |
45 |
108 |
49 |