Articles
The Robbie Fowler story - part 1
Robert Bernard Fowler is born and raised in Toxeth in Liverpool, an area where unemployment is the norm. The situation was very bad and it ended up in riots when the people of this are got fed up with this situation when Fowler was just a kid. Robbie was an Everton supporter in his childhood and loathed Ian Rush's achievements with Liverpool FC. Especially since Rushie was very prolific against Everton. Fowler was chosen to play for the u-14 team in his school and was spotted by Jim Aspinall, Liverpool scout. Everton also had its eye on him at this time and Fowler did play few games for them when he was 14 years old in their u-17 team but Fowler had already settled in at Liverpool FC and turned Everton down. Fowler signed his proffessional contract on his 17th birthday.
"Kenny Dalglish was manager when I signed for Liverpool. When I was training there as a schoolboy, Kenny would sometimes drop me off at home. I couldn't wait to get into school the next morning to tell everyone what had happened! Steve Heighway, who is still in charge of Liverpool's youth set-up, was very good to me and helped me a lot at that time. He sat me down and talked to me about things, and gave me lots of advice which I have used."
Fowler got the first taste of the A-team at the end of the 1992-1993 season when he was on the bench against Bolton in the FA cup and again in the final match against Tottenham when Liverpool beat Tottenham 6-2. His international breaktrough came that summer with u-18 England team when they won the European title. Fowler started the tournament on the bench but ended up as the top scorer with 5 goals in 4 games.
Fowler played his first match in the A-team against Fulham in 3-1 victory in the Coca-Cola cup on the 22nd of September. He scored of course in that match and in the second match he scored all 5 goals in the game when Liverpool won 5-0 over Fulham two weeks later. In his first league match he wre the number 11 shirt against Chelsea. Liverpool was currently in 13 place and had lost 3 league games in a row but Fowler's presence didnt stop them losing their 4th game. He played in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal and scored his forst league goal against Oldham in the following game, which ended 2-1 for Liverpool. Fowler scored his first hat-trick against Southampton in only his 5th league match. Fowler scored no less than 13 goals in his first 15 games for Liverpool and it was clear that Fowler wasn't an ordinary player. Fowler made his debut in the u-21 England team against San Marino in November and scored his first u-21 goal.
Fowler broke his ankle in the cup against Bristol City on the 19th of January and was absent to the beginning of mars. He only scored 3 goals in the last remaining 11 games that season, but nevertheless boasted a great record in his first season in the Premier League. Fowler ended the season with same amount of goals as Ian Rush the Liverpool legend, 18 goals, but Fowler had played fewer games.
Fowler started the season well and scored 5 goals in the first 3 games and had already achieved his target of 10 goals for the season. He scored an incredible hat-trick against Arsenal in only 4 minutes and 35 seconds which is still a Premier League record! Fowler was perplexed after the match: "I didn't really have a clue today's goals came so quickly. I thought they were 15 minutes apart."
Fowler got his reward with a new 4 years contract with Liverpool which pocketed him one million pounds. Before signing he was on 500 pounds a week. A goal against Southampton followed in the next game but he didn't score in the next 4 games. Fowler recovered and scored 15 goals in the next 16 games and two days into the new year he had scored 20 goals in the league.
Boss Roy Evans said of the young genius: "Robbie has immense talent. He can be frightening. As long as he learns from players like Ian Rush, who knows how far he can go?" Robbie Fowler enjoyed playing along legend Ian Rush: "He's done it all before and knows the ins and outs of the game. He knows everything about defenders and has told me about the strengths and weaknesses of every one we've played against and that's made a big difference to me. In the games it's the same. He never stops talking, keeps on at me non-stop and that's helped me to develop this season. But I know I've been lucky. I'm learning from the best and if you don't learn from the likes of Ian then who can you learn from?"
Fowler was hoping for titles this year and he did receive on, even though it wasn't big one. Fowler played an important role in beating Crystal Palace in the semi-finals of the Coca Cola cup. Liverpool won both games 1-0 and Fowler scored the winning goal on both occasions. Fowler was looking forward to playing on Wembley for the first time in his career. "I've never been nervous before a game but Sunday might be different. When I was there before the atmosphere was first class but I'm sure that when I walk out of that tunnel and hear the roar of the crowd the hairs on the back of my neck will stand up. But Ian's told me how he scored in his first game there when we beat Spurs to win the competition in 1982 and I'd really love to do the same, score and be on the winning side"
Fowler did achieve his goal as Liverpool won Bolton 2-1 in the Coca cola cup final. Fowler's best friend Steve McManaman was outstanding on the day and scored both goals for Liverpool. Fowler got a nice birthday present when he was chosen the young player of the year in the Premier League. He was also the only player who played all the games that season and the team's top scorer. Fowler scored 25 league goals in 42 matches and all in all 31 goals and became the first player in Liverpool to score more than 30 goals in one season.
Part 2: 1995-96
"Kenny Dalglish was manager when I signed for Liverpool. When I was training there as a schoolboy, Kenny would sometimes drop me off at home. I couldn't wait to get into school the next morning to tell everyone what had happened! Steve Heighway, who is still in charge of Liverpool's youth set-up, was very good to me and helped me a lot at that time. He sat me down and talked to me about things, and gave me lots of advice which I have used."
Fowler got the first taste of the A-team at the end of the 1992-1993 season when he was on the bench against Bolton in the FA cup and again in the final match against Tottenham when Liverpool beat Tottenham 6-2. His international breaktrough came that summer with u-18 England team when they won the European title. Fowler started the tournament on the bench but ended up as the top scorer with 5 goals in 4 games.
Fowler played his first match in the A-team against Fulham in 3-1 victory in the Coca-Cola cup on the 22nd of September. He scored of course in that match and in the second match he scored all 5 goals in the game when Liverpool won 5-0 over Fulham two weeks later. In his first league match he wre the number 11 shirt against Chelsea. Liverpool was currently in 13 place and had lost 3 league games in a row but Fowler's presence didnt stop them losing their 4th game. He played in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal and scored his forst league goal against Oldham in the following game, which ended 2-1 for Liverpool. Fowler scored his first hat-trick against Southampton in only his 5th league match. Fowler scored no less than 13 goals in his first 15 games for Liverpool and it was clear that Fowler wasn't an ordinary player. Fowler made his debut in the u-21 England team against San Marino in November and scored his first u-21 goal.
Fowler broke his ankle in the cup against Bristol City on the 19th of January and was absent to the beginning of mars. He only scored 3 goals in the last remaining 11 games that season, but nevertheless boasted a great record in his first season in the Premier League. Fowler ended the season with same amount of goals as Ian Rush the Liverpool legend, 18 goals, but Fowler had played fewer games.
Fowler started the season well and scored 5 goals in the first 3 games and had already achieved his target of 10 goals for the season. He scored an incredible hat-trick against Arsenal in only 4 minutes and 35 seconds which is still a Premier League record! Fowler was perplexed after the match: "I didn't really have a clue today's goals came so quickly. I thought they were 15 minutes apart."
Fowler got his reward with a new 4 years contract with Liverpool which pocketed him one million pounds. Before signing he was on 500 pounds a week. A goal against Southampton followed in the next game but he didn't score in the next 4 games. Fowler recovered and scored 15 goals in the next 16 games and two days into the new year he had scored 20 goals in the league.
Boss Roy Evans said of the young genius: "Robbie has immense talent. He can be frightening. As long as he learns from players like Ian Rush, who knows how far he can go?" Robbie Fowler enjoyed playing along legend Ian Rush: "He's done it all before and knows the ins and outs of the game. He knows everything about defenders and has told me about the strengths and weaknesses of every one we've played against and that's made a big difference to me. In the games it's the same. He never stops talking, keeps on at me non-stop and that's helped me to develop this season. But I know I've been lucky. I'm learning from the best and if you don't learn from the likes of Ian then who can you learn from?"
Fowler was hoping for titles this year and he did receive on, even though it wasn't big one. Fowler played an important role in beating Crystal Palace in the semi-finals of the Coca Cola cup. Liverpool won both games 1-0 and Fowler scored the winning goal on both occasions. Fowler was looking forward to playing on Wembley for the first time in his career. "I've never been nervous before a game but Sunday might be different. When I was there before the atmosphere was first class but I'm sure that when I walk out of that tunnel and hear the roar of the crowd the hairs on the back of my neck will stand up. But Ian's told me how he scored in his first game there when we beat Spurs to win the competition in 1982 and I'd really love to do the same, score and be on the winning side"
Fowler did achieve his goal as Liverpool won Bolton 2-1 in the Coca cola cup final. Fowler's best friend Steve McManaman was outstanding on the day and scored both goals for Liverpool. Fowler got a nice birthday present when he was chosen the young player of the year in the Premier League. He was also the only player who played all the games that season and the team's top scorer. Fowler scored 25 league goals in 42 matches and all in all 31 goals and became the first player in Liverpool to score more than 30 goals in one season.
Part 2: 1995-96
