Season #2 | 1880-81 | Games #3 - #6
133 Seasons, 33 Managers, 980 Players, 5,654 Matches, Only One Aston Villa
Player #58
Appearances:
357
Starts:
357
Goals:
33
Seasons:
13
Source: Football card Jimmy Cowan issued by Cohen, Weenen & Co Sweet Crop Smoking Mixture under the Cricketers, Footballers, Jockeys series.
Source: Football card Jimmy Cowan issued by Cohen, Weenen & Co Sweet Crop Smoking Mixture under the Cricketers, Footballers, Jockeys series.
Jimmy Cowan
Position
Centre Back
From
1889-90
To
1901-02
IMAGE CREDIT
Jimmy Cowan
Seasons Quick-View
Seasons
Age*
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
Division
FL | FL | FL | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 |
Appearances
357 |
24 | 21 | 30 | 27 | 34 | 35 | 24 | 37 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 1 |
Starts
357 |
24 | 21 | 30 | 27 | 34 | 35 | 24 | 37 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 1 |
Substitute
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unused
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals
33 |
3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
*Age on opening day of the season
FAC: FA Cup; FL: Football League; D1: Division 1; D2: Division 2; D3: Division 3; PL: Premier League; CH: Championship
FULL SEASON BREAKDOWN
James Cowan
Birth Date
Saturday, 17 October 1868
Birth Place
Bonhill, Dunbartonshire
Birth Country
Scotland
Villa Youth
n/a
From
Transfer in
Vale of Leven FC
From
For
Free
On
Unknown
Previous Clubs
Bonhill Council School |
Jamestown |
Vale of Leven FC |
Loans Out
None
Transfer Out
To
Retired
For
Released
On
1901
Subsequent Clubs
Retired |
Source: Football card Jimmy Cowan issued by Cohen, Weenen & Co Sweet Crop Smoking Mixture under the Cricketers, Footballers, Jockeys series.
Source: Football card Jimmy Cowan issued by Cohen, Weenen & Co Sweet Crop Smoking Mixture under the Cricketers, Footballers, Jockeys series.
Villa Career
Seasons Active, Fee, Starts (Sub) | Goals |
1889-01 Aston Villa, Free, 357 | 33 |
STARTS
SUBS
GOALS
Played Under
George Ramsay led Management Committee
First Squad Appearance
Saturday, 7 September 1889
Debut Appearance
Saturday, 7 September 1889
Burnley (h), Football League
DEBUT
First Goal
Saturday, 21 September 1889
Final Appearance
Saturday, 21 September 1901
Stoke (a), Division One
FINAL
Final Squad Appearance
Saturday, 21 September 1901
Honours
1893-94 League Champions |
1894-95 FA Cup Winners |
1895-96 League Champions |
1896-97 League Champions |
1896-97 FA Cup Winners |
1898-99 League Champions |
1899-00 League Champions |
1901-02 League Champions |
Height
Foot
International Team
Scotland
Died
12 December 1915, Aged 47
Jimmy Cowan
Player #58 for Aston Villa, James Cowan, known as Jimmy Cowan and nicknamed Jas, played as a defender for the club. Jimmy represented Villa between 1889-90 and 1901-02.
Following in the footsteps of the great Archie Hunter and Dennis Hodgetts, Jimmy arguably became Villa’s third true legend.
Jimmy was born in Bonhill, Scotland on 17th October 1868 and made his debut as a 20 year old on 7th September 1889.
Villa had signed Jimmy from Vale of Leven Reserves in his native Scotland and he went on to represent the club over twelve seasons.
In his time with the Villa Jimmy won 9 major trophies: 5 League Championships, 2 FA Cups and 2 Charity Shields.
Jimmy played in all 30 of Villa’s games in the 1893-94 Championship winning season chipping in with 3 goals.
He followed that as an ever present in the 1894-95 FA Cup Winning team including the final hosted at Crystal Palace, London where Villa once again beat West Bromwich Albion, this time 1-0.
The following season 1895-96 brought another League Championship for Villa with Jimmy appearing on 23 occasions scoring twice which he followed up with another ever present campaign in the 1896-97 league championship winning season with 30 appearances and once.
That season also saw Villa complete a historic League and FA Cup double with Jimmy playing every FA Cup game including the final at Crystal Palace, London where Villa vanquished Everton 3-2.
Jimmy then made 58 league appearances over the following two seasons - 1898-99 and 1899-00 as Villa once again ran out as League Champions.
The Villa News and Record of 1st September 1906 paid tribute to Jimmy:
“For a long period one of the mainstays of Aston Villa as centre half-back. Originally came to the district to play for Warwick County FC, but was attached to Perry Barr. Always a favourite by reason of his untiring energy and skilful tackling. Quick in detecting favourable openings for his side, his prompt backing up and placing of the ball proved of immense value. Undismayed and uncomplaining after the hardest of games, he won a high position amongst the Villa celebrities. Occasionally scored, but did not shine as a goal-getter.”
Jimmy’s final game for Villa came on the 21st September 1901 after which he retired from football however he was soon back with Villa taking up the role of juniors coach.
Jimmy had played his entire Villa career under the George Ramsay led Management Committee.
Jimmy passed away in Glasgow on the 12th December 1915 aged just 47.