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Appearances:

357

Starts:

357

Substitute:

0

Unused:

0

Goals:

33

Games per Goal:

10.82

Assists:

Goal Involvements:

Player #56

Born:

Citizenship:

Position:

From:

To:

Seasons:

Bookings:

Red Cards:

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Centre Back

1889-90

1901-02

13

Jimmy Cowan

Jimmy Cowan

Seasons Quick-View

Season

1889-90
1890-91
1891-92
1892-93
1893-94
1894-95
1895-96
1896-97
1897-98
1898-99
1899-00
1900-01
1901-02

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

Squad #

Appearances

24
21
30
27
34
35
24
37
29
34
31
30
1

Starts

24
21
30
27
34
35
24
37
29
34
31
30
1

Subs

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

Goals

3
6
1
2
5
3
2
2
4
3
1
1
0

Assists

Bookings

Red Cards

Games / Goals

Goal

Involvements

FAC: FA Cup; FL: Football League; D1: Division 1; D2: Division 2; D3: Division 3; PL: Premier League; CH: Championship

Goalkeeping Statistics

Season

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
1889-90
1890-91
1891-92
1892-93
1893-94
1894-95
1895-96
1896-97
1897-98
1898-99
1899-00
1900-01
1901-02

🥅

🔢

%

🥅 : Goals Conceded; 🔢 : Goals Conceded per Game; ⛔ : Clean Sheets.

James Cowan

Birth Date

17 October 1868

Birth Place

Bonhill, Dunbartonshire

Birth Country

Scotland

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Citizenship

Scotland

Villa Youth

n/a

Previous Teams

Bonhill Council School
Jamestown
Vale of Leven FC

Transfer in

Aged

20

From

Vale of Leven FC

For

Free

On

1889

Under

George Ramsay

Promoted to First Team Squad

In

Under

Loans Out

None

Transfer Out

Aged

31

Retired

To

For

Released

On

1901

Under

George Ramsay

Subsequent Clubs

Retired

Died

12 December 1915, Aged 47

Villa Career

1889-01 Free, 357 | 33 | #56 |

Seasons | Fee |
Leagues | PL: Premier League; CH: Championship; D1: First Division; D2: Second Division; D3 Third Division.

🕒 Games | Starts (Subs) | ⚽ Goals | 🔥 Assists | 🇺 Unused | Player Number |

Appearances

Unused

357

0

Goals

33

Played Under

George Ramsay led Management Committee

Debut

Season

Date

Match

1889-90

7 September 1889

Burnley (h), Football League

Age

Manager

(First Squad)

20

No Substitutes in Period

Manager

First Goal

21 September 1889

Appearances

Goals

357

33

Final Appearance

Season

Date

Match

1901-02

21 September 1889

Stoke (a), Division One

Aged

Manager

(Final Squad)

31

No Substitutes in Period

Manager

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 Record

National Team

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Scotland

Years | Caps | Starts (Sub) | Goals |

Caps with Villa

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.

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