Maurice Owen

Maurice Owen (4 July 1924 – 8 July 2000) was an English professional footballer who scored 150 goals in 555 appearances in the Football League playing for Swindon Town.[1]

Maurice Owen
Personal information
Date of birth (1924-07-04)4 July 1924
Place of birth Abingdon, England
Date of death 8 July 2000(2000-07-08) (aged 76)
Place of death Abingdon, England
Playing position(s) Forward / Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946 Abingdon Town
1946–1963 Swindon Town 555 (150)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

Born in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Owen served as a Chindit in Burma during the latter years of World War II. He returned to Abingdon following the war, working as an apprentice in the MG factory in the town.[2]

Career

Owen joined Swindon from non-league side Abingdon Town in December 1946. He started his Swindon career in impressive goal scoring form, scoring sixteen times in seventeen matches during his first season, including a hattrick on his debut against Watford and a four-goal haul during a match against Mansfield Town.[3] During his career, Swindon twice agreed a fee to sell Owen to other clubs, £14,000 to Norwich City in 1951 and £7,500 to Bristol City in 1955, but Owen rejected both moves, not wanting to move away from his home in Abingdon.[2] There were also unsuccessful approaches from Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers. After his retirement, Owen commented on his refusal to move away from Swindon, stating:

"I would have liked to play in the First Division, I suppose, but not enough to make me move. To be honest, I was so happy at Swindon. They were a good club and I was among good friends. It was a joy to go to the County Ground every day."[4]

Having started his career as a centre forward, he later moved back into defence. In all competitions he scored 164 goals from 601 appearances for the club. After he finished playing he joined Swindon's backroom staff, serving as a coach before working as a groundsman.[5]

Later life

Owen was married to his wife Marjorie for nearly 50 years. In his later years, he suffered with Alzheimer's disease for more than a decade and suffered a stroke in 1998. Still living in his hometown Abingdon, Oxfordshire, he died in 2000 at the age of 76.[6]

Career statistics

Source:[5]

SeasonTeamLeague AppsLeague GoalsCup AppsCup Goals
1962–63 Swindon Town27040
1961–62 Swindon Town44040
1960–61 Swindon Town40060
1959–60 Swindon Town0000
1958–59 Swindon Town36230
1957–58 Swindon Town33300
1956–57 Swindon Town37720
1955–56 Swindon Town441352
1954–55 Swindon Town331210
1953–54 Swindon Town291000
1952–53 Swindon Town401734
1951–52 Swindon Town411896
1950–51 Swindon Town28900
1949–50 Swindon Town291021
1948–49 Swindon Town421711
1947–48 Swindon Town351661
1946–47 Swindon Town171600

References
  1. "Swindon Town". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  2. "Another loyal servant for Town". Swindon Advertiser. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  3. "Owen stuns stags". Swindon Advertiser. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-08-0. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. "Town legend dies at 76". Swindon Advertiser. 19 July 2000. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  5. "Maurice Owen". Swindon-Town-FC. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  6. "Honour For Owen". Swindon Advertiser. 11 July 2000. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
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