Cod Almighty | Article

by Simon Wilson

3 December 2003

Three years ago, home-grown goalscoring prospect. Now, coming to terms with the confusion of being a midfielder for the reserves or a forward for the reserves. It's been a fall from promising grace for the local lad, who made a goalscoring debut against Wolves back in September 2000 (Town won that match, the first leg in a league cup tie but, comically, were drubbed in the return match). 

Rowan made the odd cameo appearance during the rest of that season, but it was at the start of 2001-02 that Lennie L gave Rowan his big break. Rowan started the season as a first-choice striker, ahead of the mighty Michael Jeffrey in the pecking order. He started 18 games on the trot through a mixture of injuries and the quality of the other 'established' strikers on the books. As that run of starts dragged on, some questioned his inclusion, but in the early-season 2-2 draw with Preston Rowan's first-half display was a sublime mixture of dropping deep and off-the-shoulder running, his goal a prime rump of poacher's meat. And he did this funny thing when he got the ball: off the ball his whole body seemed taut, but when the ball arrived at his feet it was like the muscles in his arms just went limp, or the bone turned to jelly. Most peculiar.

But since then? Has he just flattered to deceive? Too much, too young? Had being part of the team that had that horrific run from the head of the table down to the feet of it done irreparable mental damage? Or has he not been used properly? 

Last season saw his name constantly mentioned on reserve team sheets, usually in midfield. Were they trying to add more snap, crackle and pop to his game by doing this? A decision that maybe playing up front isn't the position for young Jonny? He still seemed to be grabbing goals, no doubt using that smart eye when playing deep. If he did attend first-team games, at away games he was usually spotted sat a few rows back from the Cod Almighty team kitted out in regulation tracksuit. 

It'd be a shame if we just discarded the wee lad. He's still only 22 and there were enough glimpses three years ago to suggest he could make a decent player, although whether he has the strength to compete against the bulkier second division strikers, I know not. He's certainly got the brain to beat them though. 

Oh, and by the way, is it just a coincidence that Rowan's 89th-minute appearance in that 5-2 thrashing of Palace in 2002 also marked the end of Town's goalscoring antics? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.