Billy Bower

Bower was a local boy, being born in Dalston in 1887 and attending St Paul’s School, located on Broke Road, the same street as his family home. He joined the O’s in the summer of 1905 as the club prepared for their first season in the Football League. Bower would have to wait until March of the following year for his professional debut, but was able to cement a regular place in the team, which he would keep until the signing of the experienced Walter Whittaker two years later. When Whittaker left for Exeter in 1910, manager Billy Holmes trusted Bower as his number one. However, from 1911 onwards, he would share the duties with Jimmy Hugall, one of several players on the club’s books that were scouted from non-league sides in the north-east of the country. During this period, while featuring for the reserves, Bower often stepped up to take penalty kicks; in one unique run of games, Bower scored penalties in three consecutive matches! Bower received an injury to his knee during the later stages of the 1913-14 season and would spend time in London Hospital during the close season, having to undergo an operation. He would play just one further time for the O’s first team; a 1-0 loss at home to Derby County on 17th October 1914. After serving in the Great War, Bower later coached Kentish non-league sides Dartford and Gillingham, before passing away back in his native Hackney in 1954.