Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Draytonian III on May 20, 2026, 10:49:38 pm

Title: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Draytonian III on May 20, 2026, 10:49:38 pm
…… Anyone remember him  ? He was a Rovers centre half who played in the first Bremner promotion side, he was born in Lurgan .  He played for Glenavon before he joined Sheffield Wednesday then on to us. Another Rovers connection is that Sammy Clingan who had a brief spell with us played for Glenavon for a couple of years.
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Iberian Red on May 20, 2026, 10:57:09 pm
…… Anyone remember him  ? He was a Rovers centre half who played in the first Bremner promotion side, he was born in Lurgan .  He played for Glenavon before he joined Sheffield Wednesday then on to us. Another Rovers connection is that Sammy Clingan who had a brief spell with us played for Glenavon for a couple of years.

Remember him well.but why the post?
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Draytonian III on May 21, 2026, 12:37:40 am
Have you noticed that we are having a tour in July and one of the teams we are due to play is Glenavon FC, just trying to be a bit informative, looks like I failed
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: roversdude on May 21, 2026, 07:35:03 am
Got to admit I feared the worst when opening this post - remember him well. Bremner obviously had contacts all over he built a cracking team
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: IDM on May 21, 2026, 07:45:32 am
Me too, I thought you were going to say he had passed away.!!

I remember him well, particularly scoring (vs Exeter 1981.?) a headed goal from inside the D of the penalty area..
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Ian Nimmo on May 21, 2026, 08:18:08 am
Yeah me too, fearing the worst when seeing post.
Hugh was a good player for us in a very good team, but also a great guy with a great sense of humour. Used to speak to him when having a drink after most games.
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: paddy drfc on May 21, 2026, 10:34:00 am
Hope Glenavon is one of the teams we play , it’s my hometown team
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: In the box on May 21, 2026, 10:49:12 am
A popular player signed fr Sheffield Wednesday and player for about three years .
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: In the box on May 21, 2026, 10:52:21 am
Played for Rovers for about three years from the Wednesdays.
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: RoversInSpain on May 21, 2026, 10:57:36 am
Phew! Thought bad news was on its way there.
Signed from Wednesday for a massive fee (for us) of £15,000, played alongside George Best for NI according to Free Press. Captained us to Promotion in that great 1980/81 season under Billy Bremner and I think ‘Nice one’ Cyril Knowles and Dave Bentley were coaches. Played 100+ times for us.
Finished at 31 with knee issue.
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Bentley Bullet on May 21, 2026, 11:15:34 am
I remember Hugh.

Bloody 'ell, I sound like Frank Ifield!
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Usher wide. on May 21, 2026, 11:16:19 am
Ambiguous post.

Thought there was another RIP coming in.
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Herbert Anchovy on May 21, 2026, 11:19:11 am
Hugh was a good player. If memory serves, he was pencilled in for the NI 1982 World Cup squad.
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Swifty62 on May 21, 2026, 12:21:55 pm
I often had chats with Hugh when he was a Youth offenders officer based in Sheffield, Great guy and plenty of Stories, He loved his Time at The Rovers
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Monolith No. 9 on May 21, 2026, 12:37:38 pm
Hugh was a good player. If memory serves, he was pencilled in for the NI 1982 World Cup squad.

He was drafted into the pre World Cup squad of about 30 but didn’t make the final 22. From memory he hadn’t played for Northern Ireland for some time so it said a lot for his performances with Rovers to get back into contention, especially 81/82 after promotion. Could be wrong but I’m sure we had to bring Wiggington in on loan for the latter part of the season after Dowd was injured and it was lack of games in the run up to the WC that counted against him.
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: Herbert Anchovy on May 21, 2026, 01:19:01 pm
Hugh was a good player. If memory serves, he was pencilled in for the NI 1982 World Cup squad.

He was drafted into the pre World Cup squad of about 30 but didn’t make the final 22. From memory he hadn’t played for Northern Ireland for some time so it said a lot for his performances with Rovers to get back into contention, especially 81/82 after promotion. Could be wrong but I’m sure we had to bring Wiggington in on loan for the latter part of the season after Dowd was injured and it was lack of games in the run up to the WC that counted against him.

Yes, that rings a bell. Clive Wiggington if I recall correctly. Think we also had Les Mutrie on loan from Hull too around that time,
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: scawsby steve on May 21, 2026, 10:02:49 pm
I remember Hugh.

Bloody 'ell, I sound like Frank Ifield!

Isn't that who taught Wolfie to yodel?
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: CottyRover on May 21, 2026, 11:36:04 pm
For what it's worth, I remember him well. Great part of a great team
Title: Re: Hugh Dowd……….
Post by: richtherover on May 22, 2026, 01:55:58 am
I remember him scoring for us in an FA cup game away at Sutton Coldfield early 80s. Proper cup tie. Seem to remember a rope barrier round the pitch?