Lew Bowen

Lew Bowen
Bowen while at West Ham United (taken from the 1901–02 Handbook)
Born	Swansea
Nationality	Welsh
Occupation(s)	Club secretary, West Ham United (later financial director)
Years active	1900 – after 1903

Lew M. Bowen was the first club secretary of English football club West Ham United.

Born in Swansea, Bowen was a clerk at the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company and had reported on predecessor club Thames Ironworks F.C. for the Thames Ironworks Gazette. ^[1] He was installed immediately following the new club's formation in June 1900. ^{[2] [3]}

Bowen remained at the club as financial director after Syd King was appointed secretary during the 1901–02 season. ^[4] He would also perform the role of league delegate. ^[5] In 1903, Bowen was involved in an application to the Football Association for West Ham's home, the Memorial Grounds, to host an FA Cup final or semi-final. "I think that we have fairly proved the possibilities of putting a crowd of over 100,000 in the Grounds. I believe the correct figures are 133,000 allowing for 16 inches for each person", he stated in a letter to the FA. ^[6]

References

1. Blows, Kirk; Hogg, Tony (2000). The Essential History of West Ham United. Headline. p. 28. ISBN   0-7472-7036-8.
2. Belton, Brian (2010) [2003]. Founded on Iron. The History Press. p. 118. ISBN   978-0-7524-2928-1.
3. Cook, Lal. "West Ham United F.C. – A 'Brief' History". LalAmy. Archived from the original on 7 May 2007.
4. Powles, John (2008). Irons of the South. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 15. ISBN   978-1-905891-08-5.
5. Marsh, Steve. "Handbooks". theyflysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
6. Powles, John (2005). Iron in the Blood. SoccerData. p. 37. ISBN   1-899468-22-6.