Description
Armadale, Lothian born inside forward Billy Bowes began his football career with Armadale Wanderers in 1887 and played for Bathgate Rovers in 1888 and Broxburn in 1889 before joining Football League club Burnley, for whom he made his League debut against Preston North End in March 1891. He was a regular for the next ten seasons for Burnley, helping them to win the 1898 Second Division Championship after their relegation in 1897, a season when Bowes scored a career best 12 goals in their campaign which ended in relegation after the Test matches.
Bowes stayed a further season in the Second Division after their second relegation two seasons later in 1900, before leaving the club after 85 goals in 296 appearances for The Clarets. He then joined non league Bank Hall Colliery in the summer of 1901 and went on to play for Trawden Forest in 1902 before his eventual retirement.