Lew Bowen | |
Birth Place: | Swansea |
Nationality: | Welsh |
Occupation: | 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]