JASON ROWBOTHAM

Born: 03 January 1969

1. Came from: Apprentice   Went to: Shrewsbury

1. First game: 06 October 1987   Last game: 25 March 1989

2. Came from: Wycombe Wanderers   Went to: Wycombe Wanderers

2. First game: 15 October 1996   Last game: 02 November 1996

3. Came from: Wycombe Wanderers   Went to: Torquay United

3. First game: 14 January 1997   Last game: 08 April 2000

Appearances: 69 (56/13)   Goals: 1

As with older brother Darran, Jason was born in Cardiff and started his career as an apprentice at Home Park. He went on to serve the Greens in three spells.

A Welsh youth international defender, Rowbotham made his debut as an 18 year old substitute in October 1987, adding a League bow to his name later the same month. His first start in Green came in the glorious 6-3 home victory over Leeds United later that month. Making a total of just nine appearances in his first spell, he left to join Shrewsbury Town. However a short, appearance-less stay at Gay Meadow saw him move the short distance to Hereford United where he played five times, scoring once in the 92-93 season.

Rowbotham then gambled on a move to Scotland, joining Kirkcaldy-based Raith Rovers for what turned out to be the most successful period of his career. Donning the dark blue of Raith 56 times and scoring just one league goal, he was a pivotal part of their 'double winning' team which won both the championship of Division One and the League Cup in 1994-5. The second time Rowbotham found the net for Raith was to prove the apex of his career. Despite starting the League Cup Final at neutral Ibrox against Celtic as a substitute, Rowbotham came on at half time and wrote his name into Rovers' folklore when he hit the winning penalty in their 6-5 win after the match had finished 2-2 after extra time. The Raith side that day also featured a young future Green, Stevie Crawford, as well as former Home Park left back Julian Broddle. The League Cup win took Raith into Europe for the first time and the Division One title ensured their SPL bow. Rowbotham played his part in Raith's European adventure as they eliminated Faroese and Icelandic champions Gotu Itrottarfelag (GÍ Gøta) and ÍA Akranes respectively before landing a plum draw against Bayern Munich, going down 4-1 on aggregate.

Returning to England, Rowbotham left Stark's Park for Wycombe Wanderers for £50,000. A two year spell at Adams Park saw Rowbotham return to Home Park for a second spell, on loan for a month in mid-October 1996 where he added 3 further appearances, all as a sub, to his Green tally. After making 27 appearances in total for Wycombe, he then returned to Home Park permanently and for his third and most productive spell, later the same season in January 1997. Rowbotham made 51 of his 60 appearances for Argyle in his third spell and notched his sole goal for the club in his penultimate game, the winner at home to Northampton Town in April 2000. On his release, he played 5 times for Torquay United after signing on a non-contract basis for part of the 2000-2001 season. He then saw out his career in non-league football with Weymouth – alongside Darran – and lastly Merthyr Tydfil.