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George Cowie
Bio
George began his formal coaching career in 1988 following the end of his playing career due to a serious knee injury. He was a full time professional player in the Scottish Premier League at the time with Dunfermline and was retained by the club in a full time coaching position with the Reserve Team and Youth teams.
Subsequent coaching positions have included, Forres in the Scottish Highland League, Brisbane Wolves (Wynnum), Regional Director of Coaching on the Sunshine Coast, National Coach and Technical Director of Solomon Islands, National U23 Coach of Papua New Guinea and Technical Manager of Football Queensland which included overseeing the QAS men’s program for six months.
He holds the UEFA ‘A’ / AFC ‘A ‘Licence and has instructed on Coaching courses for FIFA /Olympic Solidarity, AFC, OFC and FFA.
Home Town: Born in Buckie, Scotland, but has been based on the Sunshine since 1998.
Previous Clubs: West Ham United, Heart of Midlothian, Dunfermline Athletic and Greenock Morton.
Playing History:
George was signed by West Ham United as a 16 year old schoolboy. A year later he was the Captain of the Scotland U18 Professional Youth team. He was a member of the Hammer’s first team squad for four years and during this time played in top level games against Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and was involved in the FA Charity Shield in 1980 and European Cup Winners Cup competition the following season. During this time West Ham won the FA Cup (v Arsenal) and were runners-up in the League Cup Final (v Liverpool).
In 1983 Heart of Midlothian brought George back to Scotland and he was to remain at that Scottish Premier League team for four years. Success there included being Scottish Premier League runners-up (beaten only on goal difference to Celtic in 1986); Scottish Cup finalists, Scottish League Cup Semi-Finalists. The club also qualified for the UEFA Cup and George again a competed in European football.
George was transferred to Scottish Premier League Club Dunfermline Athletic in1987. Unfortunately after only 16 games for Dunfermline, George sustained severe anterior cruciate ligament damage to the left knee and despite months of intensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy he was forced to retire as a full time professional player.
