John Bowler

John Bowler, MBE (14 February 1937 – 16 February 2022) was an English businessman and the chairman of Crewe Alexandra Football Club. Elected chairman in 1988, he resigned in March 2021 following criticisms of him and the club in the Football Association's inquiry into sex abuse in English football. Biography Having joined the board in 1980, Bowler became chairman at Crewe Alexandra in 1988, succeeding Norman Rowlinson. Prior to joining Crewe, he was a marketing director at pharmaceutical company Wellcome. His time at Crewe coincided with the appointment and long tenure of manager Dario Gradi, the most successful period in its history. Under his chairmanship, the club won promotion six times (twice at Wembley). The club reached the second tier, Division One, in 1997, after victory over Brentford in the Division Two play-off final, and finished in 11th position, their highest finishing position, in the 1997–98 First Division season. Crewe also won the Football League Trophy in 2013. It also became renowned for its youth development strategy, generating more than £32 million of income through player sales. In March 2014, Bowler was honoured with the Contribution to League Football Award at The Football League Awards 2014. In December 2014, it was announced that Bowler had been appointed an MBE in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to football.