When Mike Stowell left school instead of signing for a football club he signed a four year deal with BT, as an apprentice telecommunications engineer in Preston. He started playing non-league football on Saturdays and Sunday League pub football the day after, also playing for the regional BT team.

He got his first experience of professional football with a trial for Preston, where he played in their reserves and was offered a one year contract. But Preston were bottom of the old Third Division and he was just starting his final year's training with BT, so he turned them down thinking his career at BT was a better choice.

Less than a year later Alan Kelly got in touch with Mike when he was playing for Leyland Motors, Kelly had left Preston and gone to Everton as goalkeeping coach. He offered Mike a trial at Goodison Park and after a week he was offered a two and a half year contract at the club. The wages offered were the same as his BT job and he decided to go for it.

He signed professional forms in December 1985 and was understudy to Neville Southall for the five years he was at the club, he did make one first-team appearance in the Simod cup against Millwall in which he kept a clean sheet. During his time at Goodison Park he went on loan to Chester City, York City, Man City, Port Vale, Wolves, and Preston before Graham Turner signed him on a permanent basis for Wolves in July 1990 for £275,000. Stowell was named in the England B squad after his first few matches.

Stowell went onto to be a great servant for Wolves and was ever present in the Wolves goal during the 90's. He had a testimonial season 1999-00.

At the end of the 2000-01 season Stowell was released by Wolves and joined Bristol City on a free transfer.

Emma Adams Mike Stowell tribute

Being 15 I have seen many players pass through the club, whether being an hero or a failure. Someone my age will always remember Steve Bull as being the legend of the club with his determination, loyalty and the success he bought to the club.

However there is another player I class as being just as influential, sometimes he was overshadowed by others & perhaps later in his career at the Molineux he was pushed to the back as others were made the managers first choice.

Mike Stowell had many great times at the club he loved and he wanted to eventually get them into the premier with himself still playing a key figure in the Wolves side.     He featured in many Wolves games I watched when I was younger along with players such as Bully, Thommo, Dennison, Shirtliff and Mutch.

He had many great times at the club not only was he a player in the Wolves team he was a true supporter and loved the club as much as the fans do. For 11 whole years he provided the Wolves with every attribute a manager looks for when buying a goalkeeper. He was talented, determined, dedicated, had confidence, loyal and above all loved the club he wanted to end his career with.

He will always be remembered for making some great saves, his 11 years of loyalty, also that chance he got to bang the ball in the back of the net and giving something for the woman to look at.

Eventually Dave Jones took over at the club after Colin Lee & thought it was time for a change. Mike Stowell was given a free transfer to Bristol City. I still think now that one of Dave Jones' biggest mistakes was gettin rid of Mike Stowell, he was a great goalkeeper who still had it in him at the age of 35.

2001 bought an end to his amazing 11 year career at Wolves.

I would like to thank Mike for being a great servant to the Wolves and for giving me many great times of watching him between the sticks.

I hope to see you back soon to where you belong, at the Golden Palace. Good luck Mike at Bristol City, you deserve success. Emma Adams, Stowellys Girl xx

Mike Stowell's Wolves Appearances