ALAN DOWSON FACTFILE

Born: Gateshead, 1970 (Age 46) 1987-93: A defender, Dowson came through the youth system at Millwall, turning pro in 1988 and playing four times on loan for Fulham before making his debut in a 2-0 defeat to Watford in December 1990. It would prove his only appearance for the Lions and he joined Bradford City a year later. After 18 games in his single season with the Bantams, Dowson moved to Fourth Division Darlington and was a regular at full-back, playing 32 games before quitting the pro game through injury in 1993. 1993-04: Dowson spent a season with Slough Town, suffering relegation from the Conference in 1993-94, before joining home town club Gateshead. In two years on Tyneside, he helped the Heed finish seventh and fifth in the Conference – the club’s best showing since reforming in 1977. Dowson then moved to Walton & Hersham where he would spend the next ten years, making 334 appearances and winning two promotions. 2004-07: Named player-manager of Walton & Hersham in October 2004, Dowson led the Swans to second place in Ryman Division One in his first season, clinching promotion and also reaching the FA Trophy fourth round. He then kept the club up for two seasons, eventually leaving to join Kingstonian in January 2007. 2007-14: Dowson would enjoy a bitter-sweet seven years in charge of the K’s, winning the Ryman South title in 2008-09 and regularly finishing in the Ryman Premier top ten. However, they were twice beaten in the play-offs and, after a second-place finish in 2014 failed to yield promotion, Dowson resigned. 2014-16: Named manager of Hampton & Richmond Borough in October 2014, Dowson took over a club struggling at the foot of the Ryman Premier. But, after securing a 15th place finish in 2014-15, he rebuilt the side last summer and the Beavers finished last season as champions.