[3] Finishing as runners-up in his debut managerial campaign, Dowson also guided the club to the fourth round of the FA Trophy while recording a record-breaking 13-match winning run in all competitions.

The K's finished fifth upon their return to the seventh tier in the 2009–10 season,[5] but missed out on back-to-back promotions, losing in the play-off final to Boreham Wood.

After a lacklustre 2014-15 campaign saw the Beavers finish 15th, Dowson led Hampton to become champions during the 2015–16 season, losing just seven league fixtures while scoring 105 goals.

[9] In his first season in charge Dowson took Woking to a 2nd-placed finish, gaining promotion to the National League with a 1–0 win against Welling United in the playoff-final.

[12] On 28 February 2022, Dowson was sacked by the club following a "prolonged run of poor form in the league", ending his four-year association with the Surrey-based side.

[16] On 7 March 2024, Dowson was appointed manager of National League South club Hemel Hempstead Town on an interim basis until the end of the season.