[3] In December 2014, it was announced that Bowler had been appointed an MBE in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to football.

[4] Bowler was chairman in late 2016 when Crewe became embroiled in the United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal.

[5] The FA's 700-page report into the scandal was published on 17 March 2021, identifying failures to act adequately on complaints or rumours of sexual abuse at eight professional clubs including Crewe.

Considering whether senior club people knew about Bennell, Sheldon concluded they had not received specific reports of abuse (a conclusion also reached by Cheshire constabulary).

However, Norman Rowlinson, John Bowler and Hamilton Smith had discussed concerns about inappropriate behaviour; the club "should have done more to check on the well-being of the boys", Sheldon said.