He had off-field problems and was considered to have a lax attitude to training, Bowles then had a disagreement with coach Malcolm Allison in a Manchester nightclub.

[5][6] After a brief and unsuccessful stay at Bury, he was signed by Ernie Tagg, manager of Crewe Alexandra, then in the Fourth Division.

[10]With 18 goals in 51 league games for Crewe, Bowles' skill caught the eye of a number of bigger clubs.

Having won the FA Cup final four days prior, Sunderland were parading the trophy at Roker Park on 9 May 1973, when they met QPR in the Second Division.

[15] The trophy had been placed on a table at the side of the pitch when Bowles tore straight across the park and claims to have kicked the ball at it full speed, sending the Cup flying through the air.

[15] However, his version of events has been disputed; according to Jago (QPR's manager at the time), it was Bowles' teammate, defender Tony Hazell, who struck the cup with an accidental clearance.

[16] Bowles spent just over seven years at QPR, playing a central role in arguably the club's greatest ever team, that which finished as league runners-up in 1975–76 season under Dave Sexton.

[4][22] Part of the side which won the two-legged, 1979 European Super Cup against Barcelona in February 1980,[23] Bowles failed to settle at Nottingham Forest under the management of Brian Clough, and he ruled himself out of the 1980 European Cup final, after Clough refused to allow Bowles to play in John Robertson's testimonial.

[24] Bowles was essentially understudy to the UK's first £1 million signing Trevor Francis during his one season at the City Ground.

Persuaded to sign following a cash payment of £4,000, Bowles took the money to White City Greyhounds losing most of it to the bookmakers at the track.

[27] Picked regularly by manager, Fred Callaghan, he featured throughout the 1981–82 and 1982–83 seasons in a midfield trio alongside Chris Kamara and Terry Hurlock.

[32] Bowles made his international debut against Portugal in Lisbon in April 1974 in Alf Ramsey's last match in charge.

[35] Bowles' 1996 autobiography revealed the extent of his drinking, womanising and gambling during his playing days, and also helped to secure a role as a pundit on Sky Sports.

[39] On 22 August, Queens Park Rangers honoured Bowles as he was presented to the crowd at Loftus Road before their game against Rotherham United.