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Born in the Whiston district of St.Helens on 7th July 1958, midfielder
Gary Owen was a surprised and unwilling departure from Maine Road during
Malcolm Allison's much discussed 'clear out' in the summer of 1978.
He'd first arrived at City from Manchester Boys on 5th August 1974 and
such was his early promise that by 20th March 1976, still aged only 17,
he was making his first team debut. Replacing the seemingly ever-present
Alan Oakes at number six, Owen took his place in a highly experienced
City side that beat Wolves 3-2 at Maine Road in front of almost 33,000
people. He made a further three starts during his debut season,
establishing himself in the next campaign, 1976/77, and scoring his
first League goal in a 4-2 home win against West Ham United in October.
It was his only goal that season although with the likes of Joe Royle,
Brian Kidd and Dennis Tueart in front of him, Owen's was more of a
creative role in a Blues side that finished runners' up to Liverpool by a
single point. By the time the 1977/78 campaign started, Gary had made
37/1 appearances in the senior side, a figure that was added to with a
further 41 games that season and seven more goals. These included three
in five games over the Christmas and New Year period. Owen showed a
maturity well beyond his young years and developed so quickly that many
felt he was a certainty at Maine Road for at least the next decade.
Although slight in stature, he was more than capable of battling in
midfield and then splitting defences open with a precise and creative
left foot. 1978/79 proved to be his most prolific in terms of both
appearances and goals at Maine Road. Owen took part in 44/1 League, Cup
and European matches, scoring eleven times including braces against
Coventry, Norwich and QPR in the League and Blackpool in the League Cup.
Despite these figures he was sold to West Bromwich Albion on 30th May
1979 for £550,000.
The former England Youth, Under 21 and B
international was joined six weeks later at The Hawthornes by his good
friend and another former City player Peter Barnes. Owen stayed for six
years in the Midlands before finishing his playing career with Sheffield
Wednesday and a handful of games with Greek side Panionios in 1987. In
more recent times he has established his own antiques business and
covers City's current games for local radio as well as contributing
articles to both the matchday programme and the Manchester Evening News. (Ian Penney - author of The Legends of Manchester City)
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