Vale of Clwyd football says fond farewells to true all-time great

Vale of Clwyd football has lost one of its greatest sons.

Robyn Dowell, a flying winger who was a star performer for both Ruthin Town and in the area summer football league for Llandyrnog, has passed away at the age of 66.

In his prime through the 1970’s and 80’s, Rob was best known for his electric pace and aggressive attacking play.

He was a key player for Ruthin over numerous seasons when there was no tiered Welsh pyramid and the Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) was the joint highest standard serving North Wales.

One of his most prestigious appearances came in 1987-88, when Town travelled to the Racecourse in Wrexham for a Welsh Cup third round tie against the then Football League Division Two giants.

Wrexham won 3-0, but Ruthin were applauded off at full-time after putting up a strong display versus the full-time pros managed by Dixie McNeil. David (Dei Rich) Jones was in charge of the underdogs.

Wrexham led 1-0 at half time through Steve Buxton, the prolific Kevin Russell made it two very early in the second period and Jamie Slater added a third on 71 minutes.

The Ruthin side was: Iwan Evans, Keith Humphries, Brian Lloyd, Brian Griffiths. Roy Davies, Iolo Hughes, Glyn Williams, Gwynfor Hughes, Wynne Davies, Idris Williams, Robyn Dowell. Subs: Glyn Davies, Peter Matischok, Martin Rogers.

Wrexham lined-up: Mike Salmon, Roger Preece, Darren Wright, Joe Hinnigan, Mike Williams, Ian Fairbrother, Steve Buxton (Jamie Slater), Jon Bowden, Robert Alleyne, Kevin Russell, Mike Carter (Steve Scott).

Rob was also a major figure in the dominant Llandyrnog side which at one time ruled the Llandyrnog and District Village Clubs Summer Football League, winning nine successive titles between 1977 and 1985.

Alongside him in this legendary team included close friend and Ruthin Town all-time great midfield ace Glyn Williams, plus other local legends Tudor Hughes, Alan Vaughan and Keith Humphries.

In a book entitled Summer Football in the Vale of Clwyd, published in 1994, author Robert Emlyn Jones, under the headline Flying Wingers, described Robyn Dowell as ‘probably the quickest of them all’.

Sadly, Rob’s playing days came to an end in the 1990s due to a brain haemorrhage which left his life in the balance. Typically he pulled through and went on to live as full a life as possible.

Despite sight problems after his ordeal, Rob later excelled at darts for the Golden Lion.

He was also a regular at Llandyrnog United matches. At one time, he helped a young Jimmy McNally in his first season as a Summer League manager for Llandyrnog.

“He was brilliant for me – he enjoyed it,” said Jimmy, now 36.

“He’d talk football to people, and loved telling the lads the difference between a real winger and a left or right midfielder.

“Lads would say they play on the wing, and he’d say, no, you’re a midfielder, there’s no real wingers now! Used to annoy people, but I got what he meant.”

Jimmy’s family returned to live in Scotland when he was 19, but he stayed in the village, bought a house and recalled Rob being extremely helpful at that time and always keeping an eye out for him.

Personally, I interviewed Rob for an article on his career in the late 1980’s or early 90’s.

He cooperated, but was not convinced it was really me until he saw his article in the former Vale Advertiser newspaper. Until that moment, he thought it might have been a wind-up!

I last saw Rob about five years ago quite by chance on a night out in Prestatyn. He was with long-time football friends Glyn Williams and John Dilwyn Jones, who spotted me, and this led to a brilliant conversation with Rob, which lasted at least an hour.

I never really knew him properly until then, but I am so glad we had that conversation as it is something I will treasure forever.

It also convinced me I wasn’t as badly thought of as I envisaged by the Ruthin Town and Llandyrnog United crews, as I spent all my years on the Vale living in Denbigh and covered the Town a lot. Indeed I was a committee member and programme editor for a few seasons.

People of a certain age in Vale of Clwyd football circles will always remember Robyn Dowell as one of the greats. His class and determination on the field will never be forgotten.

The final words on this great man come from Ruthin Town.

“All at the club are saddened to hear of the passing of our former player Rob Dowell, Rob was a powerful forward with electrifying pace and a powerful shot who played for us for many seasons.

“Thoughts are with his family at this sad time – RIP Robbie, a true Ruthin Town legend.”

RIP good friend 💙