Remembering Martin Rowlands...Update, Further View

SOCCERBASE

38. Martin Rowlands
Midfielder Queen's Park Rangers
Real name Martin Rowlands
Age 32 (Born 08 Feb, 1979)
Height 5ft 9in (1.75m)
Weight 10st 7lb (66.67kg)
Place of birth Hammersmith
Nationality Ireland
Date Signed 31 Jul, 2003

APPS GLS APPS GLS APPS GLS APPS GLS
Wycombe 26 Sep, 11 27 Dec, 11 Loan 8 (2) 0 1 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0
Millwall 25 Feb, 11 25 Mar, 11 Loan 0 (1) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0
QPR 31 Jul, 03 Free 179 (19) 33 6 (0) 0 10 (0) 4 3 (0) 0
Brentford 01 Aug, 98 31 Jul, 03 £45,000 131 (21) 20 7 (2) 0 8 (3) 1 14 (0) 2
Farnborough 01 Aug, 97 01 Aug, 98 5 (0) 7 1 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0
Totals £45,000 323 (43) 60 15 (2) 0 18 (3) 5 17 (0) 2
Goals per Game 0.16 0 n/a 0.11

www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=11186


WIKIPEDIA PROFILE
www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=11186

1997–1998 Farnborough Town 39 (7)
1998–2003 Brentford 152 (20)
2003–2012 Queens Park Rangers 198 (33)
2011 → Millwall (loan) 1 (0)
2011 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan)

Mail September 2011

Rowlands demands £200k wage increase from QPR... but doesn't even have a squad number
By NEIL ASHTON
Last updated at 10:37 PM on 16th September 2011
Comments (3)
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QPR rebel Martin Rowlands is demanding a £4,000-a-week increase in wages – despite failing to land a squad number at Loftus Road.
Despite playing just 23 minutes for Rangers last season, Rowlands has the rise built into his contract.
The former Ireland winger negotiated the £200,000 a year increase to his salary if QPR made it to the Premier League.

Remember me? QPR midfielder Martin Rowlands (left)
Despite being ignored throughout last season's promotion run, Rowlands is insists he is entitled to the increase.
Rowlands is so far down the pecking order at Rangers that boss Neil Warnock has not even issued the midfielder with a shirt number. That has not prevented the former Ireland star demanding the salary increase under the terms of his contract.
QPR are refusing to buckle but Rowlands is threatening to take the matter to the FA if they do not cave in.
Warnock sent him out on loan to Millwall during Rangers' promotion run in last season and he is no longer part of the first team picture.
He is not the only player threatening action against the club because of a dispute with former Rangers striker Rowan Vine.

Dispute: Rowan Vine (top) wants a settlement with QPR
Vine broke his leg in a training ground tackle with reserve team keeper Matt Pickens three years ago.
He claims he is entitled to a settlement under the terms of his contract, but Rangers claim he did not work hard enough in rehabilitation.
Despite the pair's claims, QPR are about to settle the long-running disputes with the players over their promotion bonuses.
Rangers chief Warnock and his squad have yet to be paid in full by the club after reaching the Premier League. They were promised the cash when the television revenues were paid by the Premier League but that was back in August.
The payments were delayed to the players while Air Asia tycoon Tony Fernandes completed his buy-out of the club.
But the new Rangers owner has promised the players that the dispute over the six figure bonuses will be paid this month.

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2038361/QPR-misfit-Martin-Rowlands-demands-200k-wage-increase.html#ixzz1l7Q84As9

QPR's Player of the Year

VIDEO www.myspace.com/video/jam/qpr-player-of-the-year-martin-rowlands/33897333

Past Interview


CT US

The Martin Rowlands interview on getting released by Wycombe youth academy0

www.planbfootball.com/inspiration/the-martin-rowlands-interview-on-getting-released-by-wycombe-youth-academy/
Getting released as a youth academy football player as we know is always going to be difficult. But what exactly does it take to make it after being let go.
But to say to your self hang on a minute, I believe in myself and nothings going to stop me becoming a professional football player.


I’m sure every released academy player is different. Some players might have the whole chip on the shoulder thing and to want to stick two fingers up at football and go looking for a career else where, while secretly thinking “ what if “. But that was not the case for Martin Rowlands.The ex Wycombe academy football player, had the inspiration to not take no as answer and to work hard on achieving his dream to play professional football.
After getting Martin’s contact details through a mutual friend, Plan B Football was lucky enough to have a quick chat with him to discuss on what he had to go through all those years a go as a Wycombe academy football player.


Martin Rowlands QPR skipper. Not bad for a player released by Wycombe academy

Martin you started at Wycombe doing a YTS/Apprentice, is that correct ?

Yeah. I did 2 years and basically they released me. They said that they thought I wasn’t good enough and that I wasn’t right for them at the time and that was basically that.

So I went to Farnborough who where in the Vauxhall Conference at the time. My brother was playing for them at the time too. So they said to come down and I played a game for them, which they signed me up straight away. I then played for them for I think about 8 or 9 months. But during that period I knew there were other clubs looking and showing interest in me. Then Brentford came in with an offer which was accepted and that was that, I went to Brentford for a fee of ￡45,000.

I signed for Brentford for 5 seasons which I then left and went to QPR for free.

How did you feel after being released from Wycombe academy ?

At the time it was devastating. Just like every youth player who gets released from their dream. A couple of your mates get pro contract and everywhere you look other players getting pro contracts. I thought I had done reasonably well year and thought I had a good season so at the time I thought I had a good chance of getting something so obviously it was devastating. Obviously there were a couple of lads in the same position who were all gutted but it happens a lot of young lads these days that they get the disappointment, but all I would say is that you got to be strong and if you feel your good enough, then you just got to prove people wrong. That was basically my thoughts. I was down and devastating for a week or two but then I though I’m gunna show you and kinda stick your fingers up at them to prove them wrong.

So it made you more determined to succeed ?

Yeah it made me more determined and it probably made me appreciate what I’ve got now as a professional footballer.

When I got released I worked as a painter and decorator for about 9 months. So basically I was out working up at 7 to go to work then back 5 or 6 in the evening. So your working all day then you get in to then go straight to training normally twice a week on a Tuesday and Thursday. Or sometime you would have a game on the Tuesday night after work. So yeah it made me really appreciate what I’ve got and to make me more determined to prove people wrong.

Did doubt ever cross your mind on thinking maybe you’re not good enough to turn professional ?

No. Well I always had the determination. After the initial disappointment I thought no I’m going to prove you wrong, I am good enough. I also had good family behind me and good people who supported me. So I just wanted to prove people wrong and luckily for me I got the break, Brentford came in, signed me and things just took off from there. And I haven’t looked back since.



Signing with Brentford then would have been your first professional contract. How did you feel to sign that contract ?

Yeah it was amazing for me. I was delighted. I went down with my dad and we spoke to the manager and chairman and I signed with in half an hour ! I remember just thinking this is my chance. I’ll come here and do well and I think with in 6 months to a year I signed a new contract. So things were going well.

Just going back to your semi pro days with Farnborough. What was the difference in the playing standard compared to the academy level you played with Wycombe ?

It was a big step going from youth to men’s football. But I had played some men’s football before. Before when I even went to Wycombe when I was around 15. So for me it wasn’t that much of an issue playing against older players. It didn’t bother me at all. It helped that my brother was there too, so I just got straight into it and actually we had a good team spirit down there. We did only just manage to stay up that year. But it was good and I really enjoyed the time I had there. It gave me a good grounded thought for what has happened since then.

Do you recommend semi professional football for youth players who have been released ?

Oh yeah defiantly. Now its a lot different to when I was playing semi pro. Its something like 12 or 13 years a go to when I was playing at Farnborough. So it is a lot different now. A lot of the teams in the conference or even the Blue Square Premier now, are actually now full time. Back then more or less every one was part time, 2 days a week, with a game on the weekend. But now there an awful lot of teams who are full time, who have come out of the league. You look at Luton, Oxford and there are some quite big teams in that league . Obviously the standard has gone up since I was playing back then but I think the standard has gone up through up the leagues. So if all the leagues are getting better its only going to filter that all the players are going to get better and all the leagues, so it bound to be very good in the conference and people earn a very good living out of playing in it and basically earning a good wage for playing actually non league football but their actually full time.

What would be your tips and recommendations for youth players who have been released ?

Yeah basically don’t give up. Try to feel that you will prove people wrong. Obviously I’m a success story of that and I believed in myself. You have to have the ability as well. But these boys who have been given apprenticeships have obviously have got the ability there. They just have to be dedicated and work as hard as you possibly can and don’t let anything ever interfere with that. Because if you really want to become a professional footballer you have to work as hard as you can. So you got to feel that your going to go out and prove them wrong. Even if you don’t get to jump back into the league, if you get like a conference club you can still end up doing really well and you can move on from there a couple of years later. Even if you come back in at the age of 22 or 23 you don’t have to come in straight after being released. As long as your enjoying your football.

Do you feel its never to late then for semi pro to turn professional ?

There probably comes a time when non league players feel they haven’t been in the league for certain reasons. But I still think people come back in at around 24 then I don’t see that as being a problem if your good enough. There will be people out there looking all the time and they’ll take a gamble on you defiantly.

Have you ever thought what you might be doing if you had never made it as a professional football player ?

Yeah I had probably carried on with the painting and decorating for a couple of years. I can’t really think what I would of done because that’s a long time a go now. But yeah I guess I would of carried on with that for a few years and carried on playing non league football, trying to prove people wrong, hoping to still get that break. But luckily as I said that happened to me in the first year and I’ve been very fortunate and gone on to have a decent career.

After speaking to Martin, I thought to myself what a top man this guy is. I had never spoke to him before (well I did harass him with text’s until we managed to sort out a date and time to call him), yet he was willing to chat away to me explaining what he went through and how he was determined to succeed. I always think some people get carried away when they think of ‘footballers’ and its easy to do when you think about the money players make. And I must admit I wasn’t too sure on what to expect, but after a couple of minutes I did think yeah he’s just a normal guy, after learning that he used to work as a painter and decorator back in his semi pro days.
Anyway, Plan B Football would like to thank Martin for giving us his time and we wish him all the best for the future.

COLCHESTER OFFICIAL SITE

U's Flash: Rowlands Signs Up
Posted on: Thu 02 Feb 2012

Get your tickets! Did you know you can now buy tickets for ALL of the U's home games this season? Log on to colutickets.com! You can also ring 0845 437 9089 or visit us at the Ticket Office!

The U's have strengthened their squad going into the second half of the season, with the addition of midfielder Martin Rowlands.

Rowlands joins the U's on a free transfer, having been released by Premier League side QPR earlier this week.

The 32-year-old brings vast swathes of experience to the U's squad, having been in promotion winning squads three times in his career with Brentford (1998/99) and the R's (2003/04 and 2010/11).

In that first promotion season at Loftus Road, he grabbed twelve goals from midfield and he managed a further ten in the 2006/07 season.

He won the R's Player of the Year award in 2007/08 and, at the time of his release earlier this week, was the longest serving member of the squad in West London.

A Republic of International, Martin will be well known to U's fans, having come up against them a number of times during the course of his career.

He has initially signed with the U's until the end of this season. We'll have more on this transfer later today!

www.cu-fc.com/page/News/0,,10424~2597327,00.html

Good to see from the Official Site

QPR


ROWLANDS: GOODBYE & THANK YOU
Posted on: Thu 02 Feb 2012

Martin Rowlands has bid an emotional farewell to QPR after he left the Club on Tuesday by mutual consent.

The 32-year-old midfielder joined the R's in 2003 and his combative and passionate displays in the centre of the park quickly made him a firm favourite with the Loftus Road faithful.

Now, after deciding his future lay elsewhere, he told http://www.qpr.co.uk: "This is an emotional time right now as I move onto new things but I have had a fabulous time over the last nine years and would only change the last couple of seasons really.

"QPR has been a great part of my life and a period in my career that I will always remember and look back on fondly."

Rowlands' arrival in W12 in the summer of 2003 took many by surprise - as he was nursing a broken leg when Ian Holloway signed him!

"I owe Ollie a lot and always remind him of that when I see or speak to him," Rowlands said. "He showed a lot of faith in me, signing me like that.

"I am forever grateful to him because it was the start of a great time for me at the Club."

Rowlands quickly repaid the faith of his Manager, making 50 appearances in all competitions and netting ten goals as the R's secured promotion back to the Championship in his maiden campaign.

"That was a fantastic year," he admitted, "and a fantastic first season for me. I will always remember the game at Sheffield Wednesday where we secured promotion.

"It was great, and ranks as one of my best memories in football."

Rowlands' consistency over the years saw him scoop the Players' Player and Supporters' Player of the Season awards in 2004 and 2008, and they are accolades which he holds dear.

"To have won those awards means an awful lot," he stressed. "It was, and is, a big honour.

"The fans have always been fantastic to me and I really appreciate all their support over the years. Hopefully I did well enough for them during my time at the Club. I am forever grateful to them."

As well as building a close relationship with the fans. Rowlands says he also made mates for life during his stay in W12.

"I made some great friends with people I will always stay close to," he added. "People like Kev Gallen, Steve Lomas, Marc Bircham, Gareth Ainsworth, Lee Cook and Peter Ramage are friends for life.

"I have been lucky that I have been able to make such close friends over the past nine years."

Rowlands scored 35 goals for the R's, and says three stick in his mind.

"My first goal for QPR was away to Wrexham and I remember that very well," he said. "But a special goal for me was in that first season when we played Swindon at home.

"We needed to win because we had Bristol City chasing us and I managed to score in a 1-0 win. It wasn't the greatest goal ever but I remember it because it was a very important goal at that time.

"And I scored against Wolves at Loftus Road on TV with a good strike and we went on to win that 1-0.

"They are the goals that I really remember over the years but I was always more concerned with the team winning rather than what I did or didn't do in the game.

"I was always more focused on how the team played and the team doing well."

And even though he has now set his sights on a new challenge, Rowlands says he will always watch the progress of the R's - from close quarters!

"The Club is now moving in a fantastic direction under Tony Fernandes and Amit Bhatia. The type of signings the Club is making now can only be good for QPR, and on top of that is talk of a new training ground, a new stadium, it's great.

"As soon as I haven't got a game I am going to be straight down to Loftus Road to watch the team and cheer them on.

"That will be the case for many years because I truly love the Club and wish it well for the future."

Rowlands also had words of praise for new Manager Mark Hughes, explaining: "He was fantastic with me.

"He has allowed me to move on because I wasn't going to be a part of his plans and I fully understand that. I am certainly not bitter about it - I just can't wait to see QPR moving up the Premier League!

"I am so happy for the fans to see the Club back where it belongs. I am sure the supporters are going to have a great time, and under Mark Hughes the only way is up."

This morning (Thursday) Rowlands joined Colchester United until the end of the season, and he added: "I am 32 now and haven't played too much recently and that's what I want to do - get back out there playing football.

"I want to test myself and play at the highest level I can.

"Hopefully one day I will come back to QPR to say goodbye."

Good luck fella!

Good luck Martin & thank you.

I saw some club tweets about his appearance...Anyone listen?

He must have worked for a dozen managers and six Chairman at QPR!

Thank you Martin, class player for the R's. Loyal servant and fan. Good luck at Colchester.

Top fella! All the bets for the future!