FORMER Wanderers defender Henry Mowbray has passed away at the age of 75.

An announcement from his first professional club, Cowdenbeath, confirmed that Mowbray had passed away in hospital on Friday morning after a short period of ill-health.

The Hamilton-born defender was brought to Burnden Park in 1971 from Blackpool by his former team-mate Jimmy Armfield, and went on to make 31 league appearances for the club.

Mowbray had won a contract with Cowdenbeath after a trial in 1966 and 12 months later he was signed for a club record £6,000 by First Division Blackpool.

He played for four years at Bloomfield Road and eventually joined Armfield across Lancashire at Bolton, hoping to revive the Whites’ fortunes after they fell into the Third Division for the first time in their history.

Mowbray featured regularly in his first season as Armfield started to build a side capable of getting back into the second tier but a knee injury meant he missed virtually all the 1972/73 campaign, in which Bolton would lift the championship title.

Speaking with Cowdenbeath former players’ website a few years ago, Mowbray said of his time at Burnden Park: “The Bolton team then had players such as Roy Greaves and John Byrom. Barry Siddall was a fine goalie. We also had England world cup winner Roger Hunt playing for us. He was a great lad and it was an honour to play with such a modest guy. There were also youngsters there like Peter Reid and a big strong centre half called Sam Allardyce. “After being injured all season I just couldn’t get right again. I asked for a transfer and Jimmy Armfield allowed me to leave on a free. I now fancied returning home to play in Scotland thus I looked for a club north of the Border.”

Mowbray went to St Mirren after his release at Bolton, then finished up his playing career with a spell in Australia.

Speaking to the Central Fife Times, Cowdenbeath secretary and club historian, David Allan added of his time with the Blue Brazil: “Thus he really had a distinguished football career.

“He returned then to Fife and in recent years was a regular at Central Park. He also became a Cowden shareholder and a Club 135 Lounge member.

“Fans who watched him play for us as a young lad were thrilled to be able to chat to him in the Andy Matthew Lounge.

“Henry is a member of the Cowdenbeath FC Hall of Fame and 50 years after he last played for the club he was an ardent fan cheering on Cowden.

“A true Cowden FC legend - as aforementioned, Henry will be deeply missed by those who saw him wear the shirt and on a personal basis by those who were privileged to know him as a fellow Cowdenbeath FC fan.

"He was a friend and a true Cowden man.

“We offer the sincere condolences of everyone at Central Park for their loss to all of Henry’s friends and family.

"He will also be much missed on a personal basis by everyone at Central Park.”