Former England and Queens Park Rangers footballer Stan Bowles has died at the age of 75. Bowles had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and played over 560 games in English football, earning five caps for England. He played for several clubs over his career, including Manchester City, Bury, Crewe Alexandra, Carlisle United, Nottingham Forest, Leyton Orient, and Brentford.
Bowles made 315 appearances for QPR and scored 97 goals during his time with the club. He was a popular figure among both fans and fellow players, with QPR fans launching a campaign to fund his care in 2015 after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The club released a statement mourning his loss and remembering his “brilliance on the pitch and character off it.”
Despite his success on the field, Bowles was also known for his unrestrained lifestyle and struggled with addiction throughout his life. In a 2014 interview, he stated that he regretted his behavior and the effect it had on his family.
The footballing world has mourned the loss of Bowles, with Manchester City tweeting their condolences and the Professional Footballers’ Association calling him a “true entertainer.” His former QPR teammate, Don Shanks, reminisced about their time together, saying that Bowles had “the gift of being able to light up wherever he was.
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