A shell turner by trade, Mancunian Jim Bowden had played all his football in the Birmingham area, latterly with West Brom of the Football League’s Second Division. When he moved to Southern League Southampton in May 1906, he had missed all the previous season owing to an shooting accident when a stray bullet had passed through his left arm while he was at a fairground.

Although short for a centre-half, he established himself in that position, impressing with his stylish neatness when in possession. For reasons unknown, he was not retained at the end of the season and went back to Division II with Grimsby, but only made 19 appearances over two seasons. According to the 1911 census he was living in Balsall Heath in Birmingham, which tallies with the fact that by then he was turning out for Stourbridge in the Birmingham and District League.