Rowan Vine
Rowan Vine
Main page
2018578

Rowan Vine

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers

Wikipedia

Rowan Vine
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Rowan Lewis Vine (born 21 September 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Key Information

Vine began his career at Portsmouth, spending time on loan at Brentford, Colchester United, and Luton Town, who he joined permanently in 2005 for an undisclosed fee, reported as £250,000. He then moved to Birmingham City, in January 2007 for a fee of £2.5 million, which rose to £3m when Birmingham were promoted to the Premier League that year. He then joined Queens Park Rangers (QPR), initially on loan in October 2007, before making the move permanent in January 2008 for a fee of £1 million. He then had loan spells at Hull City, Milton Keynes Dons, Exeter City, and Gillingham, before being released in 2012. He then moved to Scotland, playing for St Johnstone, Hibernian and Greenock Morton.

Vine then played non-league football for Welling United, Havant & Waterlooville, Gosport Borough (three spells), Basingstoke Town, Southall (two spells), Hayes & Yeading United, Hartley Wintney (two spells), Alresford Town, Moneyfields, Tadley Calleva and Hemel Hempstead Town.

Career

[edit]

Portsmouth

[edit]

Vine was born in Basingstoke, and began his career at Portsmouth, making his way through the club's youth scheme. He made his first-team debut at the age of 18, in a goalless draw with Sheffield United in December 2000.[2] However, he struggled to break into the side on a regular basis and was loaned out to Division Two side Brentford for the 2002–03 season.

Vine enjoyed a successful campaign at Griffin Park, netting his first ever goal on his debut in a 2–0 win at Huddersfield Town, and going on to score 13 further goals in 44 starts for the Bees.[3] Despite his impressive season, he was again loaned out, this time to Colchester United for the 2003–04 campaign;[4] he scored 10 league goals in 30 starts.[5]

For the third year running, Vine spent an entire season away from Portsmouth on loan, this time at Luton Town for the 2004–05 season.[6][7] Vine's nine goals helped the Hatters clinch the League One title.[8] Despite this relative lack of goals for a striker during a season, a section in the Luton News newspaper showed that Vine was the "King of Assists" – one of the main reasons for the Hatters' success.[citation needed]

Luton Town

[edit]

Vine signed for Luton for an undisclosed fee, reported as £250,000, on 4 July 2005.[8][9] In his first season after his permanent move to the club, he scored 10 goals in 30 games[10] after missing the start of the season with a back injury.[11] Again, he was near the top of the assist charts.[citation needed] Vine's good form continued the following season, netting 12 goals in 26 league matches for Luton.[12]

Birmingham City

[edit]

A £2.5 million deal took Vine to Football League Championship club Birmingham City on 11 January 2007; the fee was to rise to £3m if Birmingham gained promotion to the Premier League.[13] Vine's only goal in his short stay at Birmingham came in a 1–0 win over Derby County in March 2007,[14][15] but he played 17 times as the club were promoted as runners-up.[16]

Queens Park Rangers

[edit]

On 2 October 2007, he joined Queens Park Rangers on loan, initially for a month,[17] but later extended into the new year.[18] On 8 January 2008, Vine joined the club on a four-and-a-half-year contract for a fee of £1million.[19]

Vine suffered a serious fracture of his left tibia and fibula on 3 April 2008 during a training session.[20] He did not make another first-team appearance until April 2009, and thereafter was used mainly as a substitute. Manager Neil Warnock told him in July 2010 that he had no future with the club,[21] and was not given a squad number for the new season.[citation needed] He joined Hull City on a month's loan on 1 October,[22] and made his debut the following day at the KC Stadium in a goalless draw with Coventry City.[23]

On 25 November 2010 he started a loan period at Brentford until 4 January 2011,[24] but never played.[23] He joined Milton Keynes Dons on an initial one-month loan on 15 January,[25] and scored his only goal for the club in a 4–1 win at Rochdale.[23]

A trial with Doncaster Rovers in July 2011 came to nothing,[26][27] and at the start of the 2011–12 season, Vine spent time on loan at Exeter City.[28] In March 2012, he had a trial with Southend United, but manager Paul Sturrock expressed concerns over his fitness.[29] He then signed for Gillingham on loan until the end of the season.[30] He scored his only goal for Gillingham in a 2–1 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge.[28] Queens Park Rangers released Vine at the end of the 2011–12 season.[31]

St Johnstone

[edit]

Following a successful trial, Vine signed a one-year contract with Scottish Premier League club St Johnstone on 31 July 2012.[31] He made his debut in the opening game of the season, and was sent off for a second bookable offence in the next, a 1–1 draw with Motherwell. Citing the poor example he set to his young son, he vowed to pull out of tackles in future rather than risk another sending-off.[32] When scoring for St Johnstone, Vine celebrated by making a 'T' gesture.[33]

On 15 September, Vine scored his first goal for the club, a curling effort ten minutes from time against reigning SPL champions Celtic that gave St Johnstone their first win of the season. After the match, he described the goal as "right up there" in his career highlights.[34][35] He finished the season as joint top scorer in the league, with seven goals,[36] but was not offered a contract extension. New manager Tommy Wright suggested it was down to budgetary constraints,[37] but Vine was critical of the manner in which the club had handled his departure, accusing them of a lack of respect.[38]

Hibernian

[edit]

On 12 July 2013, Vine joined Scottish Premiership club Hibernian on a one-year deal, joining up with St Johnstone teammate Liam Craig.[39] After a match against Celtic in October, opposing manager Neil Lennon was critical of Vine's tackling. Vine's retaliation on social media brought him a charge of "making offensive comments on Twitter suggesting the use of violence",[40] but the Scottish Football Association let him off with a warning.[41] After failing to score in 14 appearances,[42] he was told by manager Terry Butcher that he would "struggle to break into the Hibs team",[43] and in January 2014, his contract with Hibernian was cancelled by mutual consent.[44]

Greenock Morton

[edit]

As the January 2014 transfer window closed, Vine signed for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship.[45] He left Morton in the summer of 2014 after the club were relegated.

Later career

[edit]

Vine returned to England, where he signed for Conference Premier club Welling United in January 2015.[46] He played only twice,[47] and after a brief spell with Havant & Waterlooville,[48][49] he joined National League South club Gosport Borough in October 2015.[50] After a brief period with Basingstoke Town between 2015 and 2016,[51] he rejoined Gosport in January 2017.[52]

In February 2017, having made only three appearances since his return to Gosport, Vine joined Southall of the Spartan South Midlands League.[53] At the beginning of the 2017–18 season, he moved to Hayes & Yeading United.[51][54] Following a four-month spell with Hartley Wintney, Vine rejoined Gosport in March 2018.[55]

In 2018–19, Vine played for Wessex League club Alresford Town[56] before joining Hartley Wintney again in October[57] and then re-joining Southall in December.[58] He joined Moneyfields in February 2019[59] before joining Tadley Calleva in August 2019.[60] Vine joined Hemel Hempstead Town as a player-coach for the 2020–21 season.[61]

Managerial career

[edit]

Hartley Wintney

[edit]

On 20 January 2023, Vine was appointed manager of former club Hartley Wintney.[62] On 19 September 2023, it was announced that the club and Vine had parted ways.[63]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 3 October 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup[a] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Portsmouth 2000–01[2] First Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2001–02[64] First Division 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
2002–03[3] First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003–04[5] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004–05[6] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Brentford (loan) 2002–03[3] Second Division 42 10 3 2 2 1 3[b] 0 50 13
Colchester United (loan) 2003–04[5] Second Division 35 6 7 4 1 0 6[b] 2 49 12
Luton Town (loan) 2004–05[6] League One 45 9 3 0 1 0 0 0 49 9
Luton Town 2005–06[10] Championship 31 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 32 10
2006–07[65] Championship 26 12 1 1 3 1 0 0 30 14
Total 102 31 5 1 4 1 0 0 111 33
Birmingham City 2006–07[65] Championship 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 1
2007–08[14] Premier League 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 17 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 19 1
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2007–08[14] Championship 18 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 4
Queens Park Rangers 2007–08[14] Championship 15 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 3
2008–09[66] Championship 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
2009–10[67] Championship 31 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 34 1
2010–11[23] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12[28] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 69 9 0 0 3 0 0 0 72 9
Hull City (loan) 2010–11[23] Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Brentford (loan) 2010–11[23] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2010–11[23] League One 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 1
Exeter City (loan) 2011–12[28] League One 5 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 6 0
Gillingham (loan) 2011–12[28] League Two 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
St Johnstone 2012–13[68] Scottish Premier League 35 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 37 7
Hibernian 2013–14[42] Scottish Premiership 10 0 0 0 2 0 2[c] 0 14 0
Greenock Morton 2013–14[42] Scottish Championship 12 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 4
Welling United 2014–15[47] Conference Premier 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Havant & Waterlooville 2015–16[69] National League South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gosport Borough 2015–16[70] National League South 7 3 0 0 0 0 1[d] 0 8 3
Basingstoke Town 2015–16[69] National League South 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Gosport Borough 2016–17[71] National League South 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Southall 2016–17[72][53] Spartan South Midlands League First Division 10 4 0 0 0 0 1[e] 1 11 5
Hayes & Yeading United 2017–18[51] Southern League First Division East 5 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 11 2
Hartley Wintney 2017–18[73] Southern League First Division East 15 9 0 0 1 0 5[f] 1 21 10
Gosport Borough 2017–18[74] Southern League Premier Division 11 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 3
Alresford Town 2018–19 Wessex League Premier Division No data currently available
Hartley Wintney 2018–19[75] Southern League Premier Division South 6 2 0 0 1 0 3[g] 0 10 2
Southall 2018–19[76] Combined Counties League Premier Division 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 3
Moneyfields 2018–19 Southern League Division One South No data currently available
Tadley Calleva 2019–20 Wessex League Premier Division No data currently available
Hemel Hempstead Town 2020–21[77] National League South 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 444 96 23 8 17 2 22 4 506 110
  1. ^ Includes Football League Cup, Scottish League Cup and Southern League Cup
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  5. ^ Appearance in FA Vase
  6. ^ Four appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance in Hampshire Senior Cup
  7. ^ Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in Hampshire Senior Cup

Honours

[edit]

Luton Town

Birmingham City

Individual

References

[edit]

Grokipedia

Rowan Vine

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Rowan Lewis Vine (born 21 September 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-forward, known for his time in the English Football League with clubs including Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers.[1][2] Born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, Vine rose through the youth ranks at Portsmouth, making 13 appearances for the first team between 2000 and 2005 without scoring.[2] He spent successful loan spells at Brentford (42 appearances, 10 goals in 2002–2003), Colchester United (35 appearances, 6 goals in 2003–2004), and Luton Town (45 appearances, 9 goals in 2004–2005), which led to a permanent transfer to Luton in 2005.[2] At Luton, Vine enjoyed his most prolific period, scoring 22 goals in 57 appearances over two seasons (2005–2007) and contributing to their promotion to the Championship in 2005.[2][3] In July 2007, Vine joined Birmingham City for a reported £2.5 million transfer fee, where he made 17 league appearances and scored once during the 2007–2008 season, helping the team secure promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.[2][4] Later that year, he moved to Queens Park Rangers on loan, followed by a permanent £1 million transfer in January 2008, accumulating 69 appearances and 9 goals for the club until 2012, including time in the Premier League during the 2011–2012 season.[2][5] His spell at QPR was marred by several loan moves to clubs such as Hull City, Milton Keynes Dons, Exeter City, and Gillingham between 2010 and 2012.[2] Vine continued his career in the Scottish Premiership with St Johnstone (35 appearances, 7 goals in 2012–2013) and Hibernian (10 appearances in 2013–2014), before dropping into the lower tiers of English football with Greenock Morton, Welling United, and Gosport Borough.[2] He later played non-league football for clubs including Hemel Hempstead Town and Basingstoke Town, joining Southall United in 2021, where he remains registered as of 2025 at age 43.[1][6] In January 2023, Vine briefly served as first-team manager at Hartley Wintney, departing in September 2023 after their relegation from the Southern League Premier Division South.[7][8]

Early life

Background

Rowan Vine was born on 21 September 1982 in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.[1] He grew up in the town.[9] Vine joined Portsmouth's youth academy during the late 1990s.[5] Physically, Vine stands at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), a height that positioned him advantageously as a forward throughout his development.[1]

Youth career

Rowan Vine began his organised football development as a youngster with the youth setups of Southampton and Portsmouth in the late 1990s.[5][10] During his early years with Portsmouth, Vine had a brief association with Southampton's youth setup, trialing there before returning to Portsmouth.[10] He progressed through Portsmouth's academy, developing as a forward.[5] By the 1999–2000 season, Vine had established himself in Portsmouth's youth team, scoring regularly in youth fixtures and demonstrating his potential as a prolific striker.[5] This consistent performance led to him signing his first professional contract with Portsmouth in April 2001 at the age of 18.[5]

Club career

Portsmouth and early loans (2000–2005)

Rowan Vine signed his first professional contract with Portsmouth in April 2001 after progressing through the club's youth academy. He made his senior debut for the club at the age of 18, appearing as a substitute in a 0–0 draw against Sheffield United on 30 December 2000. Over the following seasons, Vine struggled to secure regular first-team opportunities under managers Tony Pulis and Harry Redknapp, making just 13 league appearances without scoring a goal. Redknapp, who took over in 2002, advised Vine to seek match experience elsewhere to develop his game.[9][11] To gain consistent playing time, Vine joined Brentford on a season-long loan in August 2002. He scored on his debut against Huddersfield Town and went on to net 10 goals in 42 league appearances, providing valuable experience in the Second Division while helping the team secure a mid-table finish. The loan spell marked a significant step in Vine's development as a forward, showcasing his pace and finishing ability in competitive senior football.[2][5] In August 2003, Vine was loaned to Colchester United in League One, where he adapted to the higher level of competition. He made 35 league appearances and scored 6 goals, including a notable hat-trick in an FA Cup fourth-round upset against Coventry City that propelled Colchester to the fifth round for the first time in 25 years. Despite the team's struggles, finishing 18th in the division, the spell honed Vine's physicality and tactical awareness in a tougher environment.[2][12] Vine returned to Portsmouth briefly in 2004 but again found first-team chances scarce under Redknapp. He was loaned to Luton Town in August 2004, initially for three months but extended to the end of the season. Playing a key role in their promotion campaign, Vine scored 9 goals in 45 league appearances, contributing to Luton's League One title win with 98 points. His performances, including vital strikes in tight matches, demonstrated his growing maturity as a striker and paved the way for a permanent move the following summer.[2][13][14]

Luton Town (2005–2007)

Vine signed for Luton Town on a permanent basis from Portsmouth in July 2005 for a fee of £250,000, penning a three-year contract following a successful loan spell the previous season.[15][5] In the 2005–06 Championship campaign, Vine missed the opening months due to a back injury but returned strongly, scoring 10 goals in 31 league appearances and adding further strikes in cup competitions to total 16 goals across 41 outings, aiding Luton's respectable 10th-place finish.[16][5] Among his highlights was a brace in Luton's 3–2 home victory over promotion contenders Reading on 17 February 2006, showcasing his pace and finishing in the higher division.[17] The 2006–07 season proved more challenging for Luton amid escalating financial woes, including investigations into improper agent payments that foreshadowed future penalties.[18] Vine remained a bright spot, netting 12 goals in 26 league appearances before his January departure, with his goals providing crucial relief in a campaign that saw the club struggle to 23rd place and relegation.[4][16] Across his permanent tenure from 2005 to 2007, Vine recorded 62 appearances and 24 goals in all competitions, demonstrating his adaptation from League One success to the demands of the Championship.[3]

Birmingham City (2007–2008)

In January 2007, Rowan Vine transferred to Birmingham City from Luton Town for an initial fee of £2.5 million, with the potential to rise to £3 million upon promotion to the Premier League.[19] The move was orchestrated by manager Steve Bruce to address an injury crisis in the forward line, including issues affecting Nicklas Bendtner and Mikael Forssell, and Vine's prior performances against Birmingham—scoring three goals in two matches for Luton that season—had caught Bruce's attention.[20] Vine integrated into a squad pushing for automatic promotion in the Championship, where he featured in team dynamics focused on maintaining a strong attacking options amid competition from established forwards like Julian Gray and Geoff Horsfield. During the remainder of the 2006–2007 season, Vine made 17 league appearances for Birmingham, including 10 starts and 7 as a substitute, scoring once—a crucial winner in a 1–0 victory over promotion rivals Derby County on 9 March 2007.[16] His contributions, though limited in goals, helped bolster the team's depth during the promotion push under Bruce, culminating in Birmingham securing the Championship title and automatic promotion to the Premier League.[4] In the 2007–2008 Premier League season, Vine struggled to establish himself, managing only 2 league appearances as a substitute amid challenges with form and adapting to the higher level of competition.[21] Following Bruce's departure in November 2007 and the appointment of Alex McLeish, Vine's opportunities diminished further; McLeish, who had not previously seen him play extensively, informed him in a brief meeting that he was not part of his plans, leading to feelings of confusion over his role despite believing he could contribute more.[22] In October 2007, Vine was loaned to Queens Park Rangers for an initial one-month spell, which was extended and converted to a permanent £1 million transfer in January 2008.[23]

Queens Park Rangers and loans (2007–2012)

Rowan Vine joined Queens Park Rangers on a one-month loan from Birmingham City in October 2007, making an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in a 4–2 Championship defeat at Colchester United.[24] The loan was extended, during which he scored four goals in 18 league appearances, helping to convince the club to pursue a permanent deal.[2] In January 2008, QPR secured Vine's signature on a permanent transfer for a reported £1 million fee, with the forward expressing optimism about establishing himself in west London.[25] Vine contributed three goals in 15 appearances during the remainder of the 2007–08 season before suffering a severe setback in April 2008, when he sustained a double leg fracture during a training session at the club's Harlington base.[26] The injury, which required immediate surgery, ruled him out for the rest of the campaign and marked the beginning of prolonged recovery challenges.[27] He underwent further surgery on the fractured leg in November 2008 to address ongoing complications.[28] Despite these hurdles, Vine returned to action in the 2008–09 season. Over the 2007–09 period, he made 38 league appearances for QPR, scoring eight goals, though persistent injury effects hampered his consistency.[2] The arrival of manager Neil Warnock in 2010 further marginalized Vine, who was informed he had no future at the club and was subsequently sent on multiple loans to regain form.[29] In October 2010, he joined Hull City on a one-month loan, appearing in five Championship matches without scoring.[2] Later that month, the loan at Brentford was arranged until January 2011, but an injury curtailed his involvement, resulting in no appearances.[30] Vine then moved to Milton Keynes Dons in January 2011 on an initial one-month loan that was extended, where he featured in 17 total appearances and scored once in a 4–1 league victory at Rochdale.[31][2] The 2011–12 season saw continued loan activity for Vine amid QPR's push for promotion. In August 2011, he spent a month at Exeter City, making five appearances without finding the net.[2] He concluded his time at QPR with a loan to Gillingham in March 2012 until the end of the season, where he played nine matches and scored his sole goal in a League Two fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge.[32][2] In total, Vine made 54 appearances and scored five goals for QPR across all competitions during his permanent spell from 2008 to 2012, though he spent the 2011–12 Premier League season on loan to other clubs and did not make any top-flight appearances, often overshadowed by injuries that disrupted his integration into the squad.[2] He was released by the club in July 2012 as QPR achieved promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.[25]

Scottish clubs (2012–2014)

In July 2012, Vine signed a one-year contract with St Johnstone on a free transfer after being released by Queens Park Rangers.[25] During the 2012–13 Scottish Premier League season, he made 34 appearances and scored 7 goals for the club, contributing to their mid-table finish. Notable contributions included a late winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Celtic in September 2012, marking St Johnstone's first win against the eventual champions, and another decisive strike in a 2–1 win against Kilmarnock in November.[33][34] St Johnstone opted not to renew Vine's contract at the end of the season, prompting his move to Hibernian, where he signed a one-year deal in July 2013.[35] At Hibernian, Vine struggled for consistent playing time amid the club's turbulent campaign, which culminated in relegation from the Scottish Premiership. He featured in 10 league appearances without scoring, often as a substitute, and also played in two Europa League qualifiers against Malmö, where Hibernian suffered heavy defeats. His limited impact was exacerbated by managerial changes, including the arrival of Terry Butcher in November 2013, after which Vine received fewer opportunities.[36] In January 2014, following his release by Hibernian, Vine joined Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship on a free transfer.[37] He made an immediate impression, scoring 4 goals in 12 appearances during the second half of the 2013–14 season, including the opener in a 4–0 win over Dumbarton.[38] Despite these contributions, Morton were relegated to Scottish League One after finishing bottom of the Championship. Vine was released by the club in the summer of 2014, signaling the end of his full-time professional career in Scotland.[36]

Non-league career (2014–present)

After departing Greenock Morton in Scotland at the end of the 2013–14 season, Vine transitioned to non-league football by joining Welling United in the National League South for the 2014–15 campaign, where he made two appearances and scored once.[1][3] He then moved to Havant & Waterlooville later that season, remaining until October 2015 without registering any league appearances during his short spell.[39][5] Vine subsequently had multiple stints with Gosport Borough across several seasons, beginning with a loan from Basingstoke Town in late 2015 that saw him score three goals in eight appearances, followed by returns in 2017 (three appearances), 2018 (11 appearances, three goals), 2019 (appearances in the Southern Premier League), and another brief involvement in 2019–20.[3][5] He also played for Basingstoke Town in the National League South during 2015–16 and 2016–17, contributing six appearances and one goal in the former season.[40] In 2017–18, Vine featured for Hartley Wintney in the Southern League Premier Division South, scoring nine goals in 15 appearances.[3] Vine joined Southall United in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One in February 2017 for his first spell, before returning in 2018–19 and again from 2021 to the present as a centre-forward in the Southern League Premier Division South.[41][1][5] During this period, he had brief engagements with other lower-tier clubs, including Hayes & Yeading United in 2017 (five appearances, one goal in the Southern League Premier Division South) and a short return to Hartley Wintney in 2018 (six appearances, two goals).[16] In 2018, he appeared for Alresford Town in the Wessex League.[5] The 2019–20 season saw spells at Moneyfields (Southern League Premier Division South) and Tadley Calleva (Hellenic League Premier Division).[42][3] Vine signed with Hemel Hempstead Town in the National League South for 2020–22 as a player-coach but did not make any first-team appearances, with his focus shifting toward coaching duties.[5][43] As of November 2025, at age 43, Vine continues to play part-time for Southall United in the Southern League Premier Division South, having accumulated over 100 non-league appearances across his various clubs since 2014.[6][44] His persistence in non-league football stems from a desire to remain involved in the sport without financial compensation, often helping out local teams in the Hampshire and Surrey region on a voluntary basis.[5]

Managerial and coaching career

Player-coach roles

In October 2020, Vine joined National League South club Hemel Hempstead Town as a player-coach, bringing his extensive professional experience to the squad while remaining eligible to play.[5][45] He made a single substitute appearance in a 2–1 victory over Hampton & Richmond Borough shortly after his arrival.[45][46] Vine was subsequently encouraged to prioritize his coaching responsibilities, appearing only once more as an unused substitute during the 2020–21 season.[5] This adjustment reflected a broader transition away from regular playing duties, resulting in no appearances for Hemel Hempstead or any other club in the 2021–22 season as he immersed himself in coaching.[3][5] Earlier, in March 2018, he served as player-manager at Gosport Borough in the National League South, where he scored three goals in five appearances while leading the side through a turbulent period, assisted by coaches Louie Bell and Jay Keating.[47] These hybrid roles highlighted Vine's growing emphasis on leadership and tactical input alongside his on-field contributions in non-league football.

Hartley Wintney (2023)

In January 2023, Rowan Vine was appointed as the first-team manager of Hartley Wintney in the Southern League Premier Division South, becoming the club's third manager of the 2022–23 season following the mutual departure of Ian Selley and assistant Mick Bennett due to poor results.[7][48] Vine, who had previously played two spells at the club since 2017, teamed up with assistant Shane Hollamby, a Hartley Wintney legend involved in prior promotions, to take charge ahead of a crucial match against North Leigh on 28 January.[7] This move came amid the team's struggle in the relegation zone, with Vine drawing on his experience as a former professional striker to instill greater belief and work ethic in the squad.[49] Vine inherited a squad hampered by a string of defeats and inconsistent form, necessitating efforts to rebuild momentum and cohesion during a high-stakes relegation battle.[50] He emphasized the need for hard-working players who could regain confidence, criticizing instances where the team "lacked belief and probably this was as a result of the results."[49] Despite these interventions, Hartley Wintney were unable to avoid relegation, confirmed in April 2023 after a season of challenges including limited resources and fierce competition at Step 3 level.[51] Vine parted ways with Hartley Wintney in September 2023 after approximately nine months in the role, with the departure announced prior to a league match against Ashford Town on 20 September.[8] The club confirmed the split as a mutual agreement, transitioning interim duties to director of football Anthony Millerick while seeking a permanent replacement, who was named as Danny Ackland later that month.[52] Vine's tenure highlighted his transition from playing and prior player-coach duties at Hemel Hempstead Town, though it underscored the steep learning curve of full-time management at non-league level.[5]

Personal life

Family and relationships

Rowan Vine's family provided essential support throughout his professional football career, particularly during relocations between clubs. In 2006, while establishing himself at Luton Town, Vine relocated his family from their home in Basingstoke to a property closer to the club's training facilities in Bedfordshire; this move cut his daily commute from over three hours to approximately 20 minutes, enabling greater involvement in family life amid his rising prominence in the Championship.[53] Vine is a father to son Quaye Vine, who has pursued football and occasionally shared the pitch with his father in non-league matches. For instance, during Hartley Wintney's 2022–23 Southern League Premier Division South campaign, Quaye was named as a substitute alongside Rowan in a match against Gosport Borough.[51] After transitioning from full-time playing to coaching and player-coach roles, Vine returned to the Basingstoke area—his birthplace in Hampshire—where he has continued to build his post-career life with his family, including community involvement such as fundraising efforts for local causes.[54]

Off-field challenges

In a 2021 interview, Rowan Vine admitted to losing £700,000 through gambling during his playing career, attributing the financial losses to a lack of attachment to money amid personal turmoil.[55] Although he denied having an ongoing addiction at the time, Vine described how his gambling escalated during periods of career highs, such as after high-profile transfers to Birmingham City in 2007 and Queens Park Rangers in 2008, when sudden influxes of wealth and pressure led to impulsive behaviors.[56] This issue was further exacerbated by injuries, particularly a severe double leg fracture sustained at QPR in 2008, which triggered mental health struggles and prompted him to turn to high-stakes gambling as a coping mechanism while isolated in Scotland around 2012–2013.[56] Vine entered rehabilitation in 2016 and underwent cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as psychoanalysis to address underlying issues like existential crises, marking initial steps toward recovery.[55] By 2022, after four years of one-to-one counseling, he reported significant progress, crediting therapy with helping him confront the emotional toll of his experiences.[56] His public disclosures, including in a 2022 documentary interview, aimed to raise awareness about such struggles, highlighting the "dark side of football" through themes of isolation, unfulfilled potential, and the psychological pressures on players.[56] Family support played a key role in his recovery process.[55] These off-field distractions contributed to Vine's professional career being virtually over by 2014, at age 31, as they compounded on-field challenges and limited opportunities for resurgence, though he faced no legal repercussions from his personal issues.[56]

Career statistics

Club statistics

Rowan Vine's club statistics encompass his professional and semi-professional playing career, with detailed records available primarily for his time in English and Scottish leagues, as well as select cup and playoff matches. Comprehensive data for his later non-league appearances, particularly after 2015, is limited in major databases, though he has continued playing for clubs including Gosport Borough, Basingstoke Town, Hartley Wintney, and Southall United (as of 2025). Non-league totals are incomplete and not included in overall figures.[1][57][3][2]

League Appearances and Goals

The following table summarizes Vine's domestic league appearances (apps) and goals (gls) by club and season.
ClubSeasonDivisionAppsGls
Portsmouth2000–01First Division20
Portsmouth2001–02First Division110
Brentford2002–03Second Division4210
Colchester United2003–04Second Division356
Luton Town2004–05League One459
Luton Town2005–06Championship3110
Luton Town2006–07Championship2612
Birmingham City2007–08Championship171
Queens Park Rangers2007–08Championship336
Queens Park Rangers2008–09Championship51
Queens Park Rangers2009–10Championship311
Hull City (loan)2010–11Championship50
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)2010–11League One171
Exeter City (loan)2011–12League One50
Gillingham (loan)2011–12League Two81
St Johnstone2012–13Scottish Premiership357
Greenock Morton (loan)2013–14Scottish Championship124
Hibernian2013–14Scottish Premiership90
Welling United2014–15National League South21
Total37170

Cup and Playoff Statistics

Vine participated in various cup competitions and playoffs, with notable contributions in the FA Cup and playoffs during his early career. The table below highlights significant appearances (apps) and goals (gls); minor or zero-goal matches are omitted for conciseness.
ClubCompetitionSeasonAppsGls
BrentfordEFL Cup2002–0321
BrentfordSecond Division Playoffs2002–0310
Colchester UnitedFA Cup2003–0474
Colchester UnitedEFL Cup2003–0410
Colchester UnitedSecond Division Playoffs2003–0462
Luton TownFA Cup2004–0530
Luton TownEFL Cup2004–0510
Luton TownFA Cup2005–0610
Luton TownFA Cup2006–0711
Luton TownEFL Cup2006–0731
Queens Park RangersEFL Cup2007–0820
Queens Park RangersEFL Cup2009–1030
St JohnstoneScottish FA Cup2012–1310
St JohnstoneScottish League Cup2012–1310
HibernianScottish League Cup2013–1420
HibernianUEFA Europa League Qualifying2013–1420
Total (Cups & Playoffs)359

Breakdown by Division

Vine accumulated the majority of his appearances in the English second tier and below, with a brief stint in Scotland's top flight. The table provides league totals by division (historical levels grouped by modern equivalents for consistency).
DivisionAppsGls
Premier League / Scottish Premiership447
Championship / First Division16131
League One / Second Division14426
League Two81
Scottish Championship124
National League South21
Other Non-LeagueN/AN/A
Total League37170
Overall career totals across all competitions stand at 406 appearances and 79 goals (professional leagues only; non-league incomplete).[58]

Managerial statistics

Rowan Vine's managerial statistics are limited to his full-time role at Hartley Wintney. He served as a player-coach at Hemel Hempstead Town in 2020–21 but held no full managerial position there. Vine took sole charge as manager of Hartley Wintney on 23 January 2023, initially in the Southern League Premier Division South, before the club's relegation to the Isthmian League South Central Division for the following campaign; he departed by mutual consent on 20 September 2023 after a 1–0 league win over Ashford Town. Across his tenure, he oversaw 20 league matches, compiling a record of 4 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses, yielding 18 points and an average of 0.90 points per game. This contributed to Hartley Wintney's bottom-place finish and relegation in 2022–23 (32 points from 42 games overall), followed by a mixed start in the lower tier with 7 points from 4 games in 2023–24.[59][8]
ClubSeasonDivisionMatchesWinsDrawsLossesWin %Points per game
Hartley Wintney2022–23Southern League Premier Division South1626812.50.75
Hartley Wintney2023–24Isthmian League South Central Division420250.01.50
Total20461020.00.90
Vine has no other documented full managerial roles with comprehensive statistics, resulting in an overall career win percentage of approximately 20% across his 20 league games in charge, underscoring the challenges of his short-lived venture into management at non-league level.[59]

Honours

Luton Town

Vine joined Luton Town on a season-long loan from Portsmouth during the 2004–05 League One campaign, where his contributions were instrumental in securing the League One title and promotion to the Championship.[14] Scoring nine goals in 43 appearances, Vine formed a productive partnership with forward Chris Coyne, helping Luton accumulate 98 points and clinch promotion to the Championship with a record-equaling points tally.[9] His efforts earned him the League One Player of the Month award for September 2004, recognizing a run that included three goals in four matches.[3] Following Luton's promotion, Vine signed permanently with the club in July 2005 for a reported £250,000 fee, but no further team honours were achieved during his subsequent two seasons in the Championship.[15] The 2004–05 title remains the primary collective success associated with Vine's time at Luton, underscoring his role in elevating the team to the second tier.[14]

Birmingham City

Vine joined Birmingham City mid-season during the 2006–07 Football League Championship campaign, arriving from Luton Town in January 2007 for a transfer fee of £2.5 million.[60] His addition bolstered the squad as they pursued promotion to the Premier League, ultimately finishing as runners-up with 86 points from 46 matches, securing automatic promotion alongside champions Sunderland.[61][62] Despite limited playing time, Vine made 17 league appearances, starting 8, and scored once—a crucial goal in a 1–0 victory over promotion rivals Derby County on 9 March 2007, which helped maintain Birmingham's position in the top two.[63][64] His contributions, though modest in volume, formed part of the team's title run-in, aiding their return to the top flight after relegation the previous season.[4] Vine participated briefly in the squad's promotion celebrations following the final-day confirmation of their second-place finish, marking his only major team honour with the club.[62] No further honours were achieved during his short stint at Birmingham, as he departed for Queens Park Rangers in October 2007 without additional silverware.[65]

References

  1. Rowan Vine - Player profile - Transfermarkt
  2. Rowan Vine | Football Stats | No Club | Age 43 - Soccerbase
  3. Rowan Vine - Players - COLUDATA
  4. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/birmingham-city-thought-they-hit-the-jackpot-rowan-vine-transfer-were-so-wrong/
  5. 939 Rowan Vine - On Cloud Seven
  6. Rowan Vine stats and ratings | Sofascore
  7. Rowan Vine becomes Hartley Wintney's third manager of season
  8. Hartley Wintney win as manager Rowan Vine leaves the club
  9. Rowan Vine | Hatters Heritage | A History of Luton Town FC
  10. Vine Returns to Hartley Wintney as Manager - The Southern League
  11. HERO VINE DREAMS OF POMPEY RETURN - News Shopper
  12. Coventry wither on power of Vine | Soccer - The Guardian
  13. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/3633956.stm
  14. THE 2004-05 LEAGUE ONE TITLE-WINNING SEASON!
  15. Football | My Club | Luton Town | Hatters seal permanent Vine deal
  16. Rowan VINE - League Appearances. - Queens Park Rangers FC
  17. Championship | Luton 3-2 Reading - BBC SPORT | Football
  18. Luton forced to pay a high price for minor offences - The Guardian
  19. Beds Herts and Bucks - Sport - Vine moves to Birmingham - BBC
  20. Bruce completes Vine signing | Soccer | The Guardian
  21. Birmingham City Appearances & Goals 2007/08 | Player Statistics ...
  22. Rowan Vine praises Birmingham City boss McLeish but 'confused ...
  23. BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Striker Vine moves to QPR on loan
  24. Championship | Colchester 4-2 QPR - BBC SPORT | Football
  25. St Johnstone hand former QPR striker Rowan Vine a contract - BBC
  26. BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | QPR | Vine out for the rest of season
  27. Vine raring to go after a year of injury misery - Evening Standard
  28. Vine goes under the knife | Football News - Sky Sports
  29. BBC SPORT | Football | Championship | QPR 4-1 Reading
  30. BBC Sport - Football - Brentford sign QPR striker Rowan Vine
  31. QPR striker Rowan Vine has Brentford loan cut short - MyLondon
  32. BBC Sport - Football - MK Dons sign QPR striker Rowan Vine on loan
  33. Gillingham sign QPR striker Rowan Vine on loan - BBC Sport
  34. Rowan Vine grabs St Johnstone late victory to stun Celtic
  35. Rowan Vine Goal, Kilmarnock 1-2 St Johnstone, 24/11/2012
  36. Hibs sign former St Johnstone striker Rowan Vine - The Edinburgh ...
  37. Rowan Vine adamant he could have helped Hibs - The Scotsman
  38. Morton: Rowan Vine in at Cappielow after Hibs exit - BBC Sport
  39. Rowan Vine says he should have hit three in Morton's win over ...
  40. Rowan Vine stats and transfer history - AiScore
  41. Rowan Vine Stats | Soccerway
  42. Former Brentford and QPR striker signs for Southall - My London
  43. Rowan Vine | Player Profile · Aylesbury United Archive
  44. Rowan Vine - Stats and titles won - Football Database
  45. Rowan Vine - England / Southall FC stats - Flashscore.com
  46. Former Hatter Rowan Vine heads to Tudors - Luton Today
  47. How is ex-Luton Town player Rowan Vine getting on these days?
  48. Club History - Hartley Wintney FC
  49. Four Managers, Fifty Players and Eleven Points: Gosport Borough's ...
  50. Hartley Wintney FC - X
  51. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/aldershot-news-mail/20230426/281951727129183
  52. Hartley recruit Vine in a bid to climb - The Non-League Football Paper
  53. Hartley Wintney relegated from Southern League Premier Division ...
  54. Club News Archive - Hartley Wintney FC
  55. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-express/20061016/282776352030557
  56. Baby Romeo's only hope is a heart transplant, family say ...
  57. Ex-Hibs striker Rowan Vine makes shock career admission as he ...
  58. Rowan Vine | The Dark side of football, playing in Premier League ...
  59. Rowan Vine - Detailed stats
  60. Rowan Vine Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more
  61. Hemel Hempstead England statistics, table, results, fixtures - FcTables
  62. First Team Results Archive - Hartley Wintney FC
  63. BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Birmingham complete Vine signing
  64. Football League Championship table 2006/07 - footballsite
  65. Blues' precious Premiership promotion - Birmingham - BBC
  66. https://www.facebook.com/BCFCofficial/videos/birmingham-city-1-0-derby-county-09032007/1107901775909635/
  67. 11 January 2007 - Birmingham Plucks The Vine
  68. Rowan Vine - worldfootball.net
User Avatar
No comments yet.