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James Rowberry
Personal information
Full name James Rowberry
Date of birth (1985-04-26) 26 April 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Newport, Wales
Youth career
Years Team
Bristol City
Newport County
Managerial career
2021–2022 Newport County

James Rowberry (born 26 April 1985) is a Welsh football manager and coach. He began his coaching career at an early age, and at 29 years old became one of the youngest people to ever gain the UEFA Pro Licence. Rowberry was team manager at Newport County 2021-22, having previously been a youth coach at Newport and Cardiff City, where he was made first-team coach in 2014.

Coaching career

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Rowberry played youth football with Bristol City and Newport County, who he joined aged 16.[1] His father Stephen played for Newport in the 1990s,[1] and fellow Welsh manager Tony Pulis is a distant relative of Rowberry.[2] He retired as a player aged 21, choosing to concentrate on his coaching career.[3] He grew up a small distance from Rodney Parade, Newport's current stadium, and was the mascot of Newport aged five.[2] Rowberry gained his UEFA Pro Licence in 2014 aged 29, making him one of the youngest people to complete the highest qualification badges in Europe.[3] Upon gaining his badges, he was described as "one of the brightest young coaches coming through" by Football Association of Wales technical director Osian Roberts.[4]

He joined Newport in 2009, working with the first team and development team, before moving to Cardiff City in 2013 to work with the club's academy.[5] He also worked with the Welsh Football Trust as a football development officer, and later as a coach educator.[3] Following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjær as Cardiff manager, Rowberry was made a first team coach under new manager Russell Slade,[3] who described Rowberry as passionate and enthusiastic about coaching.[6] When Slade himself left the job in 2016, Rowberry was among the candidates to take over the role.[5][7] He would go on to work with Paul Trollope and Neil Warnock, and Rowberry says that he learned "pure coaching" from Slade and Trollope, while under Warnock he learned "pure management".[1] He also credits Mick McCarthy with advising him on the role of being a manager prior to taking over at Newport.[8]

Newport County

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On 19 October 2021, Rowberry was appointed manager of his hometown team, EFL League Two club Newport County, with the team 13th in the league after 13 matches of the 2021–22 season.[9] He was given a contract until summer 2024,[10] and took over from caretaker manager Wayne Hatswell, who had managed the club for four unbeaten league matches following the departure of manager Michael Flynn, with Rowberry saying he had "big shoes to fill" due to the success Flynn had at the club.[11] Hatswell was retained as assistant manager, but resigned his position on 22 February 2022.[12] On the same day, Cardiff coach Carl Serrant was appointed as assistant to Rowberry.[13] Newport finished the season in 11th place in League Two.[14] On 10 October 2022 Rowberry was sacked with Newport in 18th place in League Two after 13 league matches of the 2022–23 season. Serrant was also sacked[15] and Sporting Director Darren Kelly took the role of Newport County caretaker manager.[16]

Football Association of Wales

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In February 2023 Rowberry was appointed as FAW Head of Elite Coach Education.[17] In February 2024 Rowberry was appointed assistant coach to the Wales national women's team.[18] In August 2024 Rowberry was appointed as assistant coach to new Wales national team manager Craig Bellamy.[19]

Personal life

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In August 2022, Rowberry revealed that he considers himself 'fortunate to be here' having had a pacemaker fitted following a routine check-up showed led to him being diagnosed with third-degree atrioventricular heart block.[20]

Managerial statistics

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As of 8 October 2022
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Newport County Wales 19 October 2021 10 October 2022 52 21 9 22 69 65 +4 040.38
Total 52 21 9 22 69 65 +4 040.38

References

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  1. ^ a b c Williams, Glen (23 February 2020). "Meet James Rowberry, Cardiff City's coaching prodigy who has taught some of the biggest names in football". Wales Online. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b Kirwan, Chris (20 October 2021). "Boss James Rowberry to thrive on pressure at Newport County". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Wathan, Chris (12 May 2016). "Just who is potential new Cardiff City manger James Rowberry? This is everything you need to know". Wales Online. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Newport's James Rowberry gains UEFA Pro Licence at 29". South Wales Argus. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Cardiff City: James Rowberry being considered as Russell Slade replacement". BBC Sport. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Sky Bet Championship: Russell Slade makes Cardiff backroom changes". Sky Sports. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  7. ^ Wathan, Chris (12 May 2016). "Cardiff City manager hunt: Unknown 31-year-old James Rowberry is a shock contender for Bluebirds job". Wales Online. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  8. ^ Coleman, Tom (20 October 2021). "'Mick McCarthy is an amazing human being' - James Rowberry explains Cardiff City exit and future Bluebirds transfer link". Wales Online. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  9. ^ Pearlman, Michael (20 October 2021). "James Rowberry: Newport County job 'a dream' for new manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  10. ^ "'Vital' coach Hatswell signs new deal to stay at County until 2024". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  11. ^ Kirwan, Chris (20 October 2021). "Newport boss James Rowberry to build on Michael Flynn's work". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Wayne Hatswell appointed Assistant Head Coach". Walsall F.C. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Carl Serrant: Newport County name Cardiff City coach as new assistant manager". BBC Sport. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  14. ^ Newport 11th in League Two
  15. ^ Rowberry sacked at Newport
  16. ^ Kelly caretaker Newport manager
  17. ^ Rowberry joins FAW
  18. ^ Rowberry coach to Wales women's team
  19. ^ Rowberry Wales assistant coach
  20. ^ "James Rowberry: Newport County boss reveals eve-of-season heart surgery". BBC Sport. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
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