Career
He joined Crewe as a director in 1962, and became chairman in 1964. He chaired the club to promotion from the Fourth Division on two occasions during the 1960s, although Crewe were unable to establish themselves at the higher level Rowlinson appointed Tony Waddington as manager in 1978.
When Rowlinson sacked Waddington in 1981, his decision proved very unpopular with the majority of Crewe supporters.
In June 1983, Rowlinson appointed 41-year-old Italian Dario Gradi as manager. Gradi remained as manager for 24 years, and is still with the club as Technical Director.
Crewe"s fortunes slowly improved throughout the 1980s, as they had regularly struggled to save their Football League status for a decade or so prior to Gradi"s appointment. They remained in the Third Division for two years before being relegated again, and then suffered two successive playoff failures.
They endured playoff failures in Division Two over the next two seasons before triumph in 1997 took them into the second tier of the English league for the first time ever.
They had also completed a record of sixth successive playoff appearances. Crewe remained in Division One for five years, peaking at 12th place in their first season, before being relegated in 2002. Rowlinson had retired as chairman in 1998 when he handed over the reins to John Bowler, although he remained at the club as President.
Rowlinson, who lived near Northwich, died of cancer in August 2006 at the age of 83.
He had been on the club"s board for 44 years (34 of them as chairman).
