Career
Born in Barking, Powling began his career at Arsenal, signing on apprentice terms in September 1971. A regular for the club"s reserve teams while still just fifteen, he turned professional in July 1973. A bit-part player during 1974-1975, making only nine appearances, in the 1975-1976 season he established himself in the first team, playing 29 matches and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw at Coventry City"s Highfield Road.
However, following the arrival of a new manager, Terry Neill, and two new defenders (Pat Howard and Willie Young), as well as a series of injuries, he lost his regular place in the first team, playing just 11 times in 1976-1977.
After appearing against Nottingham Forest in September 1977, he suffered an ankle injury, then knee damage, causing him to miss the rest of the 1977-1978 and 1978-1979 seasons. He made a comeback in the reserves at the end of 1979-1980 but never fully recovered and never played for the first team again.
In total he played 59 times for Arsenal, scoring three times. He left the club in 1981, signing for non-League Barnet and went on to play for Grays Athletic before retiring.
He began his management career at Tiptree United in 1984, before moving to Harwich & Parkeston.
After leaving Sudbury he took over as manager of Braintree Town in April 1999, but was sacked in December that year. After returning to Harwich on the coaching staff in 2000, he joined Clacton Town in 2002, and became the club"s Director of Football in 2003.
