At the age of just 17, George Dowell’s career as a footballer was cut short in a car accident that left him paralysed. The crash happened merely two weeks after he made the bench for Worthing FC’s first team for the first time and broke his neck and two vertebrae in his neck, leaving him unable to walk again. While the accident was severe, Dowell didn’t let it end his career in football. Instead of giving up on his dreams of bringing success to Worthing, he used the accident compensation money to become the majority stakeholder and chairperson of Worthing FC.
In March 2015, at the time of the purchase, Worthing were in serious debt, and the future of the club was in doubt. Since then, Dowell has helped his childhood club go on to reach promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division in 2016. Some people have compared buying a football club to playing at a casino. Even if you use sites such as Bonus Finder Ireland to find the best deals, you can never predict what will happen.
However, the story of Worthing has been one of continued success, even if there were bumps in the road along the way. The club were favourites for promotion in 2019-20 before the league was cut short but finally managed to secure their place in the National League in 2022.
How Have Worthing Achieved Success?
Since becoming the UK’s youngest football chairman at the age of twenty-one, Dowell has set his sights high for his childhood club. Worthing has received steady investment from Dowell since he took over. While he hasn’t revealed the exact figure, Dowell reported that the amount was “close to a million”, which he added was “pretty mental”. The club hasn’t simply depended on the generosity of its new owner. There has been a total culture shift since Dowell took over.
In 2015, Worthing lost their manager Adam Hinshelwood, who had just been appointed that season. Dowell hired assistant manager Jon Meaney and defender Gary Elphick to take his place, bringing in fresh ideas and a new mindset. The club quickly saw its fortunes change as it climbed up the table. That season, Worthing managed to reach the playoffs, where they were then promoted to the Isthmian Premier Division after beating Faversham Town 3-0 in the final.
From here, the club has only been on the up. For 2019-20, the club found itself seven points clear at the top of the league before the FA declared it null and void. This season, they were able to repeat their success, winning the league and securing promotion for next season. The improved success also brought in bigger crowds, resulting in the club having some of the largest attendances in the country for this level. Their fans will now be able to cheer the team on as they play in the National League South next season.
What’s Next for Worthing and Dowell?
Dowell has no doubt played a vital role in the success of the club, bringing the club out of debt and helping them achieve success. However, the players and coaching staff have also played an important part. Adam Hinshelwood returned to manage the side, and the team led the league for much of the season. The academy has also been an integral part of the team, with more than forty youth players making first-team appearances in recent seasons.
The team will now be in full celebrations as the season winds down, but there’s still a lot to do to prepare for their first time in the National League. Next season will be a very different challenge, but with everything this chairperson and team have been through already, it shouldn’t be more than they can handle. The club will likely stick with the talent they have, keen to promote the idea of a community club that gives kids a chance.
