Clubs: St Albans City, Hendon, Luton Town, Fulham (L), West Ham United, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers

International honours: Northern Ireland
Caps won at Palace: 6

Clubs managed: Queens Park Rangers, Oldham Athletic, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic

Iain Dowie is one of a select few who have both played for and managed Crystal Palace and in terms of games played his contribution to the club may not appear to have much significance but in this case statistics fail to reflect the whole truth.

After his arrival at Selhurst Park from Southampton in 1995 Iain did much to lift morale at a testing time. Whole-hearted and hard working, Iain added zest, enthusiasm, top-flight experience and, most importantly, several goals to a side that was struggling to retain its Premiership status. His effectiveness can perhaps best be seen in the way in which Palace reached the semi-finals of both major cup competitions.

Ultimately Palace were relegated but this was in thoroughly controversial and unfortunate circumstances. A few months into the new season Iain moved back to his former club West Ham United much to the regret of Palace fans.

Eight years after leaving the club Iain returned as manager in December 2003. He had proved himself in management with Oldham Athletic whom he led to the Second Division play-offs in 2002/03.

Although he opened his Palace management career with a home defeat to Millwall, Iain completely transformed the Eagles so that within three months of his appointment the club were within sight of a play-off place. At the end of the season a play-off place was secured and after a tense penalty shoot-out against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light Palace met West Ham United in the final. The Eagles proved superior in every way at the Millennium Stadium and secured a narrow 1-0 victory to return to the Premiership after an absence of six years.

Unfortunately the Eagles were unable to retain their Premiership status in 2004/05 but the squad put up a brave fight going down on the final day of the season. Most pundits were tipping Palace for relegation at the beginning of the season and the fact that the club were still in with a chance of survival on the last day is all credit to Iain and his man management.

Dowie and Crystal Palace parted ways in May 2006 after the club failed to gain an instant return to the Premiership.

Statistics 

	Games	Goals
1994/1995	21	8
1995/1996	4	2
Total	25	10

Source: The Men Who Made Crystal Palace, Rev. Nigel Sands (Tempus, 2004)