The remarkable story of the player who went from Man Utd to 'Dog Poo Utd'

Julian Dowe spent time at Manchester United, Everton and Manchester City as a youth, but it was his youth career rather than his professional career that was truly remarkable, but not in the way he might have hoped .

Dowe grew up at No. 4 Kippax Street, just across Maine Road, but he never supported a team and didn't even start playing football in the 1986 World Cup. predictably, it was Maradona who caught his eye.

He started playing himself, as a striker, of course, and had such an impact that Manchester United called. But as this was to become the theme of Dowe's career, it wasn't all smooth sailing.

"There was one night Brian Kidd's post-training conversation lasted a little longer than usual," he says. “All the other children could walk home, but I had to take the bus. The conversation lasted so long that I missed the last one.

"I was 12 and stuck in the middle of Salford, and with the best will in the world, it wasn't as cosmopolitan as it is today.

“Today the club was sorting things out, but back then it was different. I came from a mixed background and I was chased by a few locals during the night, and that a bit discouraged."

Dowe's mother never went to see him play in his youth and had still not seen him play by the time he retired from football.

He never hired an agent either, and without that support network, he now recognizes that it was too easy for people to influence his decisions throughout his career. But at that young age he was making decisions on his own and opted to leave United to play local football again.

But his talent was so great that as soon as one opportunity passed, another quickly presented itself.

"After United I started playing for the youth teams again, and in that game I had scouts from Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Leeds and Everton watching me," he says.< /p>

“At the end of the game there was only one scout left, Everton. Apparently he thought I was so good he told all the scouts I had been signed then they all ran away!

"Everton's youth coach was fantastic. He came home and saw the dynamic - single parents, kid who couldn't go to training - so they used to send a car to take me to Liverpool and back. Even if I stayed with the manager, I stayed with the manager."

It was going well, but things would change just as Dowe was getting started, as a combination of injuries and a change in manager saw him asking for his release papers.

"During a match against Tranmere, I got a big kick from behind. The physio said it was a muscle spasm and it would go as fast as it came, but it's not not the case.

"At the same time, Everton got rid of Colin Harvey and brought in Howard Kendall. The whole youth team went there so suddenly nobody knew who I was.

"I went to get my car to go home, but they gave me a train ticket. I told them I had a car to go home and they just said, 'Not in this club, you don't.""

After leaving Everton, Dowe was offered the salute by Manchester City, but his injury was more serious than expected. It turned out that he had suffered a rotational spinal fracture and had to wear a back brace for almost a year.

“Peter Reid was the manager, the scout told him I was so good to get myself signed to a professional contract, but he was also told I was injured,” says Dowe.

"I remember when we told him I had a broken spine, he said, 'I'll let it go, if you think it's worth it, let it be on your head ", and he left laughing!"

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READ: The sad story of Wesley Boyle and a Leeds United career ruined by bad physio advice

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The lack of an agent or family support would once again prove to be Dowe's downfall as he made the decision to leave another top club.

"People were telling me to go to a smaller club and grow, that they weren't bringing in black players and all sorts of things like that.

"I've watched Gary Bennett, Clive Wilson, Roger Palmer (all of whom were sold by Manchester City) and you're starting to wonder.

"Again, being an idiot, I asked to leave. The scout leader couldn't believe it!

"Old...