Ace Cowan is back with Macc

By Jon Couch

MACCLESFIELD have signed former Stockport County, Buxton and Chester FC favourite Dan Cowan – just one month after he announced he was retiring from football.

The 26-year-old defender reached out to his social media following back in June that he had hung up his boots to pursue a “hugely exciting career opportunity”.

“(It was the) Hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” Cowan said. “But one I feel is right for my progression. 2 promotions and many games under my belt… cheers to that.”

But now Cowan has completed a U-turn on his decision to join the ambitious NPL West newcomers – the club where his glittering career started.

“It all came out of the blue,” Cowan told Macc’s website. “I thought I was stepping away from football, I go to a charity game and all of a sudden I am here. It’s a nice surprise to be back here, where I started.

“What this club means to me is a big thing, it has a hold on me. The location is great, it’s on my doorstep, and just where the club wants to be.

It’s nice to jump on board where we are at now and hopefully bring them up to where they should be.

“Look at the place now, the bars are at a ridiculous standard, the 3G pitch, it’s at a much better standard than it was. The club was in League Two before, now we’ve started at the bottom, but you’ve got the set-up in place to be much higher than that.”

Right-back Cowan got his first chance to shine at Macclesfield Town’s Centre of Excellence while the Silkmen were playing in League Two.

Making his senior debut during a Cheshire Senior Cup tie at Stalybridge Celtic back in February 2013, Cowan made 60 appearances for the Silkmen before signing for Stockport County in the summer of 2017.

He then spent three years at Edgeley Park, helping the club win promotion from National League North before brief spells at Guiseley, Curzon Ashton and Chester.

Cowan signed for Buxton last January and helped the Bucks to the NPL Northern Premier League title before departing Silverlands earlier in the summer and subsequently announcing his early retirement.