Kieron Bowie's journey from playing public park football to becoming a World Cup contender is an inspiring story of determination and hard work. The 23-year-old Hibernian striker, who started his football career in the humble surroundings of Kirkcaldy's local parks, has come a long way since being spotted by Raith Rovers' coach John McGlynn.
Growing up in Fife, Bowie was just another face in the crowd until McGlynn took notice of him. "Until I was 16, I was just playing with my mates and stuff - and then Fife League was a thing at the time," he recalls. "I was only there for a few months and then John McGlynn and [assistant] Paul Smith went in at Raith and it sort of caught their eye a little bit." McGlynn's intervention marked the beginning of Bowie's footballing journey, which would take him to Stark's Park, where he honed his skills under the guidance of the former Rovers manager.
Bowie's route to the top was not without its detours. After leaving Raith for Fulham in 2020, he found himself loaned out to Northampton Town, where he struggled to make an impact playing out of position on the wing. However, it wasn't until he joined Hibernian 18 months ago that Bowie finally found his footing as a striker.
His move to Easter Road has been a game-changer for Bowie, who has notched up nine goals in 28 appearances this season. The Hibs striker's strength and prowess have drawn attention from top clubs in England, including Celtic and Rangers. However, Bowie remains focused on his current goal: convincing national team manager Steve Clarke that he deserves a place on the plane to the World Cup.
Bowie acknowledges that the level of competition in the Scotland squad is intimidating but believes he has what it takes to make the cut. "Anyone who's been involved with Scotland over the last year, they're lying if they don't say 'I want to be there'," he says. "Obviously I want to be there, but I just need to focus on now and what I'm doing here and hopefully that'll lead me to getting on that flight."
Bowie's story serves as a reminder that success in football is often the result of hard work and perseverance. From playing public park football to becoming a World Cup contender, Bowie's journey is an inspiration to young players everywhere.
Growing up in Fife, Bowie was just another face in the crowd until McGlynn took notice of him. "Until I was 16, I was just playing with my mates and stuff - and then Fife League was a thing at the time," he recalls. "I was only there for a few months and then John McGlynn and [assistant] Paul Smith went in at Raith and it sort of caught their eye a little bit." McGlynn's intervention marked the beginning of Bowie's footballing journey, which would take him to Stark's Park, where he honed his skills under the guidance of the former Rovers manager.
Bowie's route to the top was not without its detours. After leaving Raith for Fulham in 2020, he found himself loaned out to Northampton Town, where he struggled to make an impact playing out of position on the wing. However, it wasn't until he joined Hibernian 18 months ago that Bowie finally found his footing as a striker.
His move to Easter Road has been a game-changer for Bowie, who has notched up nine goals in 28 appearances this season. The Hibs striker's strength and prowess have drawn attention from top clubs in England, including Celtic and Rangers. However, Bowie remains focused on his current goal: convincing national team manager Steve Clarke that he deserves a place on the plane to the World Cup.
Bowie acknowledges that the level of competition in the Scotland squad is intimidating but believes he has what it takes to make the cut. "Anyone who's been involved with Scotland over the last year, they're lying if they don't say 'I want to be there'," he says. "Obviously I want to be there, but I just need to focus on now and what I'm doing here and hopefully that'll lead me to getting on that flight."
Bowie's story serves as a reminder that success in football is often the result of hard work and perseverance. From playing public park football to becoming a World Cup contender, Bowie's journey is an inspiration to young players everywhere.
. I mean, he was just messing around with his mates in the park and then BAM! He gets scouted by Raith Rovers. It's like the old adage goes - 'if you can't teach it, don't learn it' 
. The fact that he had to go through those detours just to find his footing is a perfect illustration of how our youth sports system needs to be revamped. We need more investment in grassroots football so kids like Bowie can have better opportunities to develop their skills 
.
he literally went from playing in public parks to being a world cup contender its like something out of a movie or a dream come true 
and i love how humble he is about it too, you can tell he's still grounded despite all the attention. and 9 goals in 28 appearances for hibs is no joke 
. And now he's got his sights on the World Cup... do you think Scotland's got what it takes to compete? 
. It's all about stayin' focused and keepin' your eyes on the prize. What do you guys think? Should Bowie make the cut for Scotland?