Charlton vs Shrewsbury: Lee Bowyer happy to ditch his fishing rods in bid to catch out promotion rivals

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer
REUTERS
Giuseppe Muro10 May 2018

Lee Bowyer was planning for a fishing holiday in the south of France this time last year.

He had joined Charlton in a part-time coaching role three months earlier and after the end of the season he was ready to switch off from football and enjoy his favourite pastime. Twelve months on and his annual carp fishing trip might have to be delayed because Bowyer is preparing to lead the club in two games that could take them to Wembley.

Bowyer guided Charlton into the League One play-offs after he was appointed caretaker manager in March and tonight they host Shrewsbury in the first leg of their semi-final.

He has another fishing break booked with his mates later this month but he may be forced to miss the start of it if Charlton reach Wembley on May 27.

“It is a funny situation, really, but a good one to be in,” says Bowyer, 41. “This time last year I was here part time, just trying to pass on my knowledge, and I was on my way fishing. Now I am preparing these lads for two of the most important games of their lives. I would much rather be doing this. It is exciting times and I am enjoying every second of it.”

Bowyer had turned his back on football after he retired from playing in 2012 and he bought himself a fishing lake in France, which he renamed Etang de Bows or Bows’ Lake.

He did not get back into the game until 2015 when former Leeds team-mate Harry Kewell asked him to help out with coaching the Watford Under-21s.

It was there where Bowyer rediscovered his buzz for football. He joined Charlton last year to work under Karl Robinson and last summer was named assistant manager at the club where he started his career.

Bowyer replaced Robinson at The Valley in March when Charlton were on the slide and as caretaker boss he led them to a sixth-placed finish, with six wins in their final 10 matches.

“When I first came in everybody had written us off because of the run we had,” he says. “The most important thing was to bring the team together.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

“We had all these good players playing as individuals. I cut that out and said if you are going to go anywhere you have to play as a team and work hard for each other. I believe that is the way football should be played and once you win the ball then you play.

“And just making them believe in themselves. I have got the response I wanted and that is why we are where we are now, along with the fans who have been great.”

Where to watch

Charlton vs Shrewsbury

Play-off semi-final 1st leg, 7.45 Sky Sports

Bowyer has been put in charge until the end of the season but he does not know what his future holds with a takeover looming at Charlton this summer. He admits, though, the past two months have whetted his appetite to stay in management.

“Yeah, I do not see why not,” he says. “We will see how things go here. I would not say yes but I am not ruling it out. I have enjoyed every minute of it, apart from when we have lost.”

Bowyer knows tonight will be difficult against a physical Shrewsbury side who challenged for automatic promotion for most of the season before they fell away and finished third.

“It is going to be tough and we respect Shrewsbury,” he says. “They are a physical side and you have to stand up against them.”

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