Liverpool-born John Rowlands had a nomadic early career, enjoying a spell in South Africa as well as turning out for seven English league clubs in seven seasons. In 1974 he joined the newly-formed Seattle Sounders in the North American Soccer League, finishing top scorer and being one of two Seattle players named in the NASL All Stars team (the other being his future Pools teammate, goalkeeper Barry Watling). He joined Pools in 1975 and spent two seasons at the club, scoring eleven times. He continued to play in the NASL and was once famously dismissed while playing for the San Jose Earthquakes for punching Philadelphia`s Frank Worthington in an off-the-ball incident. Worthington had scored two great goals and Rowlands, his marker, decided that enough was enough!