EFL star hit with lengthy ban for placing over 6,000 bets in 15 months

Ex-Cheltenham Town star Ryan Bowman has been handed a three-and-a-half-year ban after breaching the FA's betting regulations.

The EFL striker - who is now 33 and spent last season with the Robins - has admitted placing 6,397 bets in a period between June 15 2022 and September 13 2023.

It was found that Bowman placed 243 bets relating to matches or competitions Shrewsbury were involved in while he was playing for the club.

He also made a further 108 bets relating to games or competitions involving Exeter - the club he spent two years with between 2019 and 2021.

A statement from an independent commission said it was "a most serious case" and "includes a number of egregious examples of breaches of the FA rules against betting" after dishing out the ban.

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Bowman was found to have used other people's accounts to place bets, which was deemed to be an aggravating factor, having previously suggested the wagers could have been placed by a friend. Previously, his other claims that he placed bets on horse racing were proven to be false.

The commission added "no doubt this was a further attempt by (Bowman) to hide his extensive football betting activity, which he knew at all material times, was against the rules".

Cheltenham Town put out their own statement and said they were aware about the investigation into Bowman - but did not know the "full extent" until October. The player left the club this summer after his one-year deal expired.

"Club officials supported Ryan through what has been a difficult time for him and despite his departure from Cheltenham Town this summer," the club said.

"Again, we would like to place on record our thanks to him and wish him and his family all the best for the future."

Bowman started his career with Carlisle United in League One before becoming something of a journeyman - featuring for a total of 11 clubs in his career.

He would drop down as low as the Conference North during a loan spell with Workington before working his way up to the Conference and eventually League Two with York City in 2013-14.

In 2016 he joined Scottish Premiership side Motherwell and scored 14 goals in 86 games for the club across three seasons before linking up with Exeter in 2018. He later made 135 appearances for Shrewsbury, scoring 22 times before joining Cheltenham.

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