Introduction
Dean Peter Bowditch (born 15 June 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a Midfielder or striker for Milton Keynes Dons. He started his career with Ipswich Town as a trainee before being selected for the first team in 2003.
Career
Ipswich Town
Bowditch made his Ipswich Town first team debut in March 2003, aged 16, when he came off the bench against local rivals Norwich City, a match in which Ipswich won 2–0. The following season, he became the club's youngest player to score a hat-trick, against Watford. He picked up the Dale Roberts award as the best performer from the academy for 2003–04. A series of injuries saw him feature less for the Ipswich first team and he was loaned to Burnley, Wycombe and Brighton. On 22 November 2008 he signed a one-month loan deal at Northampton Town.
On 11 February 2008, Bowditch agreed to re-join Brighton on loan, initially for one-month. On 31 October 2008, he joined Brentford on loan until January 2009, with an option to be recalled after one month.
Ipswich released Bowditch at the end of the 2008–09 season.
Yeovil Town
Bowditch signed a one-year deal with League One club Yeovil on 30 July 2009. He scored on his debut against Tranmere but was later injured. On 14 November, he returned from injury and scored as a second-half substitute in Yeovil's 1–0 win over Southend. He scored his ninth goal of the season against Leeds United on 5 April 2010 in a 2–1 defeat. He reached double figures for the season with the opener against Millwall on Tuesday 13 April 2010. Having finished the 2009–2011 season as Yeovil's top scorer, he signed a new contract with the club on 16 June 2010. At the end of the 2010–11 season, he was informed by the club that he was one of seven Yeovil players who would be awarded new contracts. However, rejected this contract offer and left Yeovil.
Milton Keynes Dons
On 20 June 2011, Dean Bowditch signed a two-year deal with MK Dons, becoming manager Karl Robinson's first signing of the 2011–12 season. Despite playing as a striker for most of his career he has spent the majority of his spell at the Dons playing wide left, providing 13 assists and scoring 15. He has become a fan favourite for the Dons and was their top scorer and topped the assist table for the 2012/13 season, despite being primarily deployed as a Winger or a wide midfielder. On 10 March 2014, Bowditch signed a new one-year deal with the Dons.
Career statistics
- As of 14 December 2016.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[A] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ipswich Town | 2002–03 | First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 2003–04 | First Division | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 5 | |
| 2004–05 | Championship | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 3 | |
| 2005–06 | Championship | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Championship | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 72 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 9 | ||
| Burnley (loan) | 2004–05 | Championship | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | |
| Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 2005–06 | League Two | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 2006–07 | League One | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 2007–08 | League One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Northampton Town (loan) | 2007–08 | League One | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| Brentford (loan) | 2008–09 | League Two | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| Total | 48 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 7 | ||
| Yeovil Town | 2009–10 | League One | 30 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 10 |
| 2010–11 | League One | 41 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 15 | |
| Total | 71 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 25 | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2011–12 | League One | 41 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 15 |
| 2012–13 | League One | 39 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 12 | |
| 2013–14 | League One | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2014–15 | League One | 35 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 7 | |
| 2015–16 | Championship | 37 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17 | League One | 19 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 9 | |
| Total | 183 | 37 | 17 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 218 | 48 | ||
| Career total | 374 | 77 | 20 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 424 | 89 | ||
- A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League Trophy and Play-off matches.
Honours
Club
- Milton Keynes Dons
- League One
- Runners-up (1): 2014–15
Personal life
He has an older brother, Ben Bowditch, who plays for Potters Bar Town.