Why swapping Dubai for Queen's Park can help goal machine Josh Fowler realise a dream
Striker was living the dream in the UAE but knows to truly succeed in football he had to give up the magnificence of the Middle East and return to the south side of Glasgow.
He struck goals in the City of Gold. But Josh Fowler reckons swapping his luxurious life in Dubai for the slightly less salubrious Scottish Championship gives him the best chance of striking it rich in the beautiful game.
The 23-year-old has hit a prosperous run of form since moving to Queen’s Park from the Gulf in the summer.
His 10 goals in all competitions including in yesterday’s clash with St Johnstone means only East Kilbride’s John Robertson had netted more across the top four divisions.
It’s a strike rate that’s beginning to catch the eye but don’t expect the limelight to knock Fowler off track - even if he is first to admit his journey to full time football has been "a bit mental”.
Two years ago he was finishing the season as top scorer at Beith Juniors in the sixth tier of the Scottish game and combining his semi-professional hobby with his full-time job as a joiner.
But after being handed the opportunity of a lifetime in the UAE by Gulf United then Dubai City the striker was soon ditching the tools and carving out the beginning of what he hopes is a successful career in football.
It’s certainly a different route than many of his pals who tried their luck in pro club academies - some of whom don’t even kick a ball any more.
But it’s working for Fowler. Last season his 17 goals helped Dubai win promotion to the UAE First Division.
That’s just one step away from the cash-rich UAE Pro League. But the striker knew his best chance of making a name in the game would be to head back home.
Queen’s Park have been the beneficiaries and the frontman is off to a flier.
And he told MailSport: “Football is the sole reason I decided to come back to Scotland - it’s certainly not a lifestyle choice!
“It was 10 out of 10 stuff out there - beach clubs, nice dinners, great nightlife, Lamborginis and Ferraris everywhere, palm trees.. and then you're always in the sun.
“The last two years were unreal. I absolutely loved my time over there.
“I’ve grown so much as a person and made some friends for life.
“I got really settled and happy so it was a huge decision to come back, especially off the back of my last season where I finished top scorer for Dubai with 17 goals and scored two in the last game to clinch promotion back into the first division.
“So it was all going really well.
“I just think Queen's Park was a really good opportunity. The football was good but playing in the Championship is probably a better level than the second tier out there, and it could open a lot more doors for me.
“It's a bit of a mental story, to be fair.
“I look back and think I was a joiner two years ago, playing part-time football.
“Now I'm full-time in the Championship and had two of the best years I could imagine in Dubai.
“I never came from an academy. I came from junior football with Johnstone Burgh and Beith. But a lot of my pals came through academies and now some of them don't even play football anymore.
“If you stay determined in what you want to do and practise your craft, then you never know where that can take you.
“I've come back to Scotland a better player. Technically, my finishing and just understanding the game.
“Thankfully Queen’s Park have given me this opportunity. I’m loving it, playing for a manager who's backing me every week and believing in me.
“I’m playing with very good players as well who are giving me opportunities. So hopefully I’m going to show everyone what I can do here.
“I definitely think I can push on higher and get to an even better level - and hopefully make a bit of money whilst doing it.”
Cash might be the first thing that springs to mind at the mention of football in the Middle East. But while Fowler did come up against former Premier League stars in Dubai he never saw the big bucks.
He said: “The money was never a part of it for me. There’s probably life-changing money to be made in the top division but nothing serious where I was playing.
“There were some big names though. We played against another Dubai club called Precision. They had Ravel Morrison, Harry Arter, Matt Lowton and Jamie Ward, who all played however many games in the Premier League.
“Those guys are bringing the curtain down on their careers over there.
“For me it was a launchpad. Off the back of the season there, it's got me my Queen’s Park move. So there must be some credibility in the league.
“Two years ago people said I shouldn’t be going out there. But I went and enjoyed my life, made some amazing memories and played football all the way.
“It’s got me this chance at Queen’s Park and I’m determined to take it.”