It has recently been reported that former Rovers loan player Ansah Owusu passed away on 19th March at the age of 42.
Born in Hackney on 22nd November 1979, Owusu joined Wimbledon at the age of 12 and graduated through the ranks at Plough Lane, signing his first pro contract on 1st August 1999.
At the time, Wimbledon were a Premiership side, managed by Joe Kinnear, though as Ansah said on joining Rovers; ‘He didn’t really have a lot to do with the youth team or the reserves as Wimbledon were a club always striving to remain at the top level.
‘Terry Burton, who eventually took over as manager from Kinnear, was the Youth Development Officer during most my time as a youngster at the club.’
Initially he played his football as a winger but injuries at the club saw him play up front in a game during the Autumn of 1999. He did well when that opportunity arrived and continued in a striker role afterwards.
He was sent out on loan, to Scottish side Raith Rovers, in March 2000 and went on to score three goals in ten games for them.
He returned to newly relegated Wimbledon at the end of that loan and did enough to earn himself a first team debut, in a Worthington Cup tie against Wigan Athletic, on 19th September 2000 and went on to make three more first team appearances for the club.
He arrived in BS7 on 9th February 2001and became the 668th player to represent Rovers in league football just one day later when he played in a goalless draw against Notts County at the Memorial Stadium.
It was the first of 17 appearances in a blue and white quartered shirt in a campaign that ended in relegation for Rovers. His release by Wimbledon at the end of that season signalled an end to a very brief career in league football.
He signed for Team Bath in 2001, joined Chelmsford City in August 2002, Enfield in December that same year, Metropolitan Police in June 2006 and appeared in 11 Waltham Sunday League games for Larsens, scoring three goals, in 2009/10.
Ansah’s second career saw him work as a police constable in the Metropolitan Police, patrolling the Barnet area.
His death followed care he received from the North London Hospice and everyone connected with Bristol Rovers Supporters Club sends their condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.
Keith Brookman