On loan from Blackpool, Gordon Owen played four times for Exeter City at the conclusion of a 330-game Football League career that had also featured stints with clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, Barnsley, Bristol City and Mansfield Town

Gordon commenced his career as an apprentice with Sheffield Wednesday in 1975 and, after turning professional in November 1976, made 47 league appearances for the Owls in addition to having loan spells at Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers and Chesterfield. Eventually leaving Hillsborough, Gordon signed for Cardiff City in August 1983 ahead of joining his home town club Barnsley in August 1984 in a £30,000 transfer. Netting 25 times in 68 league outings during his time at Oakwell, he moved to Bristol City in August 1986 and - after a loan stint with Hull City - Mansfield Town in January 1988.

Gordon subsequently moved to Blackpool for £30,000 in July 1989 and, following an earlier loan to Carlisle United, arrived at Exeter City on a similar basis in December 1990.

Now aged thirty-one - and with 69 goals from 326 Football League games - Gordon made his Grecians debut at Bury on 15 December 1990. Appearing just three more times he was to return to Bloomfield Road ahead of being released in May 1991 and returning to Yorkshire to play for Frickley Athletic and Farsley Celtic before working in the water industry and the taxi trade.