 Nottingham Forest, Bowles akakundikana kugadzikana pasi pehutungamiri hwaBrian Clough uye akazviramba pachake kunze kwe1980 European Cup Finalpashure pokunge Clough aramba kubvumira Bowles kuti atambe mumutambo waJohn Robertson. Bowles akanga ari muchengeti wepasi rose wekutanga 1 mamiriyoni achinyora Trevor Francis munguva yake imwe nguva paGuta Ground, uye nguva isati yapera Clough yakanga yatova nechinangwa cheCoventry Citys top scorer Ian Wallace semutsivi wake. Bowles akabva atengeswa kuLeyton Orient nokuda kwe 100,000 mushure mekuita 23 chete mumakwikwi ose. Akabatana neBrentford gore rakatevera uye akaramba ari mukirabhu kusvikira apedza basa pakupera kwemwaka wa1982-83. Bowles akabuda pamudyandigere kuti apinde muchikwata kwenguva pfupi pasina chibvumirano mumwaka wa198384, asati aenda pamudyandigere zvakare muna Kukadzi 1984. Iye akagamuchira chirevo muna 1987, achiwana 17,000. Mushure mekurega basa, akaenderera mberi nekutamba padanho risiri religi reEpping Town. 