John Ernest Townrow (28 March 1901 – 11 April 1969) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-half for Clapton Orient, Chelsea and Bristol Rovers in the Football League and for the England national football team. Townrow was born in West Ham, now part of London, and attended in the borough. He won two caps for England's schoolboy team, one of which came against Wales in 1915. Townrow was manager of Harrogate Town for a spell in the 1960s.