The Wellington artist-turned-entrepreneur has mortgaged his house and spent tens of thousands of dollars to develop a stick-on mask that could replace face paint for fans who want to wear their team colours.
His one-man company, Wild Ideas, has just signed an agreementwith Dutch firm Mid Ocean Sports which will market the masks to European soccer clubs.
Trade New Zealand is also interested and will take samples of the masks to Japan, Hong Kong and China.
But Mr Rowney's idea hasn't been a runaway success.
It has taken him four years of trial and error to get something that is comfortable and looks good.
The final product is made of a light, porous fabric, so people don't get too hot, and one side is covered with non-allergenic glue so it sticks securely.
He said marketing the idea had also proved a lot harder than he imagined. "The New Zealand Rugby Football Union and adidas said I could pay a large sum of money and then sell the masks with All Black logos at the games. I'm not into that." He wants someone who will sell the masks.
Mr Rowney sent samples to 40 of Europe's top soccer clubs, 35 of whom expressed some interest, but it would have taken "too many late-night phone calls to the other side of the world" for him to do the marketing.
He has patented the idea here, in Australia, South Africa and the US and has patents pending in Europe.
