David Lowe (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Anthony Lowe is an English
former footballer. He made almost 600 appearances in the Football League
in a career spanning seventeen years.
on a recommendation by a teacher from his school league days to then Wigan manager Harry McNally
. Subsequently, Lowe made his first-team début in October 1982 against Reading
. In 1985
, Lowe would score in the Freight Rover Trophy
Final with a spectacular overhead kick to help his team win the match 3–1.
In June 1987, after playing 188 League games for Wigan, Lowe transferred to Ipswich Town
for £80,000, making his début for them in the 1987–88 season. He would go on to become the club's leading scorer for that campaign and again in 1989–90, but was loaned out to Port Vale
in 1992. In July of that year, Lowe signed for Leicester City
for £250,000. In a pre-season friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach
, one of his first games for the club, he broke his cheekbone. However he would become a regular first team player at Leicester, he also spent February to May 1994 on loan with Port Vale once again. Upon his return he was a first team regular until March 1996, when he re-signed for Wigan Athletic for £125,000.
In 1996–97, Lowe celebrated his 300th league game for the club and his goal in the final game of the season would secure the Third Division
title and promotion to Division Two
. The following season he would break the club's individual goalscoring record, his 60th goal to surpass Peter Houghton
's tally coming in a 5–1 defeat of Burnley
. After collecting the club's Supporters' and Player of the Year trophies, Lowe was plagued by injuries and released by Wigan in June 1999. Lowe made the move to Wrexham, where he was offered a player-coach role. In 2000, he spent a loan spell at non-league Rushden & Diamonds
where, after netting four goals, he decided to retire as a player.
until 2002, when he joined Wigan Athletic under former team-mate Paul Jewell
. A fully qualified coach, Lowe fulfilled various roles at Wigan before following Jewell to Derby County
and becoming Head of the Youth Academy at the club. Following the departure of Jewell and prior to the arrival of new manager Nigel Clough
, Lowe was placed in temporary charge of solitary game in January 2009, where his Derby team beat Manchester United
1–0 in the first leg of the League Cup
semi-final at Pride Park Stadium
. He left the club on 21 April 2009.
He then did part-time work for Manchester United, in charge of the eldest participants in Manchester United Soccer Schools, before joining the backroom staff at Tranmere Rovers. On 22 June 2011, Lowe joined Blackburn Rovers
as club youth coach.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer. He made almost 600 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in a career spanning seventeen years.
Playing career
Lowe began his career as an apprentice at Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on a recommendation by a teacher from his school league days to then Wigan manager Harry McNally
Harry McNally
Harry McNally was a football player, coach and manager, noted for his spells as manager of Wigan Athletic and Chester City.-The Non-League Background:...
. Subsequently, Lowe made his first-team début in October 1982 against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. In 1985
1985 Football League Trophy Final
The 1985 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Freight Rover Trophy for sponsorship reasons was the 2nd final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third and Fourth Divisions....
, Lowe would score in the Freight Rover Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
Final with a spectacular overhead kick to help his team win the match 3–1.
In June 1987, after playing 188 League games for Wigan, Lowe transferred to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
for £80,000, making his début for them in the 1987–88 season. He would go on to become the club's leading scorer for that campaign and again in 1989–90, but was loaned out to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in 1992. In July of that year, Lowe signed for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
for £250,000. In a pre-season friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
, one of his first games for the club, he broke his cheekbone. However he would become a regular first team player at Leicester, he also spent February to May 1994 on loan with Port Vale once again. Upon his return he was a first team regular until March 1996, when he re-signed for Wigan Athletic for £125,000.
In 1996–97, Lowe celebrated his 300th league game for the club and his goal in the final game of the season would secure the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
title and promotion to Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. The following season he would break the club's individual goalscoring record, his 60th goal to surpass Peter Houghton
Peter Houghton (footballer)
Peter Houghton is a former English footballer. He played in The Football League for four clubs from 1978 to 1988.-Playing career:...
's tally coming in a 5–1 defeat of Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. After collecting the club's Supporters' and Player of the Year trophies, Lowe was plagued by injuries and released by Wigan in June 1999. Lowe made the move to Wrexham, where he was offered a player-coach role. In 2000, he spent a loan spell at non-league Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
where, after netting four goals, he decided to retire as a player.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Lowe worked for the Professional Footballers' AssociationProfessional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
until 2002, when he joined Wigan Athletic under former team-mate Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
. A fully qualified coach, Lowe fulfilled various roles at Wigan before following Jewell to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
and becoming Head of the Youth Academy at the club. Following the departure of Jewell and prior to the arrival of new manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
, Lowe was placed in temporary charge of solitary game in January 2009, where his Derby team beat Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
1–0 in the first leg of the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
semi-final at Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
. He left the club on 21 April 2009.
He then did part-time work for Manchester United, in charge of the eldest participants in Manchester United Soccer Schools, before joining the backroom staff at Tranmere Rovers. On 22 June 2011, Lowe joined Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
as club youth coach.
Honours
With Wigan Athletic- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winner: 19851985 Football League Trophy FinalThe 1985 Football League Trophy Final, known as the Freight Rover Trophy for sponsorship reasons was the 2nd final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Third and Fourth Divisions.... - Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
champion: 1996–97