George Lowrie
Encyclopedia
George Lowrie was a Welsh footballer, who played as an inside forward
for several clubs including Coventry City
and Newcastle United
.
and started his professional career at Swansea Town in January 1937 before moving on to Preston North End
in December 1937. Injuries restricted his appearances for Preston and in the summer of 1939, he was transferred to Coventry City
.
He made one League appearance for Coventry in 1939-40 before the league was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II
. During the war, he made nine appearances for Wales
, although no caps were awarded for wartime international appearances.
After the cessation of hostilities, he returned to Coventry City and in an explosive two seasons he scored 44 goals in only 56 league appearances, easily making him Coventry's top scorer in both seasons. He also scored 3 FA Cup goals in only two appearances and made four appearances for Wales.
His goal-scoring exploits brought him to the attention of Stan Seymour
, who signed him for Newcastle United
for a club record fee of £18,500 in March 1948. His final game for Coventry City was on 6 March 1948 at home to Southampton
. During the week, Lowrie moved to Newcastle, who again met Southampton in their next game. In both cases, Lowrie was marked by Eric Webber
, who prevented Lowrie from scoring. Lowrie was to have "revenge" at the end of the season, however, as Newcastle took the second promotion place ahead of Southampton.
Injuries prevented Lowrie transferring his goal-scoring skills to Newcastle, who were now playing in Division 1, and in 18 months at the club he only made 12 league appearances, scoring 5 goals, before moving on to Bristol City
in September 1949 for a cut-price £10,000.
Playing in the Third Division (South), Lowrie found goal-scoring easier and scored 21 goals in 48 league appearances for Bristol City, before his career was again interrupted by a broken leg. In February 1952 he returned to Coventry City (now relegated to the lowest division) where Lowrie played out his professional career until retiring in 1953.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for several clubs including Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
.
Playing career
Lowrie was born in TonypandyTonypandy
Tonypandy is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, today Tonypandy is best known as the site of the Tonypandy Riots....
and started his professional career at Swansea Town in January 1937 before moving on to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in December 1937. Injuries restricted his appearances for Preston and in the summer of 1939, he was transferred to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
.
He made one League appearance for Coventry in 1939-40 before the league was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During the war, he made nine appearances for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, although no caps were awarded for wartime international appearances.
After the cessation of hostilities, he returned to Coventry City and in an explosive two seasons he scored 44 goals in only 56 league appearances, easily making him Coventry's top scorer in both seasons. He also scored 3 FA Cup goals in only two appearances and made four appearances for Wales.
His goal-scoring exploits brought him to the attention of Stan Seymour
Stan Seymour
Stan Seymour was a footballer who played, managed, chairmanned, and directed Newcastle United. Born in Kelloe, Seymour is one of the all-time Newcastle United greats, and was known as 'Mr. Newcastle United' after the various years and roles he delivered for the club...
, who signed him for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for a club record fee of £18,500 in March 1948. His final game for Coventry City was on 6 March 1948 at home to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. During the week, Lowrie moved to Newcastle, who again met Southampton in their next game. In both cases, Lowrie was marked by Eric Webber
Eric Webber
Eric Victor Webber was an English footballer, playing as a centre-half, and manager.-Early days:Although he was born at Shoreham in West Sussex, Webber's family moved into Hampshire when he was a child and he played for Fareham Senior School, before joining Fareham Town and then Gosport Borough...
, who prevented Lowrie from scoring. Lowrie was to have "revenge" at the end of the season, however, as Newcastle took the second promotion place ahead of Southampton.
Injuries prevented Lowrie transferring his goal-scoring skills to Newcastle, who were now playing in Division 1, and in 18 months at the club he only made 12 league appearances, scoring 5 goals, before moving on to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in September 1949 for a cut-price £10,000.
Playing in the Third Division (South), Lowrie found goal-scoring easier and scored 21 goals in 48 league appearances for Bristol City, before his career was again interrupted by a broken leg. In February 1952 he returned to Coventry City (now relegated to the lowest division) where Lowrie played out his professional career until retiring in 1953.