MORE HIGHS THAN LOWES
Keith’s stronger than ever
AFTER 17 seasons as a professional, Keith Lowe is still going strong – and now at the age of 32 has found himself back in the Football League with Macclesfield Town. Here I caught up with one of my best mates in the game...
LOWEY, WE HAVE TO START WITH MACCLESFIELD. WHAT A FANTASTIC SEASON?
It’s been an amazing season with a great set of lads. I think we were shorter odds to get relegated than to win the league, that said we always had a belief within the squad that we could achieve something.
YOURSELF AND GEORGE PILKINGTON HAVE A COMBINED AGE OF 120 BUT YOU’VE FORMED A GREAT PARTNERSHIP. WHERE DOES HE RANK IN YOUR PAST DEFENSIVE TEAMMATES?
Pilks would be right up there as one of the best centre-back partners I’ve had. We had a really good understanding from day one which may have been helped by the season we played together at Port Vale about 50 years ago!
It’s great when you feel comfortable playing next to someone. This season was very similar to playing along side John McCombe at York City where we managed to keep a lot of clean sheets.
YOU LEFT KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS MUTUALLY LAST YEAR IN THE NATIONAL NORTH, ONE SEASON ON YOU ARE BACK IN THE LEAGUE!
The ex-manager at Kiddy (John Eustace) decided to let me go so I was searching for a new club after finishing second in the league and named in the team of the year. I spoke to John Askey and I was taken by his approach to things and I’m grateful for the trust he gave me by selecting me for every game this season!
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE THIS SEASON?
It’s been very tight. The first couple of months didn’t see anyone take charge and anyone who did string a few wins together found themselves right up there! We have been really consistent bar a few bad defeats but ended up with an average of two points a game and a ten-point gap at the top.
SEVENTEEN SEASONS AS A PROFESSIONAL, WHAT IS YOUR HIGHEST AND LOWEST POINT?
My lowest point was quite early on in my career when I was released by Wolves back in 2006. I struggled to find a club but signed for Kidderminster a month in to the season. I had started looking for ‘real jobs’ which was scary!
This season has topped everything I have achieved in my career to date. To win a league is no fluke, it’s a real grind which makes it even more rewarding in the end.
BEST PLAYER YOU’VE PLAYED WITH?
I’ve been lucky enough to play with some great players, especially early on in my career. At Wolves I played with Paul Ince, Dennis Irwin and Joleon Lescott. I’m also fortunate to have played with two of this year’s World Cup England goalkeepers in Jack Butland (Cheltenham) and Nick Pope (York) these lot would be right up there!
BIGGEST REGRET IN THE GAME?
I don’t have any regrets really. I’m lucky enough to play football for a living! I suppose having to leave York City is one thing that I didn’t like doing. I enjoyed my football up there so when I was told I wouldn’t play and that I was free to leave it took a while to get over that.
BEST MATE IN FOOTBALL?
You’ve probably never heard of him, but a journeyman called Russ Penn is one of my best mates. We have played many games together at Kidderminster, Cheltenham and York. We have always lived near each other and shared numerous car schools and are both big Wolves fans. We lived together while up in York before he selfishly moved his family up there! We had a great laugh and it made it easier being away from my own family.
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL?
I’m working through a journalism degree through the PFA which opens lots of doors for me once I’ve retired. I haven’t nailed down exactly what I want to do yet but hopefully there’s a few years in the legs yet and I’ve still got a while to decide!
BEST FOOTBALL TALE?
Not really a tale but every second spent with Shaq McDonald (ex York City and Peterborough) was hilarious. He’s on another planet and kept you, me and Nick Pope entertained every night as we all lived together away in York back in the 2013/14 season.