# John Lowey (footballer)

John Anthony Lowey (7 March 1958 – 5 August 2019) was an English footballer who played as a midfielder. Aside from three seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the American Soccer League and one in Australia, Lowey spent the majority of his career in the Football League Second Division with Blackburn Rovers in England.

## Career

Lowey joined the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League in 1976 and claimed five goals and seven assists from 17 games. He returned to the Chicago Sting for part of the 1977 season, but only made five appearances. He spent July to August 1977 with Port Vale, spent September as a non-contract player at Blackburn Rovers, and then returned to Port Vale the next month. He returned to the US in 1978. He signed with the California Sunshine in the American Soccer League, before going on to score 10 goals in 21 games for the Sunshine. He returned to England to make his debut for Sheffield Wednesday on 17 October 1978. He went on to score five goals from 36 league and FA Cup matches in the 1978–79 season. However, he was limited to just 13 appearances in the 1979–80 season as manager Jack Charlton led the club to promotion out of the Third Division, and left Hillsborough after making his final appearance for the "Owls" in the League Cup on 26 August 1980. He signed with Blackburn Rovers in November 1980, who were now managed by Howard Kendall. At first he was a back-up striker, with Norman Bell preferred in the starting eleven. He went on to find success as a midfielder. He was an ever-present during the 1983–84 campaign. He was dropped for Colin Randell in the 1984–85 season, before returning to favour during the second half of the 1985–86 campaign. He went on to play for Wigan Athletic, Chesterfield (on loan), York City (on loan), Preston North End, Chester City, and Brisbane Lions.

## Later life

After retiring as a player, Lowey lived the rest of his life in Australia and went on to own a Beauty Therapy training school and a licensed securities company.

## Career statistics

Source:
| Club | Division | Season | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Division | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Manchester United | First Division | 1975–76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Port Vale | Third Division | 1977–78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Second Division | 1977–78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago Sting | NASL | 1976 | 17 | 5 | – | – | – | – | 17 | 5 |
| Chicago Sting | NASL | 1977 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 5 | 0 |
| Chicago Sting | Total | Total | 22 | 5 | – | – | – | – | 22 | 5 |
| California Sunshine | ASL | 1978 | 21 | 10 | – | – | – | – | 21 | 10 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Third Division | 1978–79 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 5 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Third Division | 1979–80 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Second Division | 1980–81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Total | Total | 42 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 6 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Second Division | 1980–81 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Second Division | 1981–82 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 2 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Second Division | 1982–83 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 5 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Second Division | 1983–84 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Second Division | 1984–85 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Second Division | 1985–86 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 4 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Total | Total | 141 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 156 | 16 |
| Wigan Athletic | Third Division | 1986–87 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Chesterfield (loan) | Third Division | 1986–87 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| York City (loan) | Third Division | 1986–87 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Preston North End | Third Division | 1987–88 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Chester City | Third Division | 1987–88 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 250 | 34 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 279 | 38 |

## Honours

Sheffield Wednesday
* Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1979–80