David Lowe

NSL Career: Newcastle KB, Marconi, Parramatta Eagles, Newcastle Breakers 340 (81) / 1982 - 1996/97

Socceroos Career: 3 (0) A Internationals / 1 (0) B Internationals

An athletic forward who was a consistent attacking threat throughout his long and distinguished NSL career - David Lowe remains the only player born in the Channel Islands to represent the Socceroos and one of the most talented to come through the junior ranks in New South Wales's Hunter Region.

Born on the small island country of Jersey in the British Channel Islands, Lowe moved to Australia at a young age and settled in Newcastle where he played his junior football with Lambton Jaffas, Charlestown Azzurri and Wallsend. Lowe joined Phillips Soccer League club Newcastle KB in 1981 to represent the club's inaugural National Youth League side. The following season, Lowe scored a brace on his first team debut at the age of 18 and became a regular in the PSL side. 

The young striker finished his debut season in the PSL as KB's top scorer and was named PSL U-21 Player of the Year. In the 1983 season, Lowe returned from the FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico to help KB achieve their highest finish in the league (fifth) and scored a personal best 10 goals to win the club's top scorer award in consecutive seasons.

Lowe joined Marconi for the 1984 season where he was part of a damaging forward line with Mark Jankovics, Peter Sharne and Rod Brown. Lowe helped the side reach the Northern Conference Minor Semi-Final where they lost a penalty shoot-out to APIA (Lowe converted his penalty) and was runner-up to Rod Brown for the club's top scorer award with 14.

In the 1985 and 1986 seasons, Lowe was a key player for Marconi and scored 17 goals in 49 league games, including two goals in the 1986 finals series and made his Socceroos debut in a B international against Chinese side Canton. Two injury-interrupted seasons followed for Lowe after chipping a hip bone, but the striker played in Marconi's 1988 NSL Grand Final victory over Sydney Croatia where he laid-off a low cross from Frank Farina to assist captain Steve Calderan in the opening goal.

Lowe stayed injury-free over the next two seasons where he played in consecutive grand finals against Sydney Olympic - winning the first in 1989 and losing the second the following season. Lowe continued to perform for Marconi during the early part of the 1990/91 season before making his full international debut in a friendly against Czechoslovakia. 

Marconi qualified for the finals series for a then record eight consecutive season in which Lowe scored in the last minute of extra time to send their elimination semi-final against Melita in to a penalty shoot-out where he scored the winning penalty. Marconi lost their minor semi-final to Adelaide City and failed to qualify for the finals series the following season but reached the 1991/92 NSL Cup Final, losing to City two-one.

After spending nine seasons at Marconi, Lowe joined Parramatta Eagles (formerly Melita) for the 1992/93 season and helped the side qualify for the finals series for just the second time despite missing a number of games during the season. Lowe played in his second consecutive NSL Cup Final where Parramatta lost two-one to Heidelberg before returning home to Newcastle to join the Breakers.

Following his first season at the club, Breakers withdrew from the league before the club was restructured and rejoined the league for the 1995/96 season. Despite his experience making him a leader amongst the side's young local talent, Lowe missed their NSL Cup campaign as the side reached the final, losing three-one to South Melbourne.

Lowe remained at the club for the 1996/97 season, making just 10 league appearances before retiring from top flight football to become player-coach of Northern New South Wales State League side Maitland. Lowe hung up his boots at the age of 35 before continuing his career as a coach - having stints as assistant to Lee Sterrey at Newcastle Breakers, Newcastle United (Jets) and Marconi - followed by various roles at the Jets in the NSL and A-League.