Low Norman Image 2 Newport County 1939

Description

The son of Newcastle United legend Wilf Low, Aberdeen born centre half Norman Low began his football career with Rosehill Villa before joining Newcastle United on amateur forms in 1932, spending time on their books without making a first team appearance. He signed for First Division club Liverpool in October 1933 and made his Football League debut against Manchester City in September 1934, where he was back up to Tom “Tiny” Bradshaw, playing 11 consecutive First Division matches in the first half of the 1934-35 season in Bradshaw’s absence. Low again deputised for Bradshaw once the following season against Chelsea at Anfield in December 1935, and the last of his 13 appearances for Liverpool came on 26th September 1936 in a 2-0 defeat away at Leeds United.

Newport County bought Low from The Reds for £2,000 in November 1936 beginning a ten year association with The Ironsides, and he was appointed club captain, captaining Newport’s only side to reach the Second Division when they won the Third Division (South) Championship in 1938-39, immediately before the outbreak of the Second World War.

During the War he also guested for Bristol City, Everton, Liverpool, Swindon Town and Lovell’s Athletic, and after the conflict he returned to Somerton Park but soon moved on to Duggie Lochhead’s Norwich City in October 1946, having made 127 appearances for Newport County, 9 of which came after the War. Norwich were a team struggling near the foot of the Third Division (South) table, but with Low’s influence they improved to mid table, and he was an ever present in 1949-50 before retiring from playing at the season end after 163 appearances for The Canaries, having been appointed as their player-manager in March 1950.

Improvement followed. He led the club to a second place finish in the Third Division (South) in 1950-51, though only champions Nottingham Forest were promoted. His team finished third in 1951-52, five points behind champions Plymouth Argyle. They dropped a place again to fourth in 1952-53, though they were only four points behind champions Bristol Rovers. However they dropped to seventh in 1953-54, 13 points shy of Ipswich Town. The 1954-55 season was also disappointing, and Low left the club in April 1955.

Low then became Workington manager from January 1956 to February 1957, when he was appointed as Port Vale’s manager, but he couldn’t save them from relegation from the Second Division at the end of the season. After they were sectioned in the Fourth Division for its creation in 1958, he led them to the maiden Fourth Division Championship in 1958-59 and remained Port Vale’s manager for three more years before he tendered his resignation in October 1962. He later served as a scout at Stoke City and Liverpool, before taking up the managerial reins at Cheshire non league club Witton Albion in 1967. He later emigrated to North America, where he became the coach of the short-lived National Professional Soccer League side Cleveland Stokers.

His uncle, Harry Low, played for Aberdeen and won the League Championship with Sunderland in 1912-13.