KENNY LOWE

We once had a player who was compared to Tottenham & England midfielder Glen Hoddle but to us Barnet supporters Glen Hoddle was actually the Kenny Lowe of the First Division.

Kenny was born November 1961 in Sedgefield, County Durham and began his footballing career at Hartlepool United as 17 year old while still serving an apprenticeship as a pipe fitter. Three seasons with Billingham Town in the Northern Premier preceded a short spell with Spearwood FC in Western Australia before he joined Gateshead in 1985. Two years later he was at Barrow where his silky skills began to attract the attention of a host of clubs including Barnet. 

Barry Fry signed Lowe in January 1991 for what was then a massive fee of £40,000. This period saw other high profile players, the calibre of Nicky Evans (£20,000 from Wycombe) and Mark Carter (£40,000 from Runcorn), join or rejoin the club and basically dot the i’s and cross the t’s for the run in to the GM Conference title.

Lowe’s first game for Barnet was on January 26^th against Bath City at Underhill when the following team secured a comfortable 2-0 (Clarke and Durham) win in front of 2,096.

Gary Phillips, Paul Wilson, Richard Nugent, Gary Poole, Geoff Cooper, Paul Richardson, Kenny Lowe, Harry Willis, David Tomlinson, Nicky Evans, Andy Clarke. Subs Gary Bull and Kevin Durham. He remained ever present for the next 18 games linking up with Evans, Richardson and Durham allowing Barnet the opportunity to field arguably the greatest four man midfield in the clubs history. It was really quite exhilarating to be a supporter during that period witness that quality week in week out

Kenny’s first goal in a Barnet shirt was one that many Bees fans missed due to coach problems at Gateshead. However the goal in the 3-1 win at Wycombe during a monsoon, where the brilliant build up to it was pure Barnet one touch football, when Ken blew kisses to the Wycombe fans in full view of the TV cameras was a joy to behold. Gary Bull, Evans and Lowe were unstoppable that evening.

Lowe was in the line up for the promotion 4-2 winning game at Fisher and his curling effort, which hit the bar, rebounded perfectly for Harry Willis to head the first goal. He was also responsible for the corner kick that was powered in by David Howell for the equalising second goal. I make no apologies in letting you relive that line up once again.

Phillips, Wilson, Poole, Nugent, Howell, Lowe, Durham, Richardson, Evans, Willis and Bull. Subs Frank Murphy and Edwin Stein. I do believe I was offered Kenny's shirt worn that afternoon by someone not too long ago – please can they come forward and offer it again as I must have been worse for wear to not buy it there and then!

During the following two seasons in Division 4 he continued in the same vein forming a almost telepathic relationship up with new signing Paul Showler a talented winger Fry captured from Altrincham to compensate for the sad loss of Kevin Durham who tragically died on holiday in the summer of 1991.

Lowe's 35-yard curler against Halifax at Underhill was a spectacular effort as was his thunderous free kick at Gillingham. It seems that all his goals were special but then he was a very special player. His piece de resistance was the superbly executed swivel turn that would leave opponents completely flat footed. On reflection Kenny was the type of player you would want to represent your club forever – but everybody is entitled to have quality like this in their team and maybe that is another reason why he holds a special place in the minds of fans wherever he has played.

Lowe's final appearance for Barnet was at Crewe Alexandra Saturday 8^th May 1993 when the Bees lost 1-4 (Carter). Attendance 4,264 - the Line Up:

Gary Phillips, David Howell, Dominic Naylor, Mick Bodley, David Barnett, Kenny Lowe, Derek Payne, Nicky Evans, Tony Lynch, Mark carter and Gary Bull. Subs : Brian Stein and Jonathan Hunt.

Kenny 1992

When Kenny left Barnet during the infamous promotion to Division 2 summer of 1993 he joined Stoke City before Fry, by now in charge at Birmingham City, forked out £75,000 for his signature a year later. The North East came a calling again and after a brief stop of at Darlington Lowe re joined Gateshead seeing out his playing career until 1998. After a short stint in the Manager’s seat at Gateshead Lowe took over the reins at Barrow until 2003 before returning again to Australia to join up with Perth Glory FC. Firstly, and by now in his 40’s, he starred as a player and then as coach.

I have witnessed some imaginative midfielders the likes of Gerry Ward, John Margerrison, Jimmy Greaves and Nicky Bailey in my time as a Barnet supporter but Kenny Lowe was probably the most entertaining of all. With ball tricks, pinpoint 40 yard passes that any ordinary player could only dream about plus the aforementioned ability to completely bamboozle a marker with a super fast body turn and flick of the ball reminiscent of Johann Cruyff at his peak. That ‘show-boat’ move is fairly commonplace nowadays but few players had mastered it like Lowe at the time. While at Barnet he won 2 England semi professional caps and was selected for the FA Division 3 team of the year in 1992.

Did you know that his sister is Kendra Sawlinsi OBE who holds the record for most caps for England at Netball?

He is without doubt installed in my all time Barnet line up and I suspect just about every other Barnet fans’ favourite line up who were privileged to witness the cool skills of Kenny Lowe at Underhill - arguably the finest creative midfielder our club has ever fielded.

Kenny Lowe at Perth Glory 2014

Kenny Lowe - Appearances 85 Goals 7