please log in to view this image The Weekend Feature: Charlie Mullan chats to former Hull City defender Adam Lowthorpe, now chief executive of the East Riding FA, about the excitement of rising from the local leagues to play for the Tigers. ADAM Lowthorpe is an example of how football clubs should work. A young local lad given the chance to play for his hometown team. It used to happen all the time, but as money has flooded into the game at the highest level, managers opt to buy expensive imports rather than trust some of their rising stars. Lowthorpe followed the well-worn path to achieving his dream from Hull Schoolboys to Hull City's first team. Signing on the dotted line of his first professional contract after two years on a Youth Training Scheme was a very special moment for the teenager. "To hear those words 'we want to offer you a professional contract,' was very special," Lowthorpe told the Mail. "Terry Dolan was pleased with what I had been doing and while it was 22 years ago, it feels like it was yesterday. Some of my good friends were released and I was gutted for them. "But it was such a life-changing experience for me to make my way into the changing room with the rest of the first team. "Every year there were players going from the youth team to the first team and playing. "I wish there were more players making that route to the first team at Hull City nowadays. There is no way I could have got into the first team if it was now." Lowthorpe, who admits he wasn't brave enough to play rugby league, started life in midfield for Greatfield before slotting in at right-back by then manager Chris Chilton. While his introduction to professional football was a dream, his exit was hard to take at a time when Boothferry Park was changing. "The club were signing right-backs I didn't think were better than me," Lowthorpe said. "Mark Hateley came in and that was a low point for me because he made people feel worthless. "I felt the soul was being ripped out of the club. It was a tough year financially as David Lloyd took over." After spells at Gainsborough and North Ferriby United, Lowthorpe hung his boots up. But it wasn't long before they were back on after receiving an international call-up. "I came out of retirement to answer my country's call," Lowthorpe said. "I played in a futsal tournament at the Gemtec Arena and we qualified for the Plate competition. I hadn't played for four years but I got invited to a trial for the England team. It was too good to turn down and I felt I did okay on the day. "I got selected to play in a tournament in France. We lost, but I can still say I wore the three lions on my shirt with pride, especially during the national anthem. "Unfortunately, I couldn't commit beyond that as training was every other Sunday at Lilleshall. "So I retired for a second time, but it was great to represent my country." By this stage, Lowthorpe had taken steps to guard himself against a short career at the top level. He wanted a safety net to fall back on if his playing career didn't pan out the way he wanted it to. "I knew my time as a professional was coming to an end," Lowthorpe said. "I still wanted to play football, but I wanted to play in a team that played good football rather than just boot it down the touchline. "I joined Gainsborough and spent six enjoyable months there before joining North Ferriby which was a most enjoyable experience where everyone was welcomed. "At the same time I enrolled at York University to do Leisure Management which served me very well afterwards. "I always wanted to go to university and it certainly helped get me to the my current role of chief executive for the East Riding FA. "I stopped playing when I was 28 but I have no regrets at all. "I have overall responsibility for the association trying to get more money passed down from the Football Association." 'I still have a VHS copy of my debut match' WHEN Adam Lowthorpe dreamt of making his professional debut, he couldn't have imagined it would come true. It was Saturday, October 10, 1993. The opponents were Bradford City with the chance of going top of the old Division Three. Lowthorpe was only 18 and was expecting to play right back for the youth team but when his name was left off the teamsheet, he thought he had been dropped. What followed remains very fresh in Lowthorpe's mind even after 22 years. "The manager Terry Dolan pulled me to one side after training on the Thursday morning and said I would be playing against Bradford," Lowthorpe told the Mail. "He said he was going to tell the press that Brian Mitchell was to have a late fitness test but I was definitely going to make my debut. "Back then there were no mobile phones, so I had to wait until I got two buses home to tell my parents. "In front of 10,000 at Boothferry Park, we took the lead after 30 seconds when Lynton Brown scored. "I will never forget the view from the pitch after that goal seeing a packed south stand celebrating. "It was all the more special for me because I used to watch City standing in that stand. "Dean Windass got sent off after 10 minutes but we went on to win 3-1." For an 18-year-old on £90 a week, it was as if all his Christmases and birthdays had rolled into one very memorable afternoon. "We got a bonus of £60 per point we won, so that was an extra £180 for that one game," Lowthorpe said. "We got another £70 bonus for every thousand spectators over 6,000 so there was another £280 in my pocket on top of my £50 appearance fee. "I didn't have to worry about goal bonuses too much. "Picking up over £500 was a very nice start to my career. "My parents bought me a VHS copy of that game and it gets watched every so often. "I really need to get it transferred onto a DVD." http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Loca...tory-28347969-detail/story.html#ixzz3uJ0flziO
It must be fantastic to turn out for your local professional team, a dream I believe we all had. Does anyone remember a local lad called Dave King? He lived near me and when he played a few times for us I thought he was a hero. Didn't play many games but never the less still good.
If you're talking about Dave King who played for us late 50's/early 60's, he played 65 league games for us.
"Every year there were players going from the youth team to the first team and playing. "I wish there were more players making that route to the first team at Hull City nowadays. There is no way I could have got into the first team if it was now." I hope not Adam. The last thing we need right now is to see Buckley or Hobson warming up ta.
i remember that game. 1-0 up and either hobson or his mate were off being treated, then deano got a red, so we were down to 9, and bradford made it 1-1. when we were back to 10 players, we were at least as good as them. was it paul jewel who got bradford's goal? can't remember. i think he was scoring loads for them at the time.
That was him OLM, didn't think he played 65 games, spread over a few years I guess. I only remember him playing a few gomes. Died young issh I believe. Thanks for that.
Nah he didnt. Became a teacher. Good bloke Dave. Worked as a teacher at Riley and ended up at PRU with the bad lads. Helped a few lads into jobs too http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Trib...League-stars/story-11958770-detail/story.html
I liked Lowthorpe, thought he was good, but he did run like a girl! I thought Hobson was better when he was switched to LB too!
