By @LaticsOfficial

Wigan Athletic’s all-time leading goalscorer is the feature interview as Latics face Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon

When David Lowe began his career at Wigan Athletic as a promising apprentice, little did he know that he would go on to become the Club's all-time leading goalscorer in all competitions. 

Born in Liverpool, Lowe joined Latics as an apprentice on the recommendation from a teacher from his school league days to then Latics manager Harry McNally. He made his first-team debut in October 1982 against Reading and helped the side finish one point above the Third Division relegation zone in his maiden senior campaign. 

Lowe went on to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI over the next few seasons, most memorably scoring a spectacular overhead kick at Wembley as Latics went on to lift the 1985 Freight Rover Trophy against Brentford. 

Reflecting on a landmark day in the Club’s history books, Lowe spoke of his pride to have helped Latics win their first piece of silverware as a Football League outfit. 

“To be frank, I hardly touched the ball during the match when I reflect back on it now. I think I was playing wide left on the day because Bryan Hamilton used to prefer me in that position,” Lowe explained. 

“I used to enjoy playing up front more, but at the time, we had the likes of Paul Jewell, Graham Barrow and Mike Newell, so at the end of the day, I had to be glad to just have a place in the team. 

“On that day, I didn’t think I played particularly well, and I wasn’t deeply involved in the game, but the goal came from a corner, and I was quite fortunate that one of my most natural attributes is that the ball used to always fall to me in the box. 

“Whether it was instinct or luck, I don’t know, but on the day, it came to me, and I was fortunate to get decent contact on the ball. It found its way into the net and the rest is history! 

“To score a goal that helped us win the Freight Rover Trophy against Brentford was a special moment. 

“After the match, we were just full of adrenaline, and just wanted to enjoy the experience of lifting a trophy at Wembley. 

“On the day, I didn’t realise how much of a part it would play in the Club’s history and rise up the Football League. It was amazing to celebrate the victory with our fans at Wembley. It made the occasion even more special to see the joy on everybody’s faces. 

“I was fortunate to always have a good relationship with the fans. They were always brilliant to me, and I’ve got nothing but praise for them all. I never ever got any stick from the supporters, and they were fantastic during my entire time at Wigan Athletic as a player and as a coach. 

“To score at Wembley was unbelievable, and when we came back and went around Wigan on an open-top bus, it was fantastic."

Having scored 53 goals in 231 appearances in all competitions for Latics between 1982 and 1987, Lowe earned a move to this afternoon's visitors for whom he helped win the Second Division title in 1991-92. He would later join Leicester City in July 1992 where he would go on to spend four years with the Foxes before returning to Springfield Park in March 1996. 

After finishing in 10th place, just two points outside of the play-offs in 1995-96, Latics were able to use the disappointment to spur them on to win the Third Division title on the final day of the 1996-97 campaign. Lowe revealed that the play-off heartbreak was a big motivating factor for him to succeed at Springfield Park, especially given that he was at the latter stages of his playing career. 

“It was a big motivation to me having just missed out on the play-offs,” Lowe said.  

“To a certain extent, I was coming to the end of my career, and I wanted to make a success of my time at the club. 

“I think it was quite hard when you leave a club after five years, and then come back. You want to make a real good go of it, and overall, I really enjoyed that period. 

“We had some smashing lads - Graeme Jones, The Three Amigos, Colin Greenall, Kevin Sharp, Ian Kilford, the list goes on. The dressing room was good, and I enjoyed working there and training with some good lads. 

“I remember scoring the goal that clinched our promotion against Mansfield Town. It was a special memory, and it was fantastic to win the Third Division title. It was incredible to celebrate winning the title with the supporters, and it is a really fond memory for me.” 

Having won promotion to the Second Division, Latics ended the season strongly to finish in a satisfying 11th place. It was a fantastic individual season for Lowe, as he finished the 1997/98 campaign as the Club’s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions and won the Player of the Season accolade. 

“I really enjoyed it back at Wigan,” he continued. "John Deehan and later John Benson were very good coaches. I was the Club’s top scorer and Player of the Season in 1997/98. 

“I think during all of the seasons I was there, I only won the Player of the Season once. 

"I was really fortunate to work with some great characters, great managers, and coaches, and I really loved my time and had a great connection with the fans. I was very proud to win the Golden Boot and the Player of the Year.” 

Following Ray Mathias’ return as manager after a nine-year absence, Lowe hit three goals in 23 games as Latics reached the play-offs, where they were defeated by Manchester City in the 1998/99 campaign. 

The Liverpudlian saw his second spell at Latics come to an end in June 1999, having scored a further 32 goals in 129 appearances in just over three years. It brought Lowe’s total number of Latics goals up to 85 goals in all competitions, meaning that he became the Club’s all-time leading goal scorer. 

Lowe is still extremely proud to hold the goalscoring record and modestly admitted that the feat couldn’t have been achieved if it wasn’t for the fantastic teammates that he played alongside during his two spells at Springfield Park. 

“When you break a record, you naturally feel so proud,” Lowe added. “But to be honest, I wouldn’t have done it without the players with who I had the pleasure to share a pitch with. 

“I wasn’t a guy who could score worldies from outside the box, and I was more of a poacher in the penalty area and thrived from people’s service. I also thrived on playing around a big man - whether it would be Bobby Campbell, Graeme Jones or Graham Barrow - I really enjoyed it. 

“I’m proud to have played my part in the Club’s history but I’m also proud to have played with some really good and talented players. 

“I’m also fortunate to have played for such a great club, and be coached by some brilliant managers throughout my career.”

Lowe hung up his boots in 2000 having made 563 league appearances in the English Football League and Premier League, scoring 133 goals in a career spanning 17 years.