NON-LEAGUE Day is just around the corner – with the nationwide event bringing back some memories for Cherries forward Jamal Lowe.
With Premier League and Championship fixtures on pause due to the international break, Non-League Day will take place tomorrow, with fans of clubs in the top two tiers encouraged to visit their local sides.
READ MORE: Non-League Day 2022 - what are local sides doing to celebrate?
During his time at Barnet, Lowe was sent out on loan to local non-league sides, first getting a taste of Non-League Day back in 2013 with Hitchin Town.
Lowe featured in a 2-2 draw between Hitchin and Dorset side Poole Town, before going to take part in two more Non-League days after his release from Barnet in 2015.
The last time Lowe played on the designated day was back in 2016, when he featured for Hampton & Richmond away at one of his old clubs, St Albans City.
Recounting the experience, Lowe told the Daily Echo: “You always got a bigger crowd, because obviously everyone has no other games to go to, apart from the internationals.
“Definitely a bigger crowd. I played for St Albans as well, the crowd there was always pretty decent – they never had a game called off at St Albans, it was something silly, they never had a game called off for 30 years or something crazy like that.
“The crowd were amazing. Obviously, it’s not far from Hampton (& Richmond) so it was a decent crowd.”
After loan spells with Hayes & Yeading, Boreham Wood, Hitchin, Farnborough, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans whilst with Barnet, Lowe dropped down into the semi-professional game, re-joining St Albans and Hemel Hempstead on a permanent basis.
He then moved on to Hampton & Richmond, where he caught the eye League Two Portsmouth, after grabbing 37 goals in 55 appearances.
There was clearly something in the water at the Beveree, as Pompey came back in for Lowe’s strike partner, Nicke Kabamba.
When asked if there were others still in non-league who could go on to play higher up the pyramid, Lowe was adamant in his response.
“100 per cent,” he replied. “It’s all about the opportunity really, because the talent and the players are there.
“It’s just that you’re waiting for that opportunity. While you’re there, you’re trying your best, trying to catch the eye.
“You’ve seen that over the years, players have come from non-league and done amazing.
“Things like everyone looks at Jamie Vardy, because he’s won the Premier League, he’s got the record for the amount of goals scored in a row in the Prem, and a few years before that he was playing non-league.
“It’s just how football works really. Football is a game of opinions – one person will think you’re a good player, and the next won’t. It’s literally dependent on that, how long you stay in non-league.”
Former teammate Kabamba is currently back in non-league with Woking, whilst another friend of Lowe, Junior Morias, plays for Dagenham & Redbridge.
Whilst the Cherries forward will be keeping an eye out on the scores, he will be unable to get to a game – as he will be hard at work training.
“We’ve got training, so I’ll be there! A few of my mates will be playing at the weekend, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for their scores," said Lowe.
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