How Portsmouth discovered 'remarkable' Jamal Lowe - from non-league starlet to chasing Premier League with Swansea

Ian Foster has revealed how a kid from Hampton & Richmond caught his eye – now Jamal Lowe’s pushing for the Premier League.
Jamal Lowe has scored nine times for promotion-chasing Swansea as they seek a Premier League return. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty ImagesJamal Lowe has scored nine times for promotion-chasing Swansea as they seek a Premier League return. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Jamal Lowe has scored nine times for promotion-chasing Swansea as they seek a Premier League return. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Early during the 2016-17 campaign, Pompey’s first-team coach was dispatched to the National League South club to watch the free-scoring forward.

Following several scouting missions, Foster’s glowing recommendation convinced Paul Cook to recruit Lowe for an undisclosed fee in January 2017.

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Foster’s coaching interaction with the 22-year-old was brief, with the 40-year-old leaving to take up a role with England under-17s the following month.

Yet with growing admiration he has watched the progress of ‘remarkable’ Lowe, who totalled 29 goals in 119 appearances for the Blues before moving to Wigan and now Swansea.

Foster told The News: ‘Jamal was somebody on our radar because of the volume of goals – and I watched him several times.

‘The conversation when sending me there would have been: “There’s a boy playing at this level who is worth going to have a look at”.

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‘One of the most remarkable things I remember happened after getting there early for one game.

Jamal Lowe was handed a way back into the Football League by Pompey after scouted by former first-team coach Ian Foster. Picture: Barry ZeeJamal Lowe was handed a way back into the Football League by Pompey after scouted by former first-team coach Ian Foster. Picture: Barry Zee
Jamal Lowe was handed a way back into the Football League by Pompey after scouted by former first-team coach Ian Foster. Picture: Barry Zee

‘I always try to arrive a bit early so I can watch the warm-up. I’m interested in what different teams do and, while looking at them doing finishing, I could hear this voice.

‘I was thinking “I know that voice, I know that person, who the hell is it?”.

‘I couldn’t see who it was at first, then eventually realised the voice belonged to the commentator Martin Tyler. He was taking them for the warm-up.

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‘So all Jamal’s finishing came from Martin Tyler, not me or anyone else!

Ian Foster spent 20 months as Pompey's first-team coach before leaving for England in February 2017. Picture: Joe PeplerIan Foster spent 20 months as Pompey's first-team coach before leaving for England in February 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler
Ian Foster spent 20 months as Pompey's first-team coach before leaving for England in February 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler

‘Still, while watching Jamal at Hampton & Richmond, what was evident to me was his professionalism and how he applied himself.

‘it might sound strange, but it’s one of those things you look for. Does he apply himself properly? His movement, his endeavour, his work ethic, his team work? He ticked all those boxes.

‘You could just see he was so positive when he got the ball, he wanted to receive it on his back foot and play forward, attacking the opposition.

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‘You just knew the kid had loads of potential and could be a handful.

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‘It is remarkable from Jamal. He has gone from non-league to knocking on the door of the Premier League.

‘He’s a smashing player and a smashing person as well.’

In August, Lowe departed Wigan for Swansea in a cut-price £800,000 deal as the financially-troubled club sought to bring in money.

Swans boss Steve Cooper was England under-17 manager when Foster arrived as coach in February 2017.

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Understandably, Cooper would seek Foster’s opinion when recruiting the forward.

Now Lowe has nine goals in 31 matches for a club currently third in the Championship and firmly in pursuit of the Premier League.

Foster added: ‘Jamal’s a strange one in terms of his positioning and his profile, you wouldn’t nail him to a position.

‘I spoke to Steve Cooper about him last summer when Swansea were interested in signing him. I stressed that he’s a wonderful technician, probably playing as a nine, switching strikers with Andre Ayew in a different shape.

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‘I have a lot of time for Jamal. He was desperate to come to Pompey, really open minded about the areas which needed development in his game and where he had to improve.

‘Regardless of the shape you play, he can be a 9, 10, 7 or 11 – and those players are worth their weight in gold.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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