Matthew Lowton

Not to be confused with Matt Lawton.
Matthew Lowton

Lowton playing for Aston Villa in 2013
Personal information
Full nameMatthew John Lowton[1]
Date of birth9 June 1989[1]
Place of birthChesterfield, England[1]
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing positionRight back
Club information
Current team
Aston Villa
Number34
Youth career
1999–2004Leeds United
2004–2007Sheffield United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2007–2012Sheffield United78(10)
2008Sheffield (loan)18(0)
2009–2010Ferencváros (loan)18(0)
2012–Aston Villa55(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:08, 30 January 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Matthew John Lowton (born 9 June 1989) is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League. He can play in a number of defensive positions but is a natural right back. Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, he joined Sheffield United's academy in 2004 before eventually making the break into United's first team in 2010, playing regularly for two seasons before being sold to Villa. Lowton has also spent time on loan with both non-league Sheffield and Hungarian side Ferencváros.

Playing career

Sheffield United

Lowton playing for Sheffield United in 2011

Lowton joined Sheffield United aged fifteen after a brief spell with Leeds United and progressed through Sheffield United's youth set up to reserve level, converting from a full-back to a central defensive role in the process.[2] After spending a spell on loan at Sheffield FC in 2008,[3] in January 2009 Lowton went out on loan to Sheffield United's Hungarian sister club Ferencváros, along with fellow reserve player Sam Wedgbury, to get first-team experience. He made his début in the Hungarian League Cup the next month,[4] making eighteen appearances before returning to United towards the end of the season.

Back in the Championship, Lowton found himself on the fringes of the first team and duly made his Blades début in a 1–1 draw with Cardiff City at the end of March 2010,[3] coming on as a late substitute, before making his full début for the club in the final game of the season.

The following season, Lowton started Sheffield United's opening day fixture, away to Cardiff City, but was issued with a straight red card. Despite this setback, he returned to the first-team picture and was rewarded with a new contract at the end of September.[5] Lowton continued a run of substitute appearances and rewarded United's faith by scoring his first senior goal in mid-October, netting in a 3–3 home draw with Burnley.[6] Lowton played regularly for the remainder of the season, scoring four goals in all, but couldn't prevent the club from slipping to relegation.

With the Blades now in League One, Lowton remained a key player and was rewarded with an extended contract in August 2011,[7] making 55 appearances in total for the Blades during the following season and scoring one goal.[8]

Aston Villa

Lowton completed a move to Aston Villa in July 2012 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £3 million, becoming Paul Lambert's second signing as Villa manager,[9] and made his debut on 18 August 2012, in the Premier League against West Ham United.[10] On 15 September, Lowton scored his first league goal for Villa in a 2–0 home win against Swansea City.[11] On 19 July 2013, Lowton signed a new four-year deal to keep him at Aston Villa until Summer 2017.[12]

Career statistics

As of 30 January 2014.[13]
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sheffield (loan) 2007–08 Northern Premier League 1800000180
Ferencvárosi (loan) 2009–10 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 1800000180
Sheffield United 2009–10 Championship 20000020
2010–11 3240000324
2011–12 League One 446302060556
Sheffield United Total7810302000608910
Aston Villa 2012–13 Premier League 3722060452
2013–14 1500010160
Aston Villa Total55220700000642
Career total 170125080006018912

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Matthew Lowton – Sheffield United Profile". Sheffield United F.C. 2 January 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Lowton Makes Debut". Sheffield F.C. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  4. "Kecskemet 0–0 Ferencvaros – match report". Sheffield United F.C. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  5. "Lowton re-signs". Sheffield United F.C. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  6. "Sheer elation for Matt". Sheffield United Mad. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  7. "Lowton sets his sights on top-flight after signing deal". The Sheffield Star. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  8. "Games played by Matthew Lowton in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  9. "Lowton Signs for Aston Villa". The Daily Mail. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  10. "West Ham 1–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  11. "Aston Villa 2–0 Swansea". BBC Sport. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  12. "Lowton signs new Villa deal". The Sun. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  13. Matthew Lowton career statistics at Soccerbase Retrieved 29 December 2013

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthew Lowton.