George Lowrie (1947/48 to 1949/50)

Newcastle broke their transfer record to bring Welsh international George Lowrie (28) to Tyneside and the £18,500 fee made it the third largest ever at that time. Unfortunately, he would only play twelve games in an ill-fated eighteen months on Tyneside.

He joined Coventry from Preston in 1939, but only played one game before the War intervened. Then since the resumption of the League he had scored 44 goals in 56 games.

Lowrie had built up a reputation as an accomplished forward who exhibited good ball control, craft and shooting powers. A schemer in chief who demonstrated skilful leadership and distribution and had undoubted class in positioning and shooting.

He had already scored 18 League goals for Coventry in 1947/48 and had played in all three of Wales’ internationals. Newcastle, who wanted him to bolster their promotion push, had been trailing him for a while. He wasn't sure whether to make the move or not, but after a lengthy telephone conversation with his expectant wife he said yes.

He had the ball in the net after only twenty seconds of his debut, only for it to be disallowed for offside. Then he scored a valid goal on his home debut, but in his fifth game he suffered a bad knee injury which prematurely ended his season.

At the start of 1948/49 George secured the Number 10 shirt and scored three goals in the first two games. But he suffered an injury in the second match at Chelsea which required a cartilage operation and sidelined him until February. Even then he struggled to get back to full fitness and only played a couple more games.

Lowrie was back as first-choice inside-left in 1949/50, but in the third match he was sent-off when the linesman spotted him strike/push Danny Smyth of Wolves in the face.

The Newcastle Board were incensed and Director Stan Seymour made their feelings clear. “We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour at Newcastle. When a player is sent off he lets down the reputation of his club as well as his own. He also lets down his team by his absence.

George was not included in the First Team or the Reserves for the next game and a couple of days later the club accepted a bid from Bristol City.

After lengthy discussions Lowrie agreed to the move for a fee which set a new record for a Bristol club.