Lowe back for Coast
Jayde Lowe has returned to the Gold Coast and signed with United (Glenn Hampson / Gold Coast Bulletin)
Michael Cook has turned to the young but experienced Jayde Lowe to strengthen his ranks ahead of this week’s away fixture against Easts.
Jayde recently returned to the Coast after her first ‘stint’ in the US College system, the 19 year old is studying Business and playing football at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.
The central midfielder played her junior years at Millthorpe Soccer Club, a small town in central western NSW before joining Palm Beach SC working her way through the NPL ranks from U15’s to Senior Women.
Based on her time playing in the States, Jayde thinks that she has returned a better player with the level of play in the Collegiate system, in the main, slightly more consistent than what she remembers of the WNPL, with most colleges fielding competitive, evenly matched sides.
“Before I went over I was happy with how I was playing but I think I’ve become a better player.
“I’m fine-tuning my game over there and it’s a complete change so I have to adapt to lot’s of different things.”
Lowe left for the States at the end of 2017 but has been watching the expanded competition from afar and having now had a few training sessions with the United squad, is impressed by what she’s seen.
“It seems like the Club is doing great things with the women’s program.
“I think the intensity has been really good. Lots of young talent coming through.
“United are just shy of where they need to be if they want to play finals … so definitely every game from now on is going to be super important.
“I’m excited to get on the pitch with all the girls.”
Coach Michael Cook is just as excited to have a player of Jayde’s caliber join the squad.
“Jayde’s a quality player. Good vision, game awareness and strong on the ball both going forward and defensively.
“While she’s still only relatively young, she has stacks of WNPL experience. When you couple that with what she’s learned in the States, we are more than pleased to have her join the squad.”
Lowe heads back to Missouri in August and will be looking to make an immediate impact for the Club when the Women head to Heath Park tonight for Round 15 of the National Premier Leagues Queensland, Women’s Competition.
United took the 3 points when the two sides met at Robina in round 2 running out 3 -1 winners with Neesa Doyle and Meg McElligott (2) the goal-scorers. Since then though the young Tigers have edged ahead of United on the league table. A win tonight would see GCU leap-frog their opponents to 7th on the ladder.
Kick-off at Heath Park is at 6.00pm.
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