Augustus Lowe

By Kevin Stirling

Scottish Qualifying Cup Winners - A Lowe back row second from left, next to manager J Philip 

The grandly named Augustus Lowe will never make it into any Aberdeen FC Hall of Fame, but the former English law student certainly made history in his short and very brief Aberdeen career. While Paul Hartley wrote himself into Aberdeen FC history by scoring a hat trick of penalties against Hamilton on Saturday, it was Augustus Lowe who went one better away back in 1904.

The record books show that Lowe only ever played three first team games and two Qualifying Cup ties in his Aberdeen career. His debut came at the sedate setting of Firs Park on 5th November 1904. It certainly was Lowe who produced the fireworks as he scored all four Aberdeen goals in a 4-1 win over East Stirling in a Second Division match. Aberdeen at that time were spending their only season in a lower division after being admitted into the mainstream of Scottish football in May 1904.

While Aberdeen were struggling to score goals in their inaugural season in the league attempts to find a proven scorer proved difficult; one such story emerged of the Aberdeen secretary travelling down to Glasgow to watch a young player, Kennedy the promising Benburb centre forward, among others. Reporting back that the player 'was not at home' did not go down to well with a frustrated Aberdeen support.

However when the clutch of new arrivals at Aberdeen University settled into their studies, among them was one Augustus Lowe, who hailed from the north west of England and had previously been with Blackburn. Following his sensational debut against East Stirling, attentions turned to the club's prime target and that was the Scottish Qualifying Cup. Success in that tournament would greatly enhance the Aberdeen application to join the First Division as back then there was no promotion or relegation as such. A week after his debut, Augustus Lowe kept his place in the starting line up against Clyde in the semi final of the Qualifying Cup at Pittodrie. Although Lowe did not score in the 1-0 win, he was on target again a week later on the 19th November 1904 when he scored twice as the Black & Gold's battled to a 3-3 draw at Ayr United. Thoughts turned to the Qualifying Cup Final against Renton on 26th November at Dens Park. Lowe was again in the side and contributed in a 2-0 Aberdeen win that brought the club their first national trophy. Lowe's final appearance for the club came in a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Albion Rovers on 14th January 1905. It was after that game that Lowe was advised by his doctor to give up playing football as he risked lasting damage if he continued to compete in physical sport. Lowe returned to his law studies at Aberdeen University, never to play football again. His brief stay at the club saw him score 6 league goals in only three appearances; all away from Pittodrie. His only appearance for Aberdeen at Pittodrie was against Clyde in the semi final. Of course he went on to win a Qualifying Cup Winners medal in the final.

After that cup win the Aberdeen players were in great demand from their support and they had never been so popular. An enterprising city firm produced a postcard photo of the team which went on to sell by their thousands in the city. What was not very well known was that the photo was of the team that defeated Cowdenbeath in the quarter final. Augustus Lowe was not in that side but did play in the semi and Final. It was 'Fairmer' Mackie who was in that team at Cowdenbeath. For the purposes of the postcard the publisher showed some early form of 'cutting and pasting' by inserting an image of Lowe on top of the unfortunate Mackie.

Footnote; Season ticket holders of today will be interested in the cost of admission to Pittodrie back in 1904. At the club AGM in July 1904 it was announced that you could get a season ticket for the ground for the princely sum of 7/6; seven shillings and six pence or 38p in new money. For the best seat in the house in the centre of the main stand it would cost you 15/- (shillings) or 75p to watch all Aberdeen home and reserve matches that season. At that AGM the club also announced that the new club colours would be Black & Gold.

The World in 1904

What else happened that year:

January 12 - Henry Ford sets a new automobile land speed record of 91.37 mph.

March 3 - Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany becomes the first person to make a political recording of a document, using Thomas Edison's cylinder.

April 8 - The Entente Cordiale is signed between the UK and France and Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan is renamed Times Square after The New York Times.

May 5 - Pitching against the Philadelphia Athletics, Cy Young of the Boston Americans throws the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball - The Cy Young award, in honour of him, is presented to the best pitcher each year

May 21 - The International Federation of Association Football, FIFA, is established.

July 1 - The third Modern Olympic Games opens in St. Louis, Missouri, United States as part of the World's Fair.

November 8 - U.S. presidential election, 1904: Republican incumbent Theodore Roosevelt defeats Democrat Alton B. Parker.

November 24 - The first successful caterpillar track is made (it later revolutionizes construction vehicles and land warfare).

December 27 - The stage play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up premieres in London.