Norman Harvey Low (23 March 1914 – 21 May 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager. He was the son of Scottish international footballer, Wilf Low.
In 1950, he was appointed Norwich City's manager and led the club to a second-place finish in the Third Division South in 1950–51. Despite this, promotion eluded him before he departed in April 1955. He spent January 1956 to February 1957 as Workington's manager before he was installed in the hot seat at Port Vale. He led the club to the Fourth Division title in 1958–59, before resigning in October 1962. Spending time as a scout at Stoke City and Liverpool, he was made Witton Albion manager in 1967, before he took to the United States for a brief spell in charge of the Cleveland Stokers in 1968.
Playing career
Low was a youth player at Newcastle United but began his professional career with Liverpool.[2] The dominant centre-half struggled to get into the first-team, though did play eleven consecutive games in place of Tom Bradshaw for the First Division club during the first half of the 1934–35 season.[2]
Leaving Anfield in 1936, he then spent ten years with Newport County, a club struggling in the bottom half of the Third Division South table. The "Exiles" finished 19th, two points above the re-election zone in 1936–37, and then ended the 1937–38 campaign in 16th place. They then improved massively, finishing top of the division in 1938–39 under the stewardship of Billy McCandless, three points ahead of Crystal Palace. He played a total of 112 league games for the club.
Low was appointed manager of Norwich City in 1950 and led the club to a second-place finish in the Third Division South in 1950–51. However, only champions Nottingham Forest were promoted. His team finished third in 1951–52, five points behind champions Plymouth Argyle. They dropped a place again to fourth in 1952–53, though they were only four points behind champions Bristol Rovers. However, they dropped to seventh in 1953–54, 13 points shy of Ipswich Town. The 1954–55 season was also disappointing, and Low left the club in April 1955.[4]
Preparing for the Third Division South campaign in 1957–58, he said his team would "fight like hell to get back into the Second Division".[5] He signed impressive forward Jack Wilkinson (Sheffield United); Welsh international goalkeeper Keith Jones (signed from Aston Villa for £3,500); defender Bert Carberry (Gillingham); and Alan Martin – who returned to the club as a part-time professional.[5] His team were third in the league by November, and he added to his squad with the signatures of Bert Carberry and Jack Wilkinson.[5] However, they then lost their form, and Low attempted to shake things up by selling Ken Griffiths to Mansfield Town and bringing in Noel Kinsey from Birmingham City for £5,000.[5] Vale eventually finished 15th, the bottom half of the table, and therefore were invited to form the newly created Fourth Division.[5]
Low signed 'speedy and direct' winger Brian Jackson from Liverpool for £2,000, experienced left-back Roy Pritchard from Notts County, and Peter Hall from Stoke City.[5] They picked up just two points from their first five home games before turning Vale Park into a fortress.[5] In mid-season he handed keeper Ken Hancock and striker Graham Barnett their débuts.[5] Vale went twelve games unbeaten to rise to the top of the table and thrashed Gateshead 8–0 on Boxing Day.[5] He put veteran Roy Sproson back into the defensive line, whilst up front Stan Steele 'did the work of two men', Harry Poole brought 'flexibility and fluidity', and Graham Barnett scored from half-chances.[5] They finished as Fourth Division champions in 1958–59 with 64 points, four points clear of second, and seven clear of fifth spot, scoring a club record 110 goals.
Low planned for the 1962–63 season by signing John Rowland, a 'tall and skilful' outside-right from Nottingham Forest, for £6,000.[5] His team began reasonably well. However, Low could not 'see eye to eye with the board on their buying policy' and tendered his resignation in October 1962.[3] One staff member later reported that Low had travelled to Huddersfield Town to sign Willie Davie for a £20,000 fee; However, during his absence the Port Vale directors finalised agreements for Freddie Steele to return to the club, and upon his return he found himself out of a job.[6]