8th tier club shock fans by signing ex-Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Burnley, Huddersfield player

8th tier club Witton Albion shock fans by signing ex-Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Burnley, Huddersfield player Matt Lowton.

The 34 year old defender has dropped back down to life in non league having previously racked up over 230 Premier League appearances.

He continues his career with the Northern Premier League club who described the acquisition as ‘massive’, as they look to move up the table.

It comes after Witton Albion fell to a 4-0 defeat at home to Trafford. His new side sit 13th in the NPL West Division, with 15 points from 12 games played, 3 points above the drop zone and six below the playoff places.

Their next game is away to Newcastle Town, who are two places above them.

We are delighted to welcome Former Burnley and Aston Villa defender Matt Lowton to the Albion!
34 year old Matt has played over 230 Premier League games. His last PL game was 21/22 for Burnley.
Welcome to Witton Albion Matt@northwichnews@simmo_on_sport@NorthernPremLge pic.twitter.com/Kl6AhB8Gdg

— Witton Albion Football Club (@WittonAlbion) November 6, 2023

Matt Lowton began his career by linking up with Sheffield United’s academy in 2004, and after spending time on loan with both non-league Sheffield and Hungarian side Ferencváros, he then managed to break into the Blades’ first team in 2010.

He played regularly for two seasons before being sold to Aston Villa in 2012, for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £3 million, and became Paul Lambert’s second signing as Aston Villa boss.

After three seasons and 72 Premier League appearances, he signed for Burnley in 2015, on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1 million plus add-ons.

He made 27 appearances in his maiden season at Burnley, all in the League, as Burnley won the Championship title and earned promotion to the Premier League.

On the 4th of January 2023, Lowton joined fellow Championship side Huddersfield Town on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.

LOWTON’S CAREER:

Youth career
1999–2004 – Leeds United
2004–2007 – Sheffield United

Senior career
2007–2012 – Sheffield United – 89 games (10 goals)
2008 → Sheffield (loan) – 22 games (0 goals)
2009 → Ferencváros (loan) – 20 games (0 goals)
2009 → Ferencváros II (loan) – 4 games (3 goals)
2012–2015 – Aston Villa – 82 games (2 goals)
2015–2023 – Burnley – 203 games (3 goals)
2023 → Huddersfield Town (loan) – 9 games (0 goals)
2023– Witton Albion

In the summer of 2023, he admitted he wasn’t sure of the next step in his playing career following his release by Burnley, but did revealed he was looking at prolonging his time on the pitch for as long as possible.

When questioned if he knows if he knows the next step in his career, he said: “No, not yet. I’m quite in the dark really. I’ve been quite lucky to get to my age and never be out of contract. I’ve never been in this position so it’s a new one for me but I’ve got people around me that have been-there-and-done-it several times.

“People are working in the background on finding possible chances for next season and it’s about working hard over the summer to make sure I’m ready when it comes.

“I hope so [few more years left and play at the highest possible level] that I have, definitely within my mind I’m ready to go again. Obviously this season didn’t quite work out as I would have wanted to personally, I would like to have played a lot more games, but it’s football, it happens, and it’s about moving on in the summer, working hard and making sure that I’m ready mentally and physically to go again when I find something which is the next project.”

This is how fans reacted as the 8th tier club shock fans by signing the ex-Sheffield United, Aston Villa, Burnley, Huddersfield player…

@GroundhopperGuy: Signing of the season?

@LarryClaret1: Good luck to Matt, and what a signing for Witton, but I can’t believe an EFL club, at least League 1, have not snapped him up.

@TinoTbone: Welcome to the Albion

@shazzajbfc: All the best, great signing

@Bongs_Collsmon: Good luck Matt was a cracking player in his time at Turf Moor

@Bradley68239282: Quality signing 🔴⚪️

@MeeWilko: He’d still do a job in the championship what a signing for you lot

@CallumLawt16161: Lowtons delivery to pope is unfair in that league full cheat code 😂😂

@Officialpilky: Put him on the wing lads got a banging cross, not bad at shooting either

@Sam33084087: Bloody hell what a signing for you lot

@ConorBFC_: Good signing for them. But surely he could’ve gone to a league 2 or maybe even league 1 side. Witton Albion? 😭 #twitterclarets

@CamelSaunders: Swindon dint fancy him till Jan then?! Wow! That’s mental! @FoolsRushInSTFC #stfc 🔴⚪️

@bodenknights: Good luck to Lowts, surely better than that level though…

@LiamHenton: Wow what a signing this is for Witton. He was a great player in the Prem.

@seanbaker87: I’m sorry??? 😂 where are these teams pulling these out from

@Villamole1: 34 years old, hardly over the hill and ends up that low down? Wild!

@PanchoTheBandit: What a signing for Witton this is!

@tom_bowen13: This has to be the most bonkers signing I have ever seen. Fair play for pulling this off.

@EthanMarsh111: Wow what a signing that is 👏🏻

@ryanmcmenamin: What the fuck

@callumtaylorbfc: Mental this. Cracking player for us.