Family Upset

JAMIE LOWRY is looking to upset his family and friends this weekend.

Prior to signing for the Pilgrims in the summer, the Argyle midfielder spent the whole of his career at Saturday’s visitors to Home Park, Chesterfield.

Although born and raised in the quintessential Cornish surfing resort of Newquay, Jamie has more than just professional ties to the Town of the Leaning Spire.

“My family originate from up there, so I went for a trial when I left school,” he said.

“I always wanted to be a professional footballer and the first opportunity came at Chesterfield. Thankfully, it worked out.

“I was there a long time and I still have a lot of good friends at the club. I speak to them quite regularly.”

Jamie, 25, made the decision to move closer to home after more than 100 appearances for the Spireites, a figure diminished by a cruciate ligament knee injury.

“It was quite tough to leave, having been there all of my career,” he said, “but I think the time was right anyway to move on.

“I wasn’t playing regularly after my injury. I had a tough time with that. I needed a few more games and it wasn’t working out there.

“Now I’m down here and hoping to crack on and keep improving.”

Jamie has kept in touch with his former team-mates, so has the inside line on their rapidly-improving season.

After relegation last year, they initially struggled and sacked manager John Sheridan.

Recently, though, with new man Paul Cook at the helm, they have started to pick up, thumping Cheltenham 4-1 in midweek.

Jamie said: “The lads said he’s working them hard and they are really impressed with him.

“They are on the turnaround from the poor start they had, so it’s going to be a tough game for us.

“I expect them to be in our faces and that it will be played at a high tempo.”

Like many at home Park, Jamie - who attended Argyle’s development centres as a schoolboy - believes the Pilgrims’ recent displays have merited better than the solitary point from a 2-2 draw with league leaders Gillingham in their last home match.

“The performance was there against Gillingham and that’s probably our benchmark now,” he said.