Rebecca Lowe, a broadcasting sensation and Crystal Palace fan, joined TEB to talk all things Palace, football, and broadcasting. In this in-depth interview, she provides her unfiltered thoughts on VAR, Euro 2024, her love of the game, and, of course, the football club.
Lowe worked for ESPN from 2007–13 and then relocated to the United States to take on lead anchoring duties for NBC’s Premier League coverage.
Since then, she has made ‘soccer‘ presenting her own, whether that be post-match interviews with the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Bruno Fernandes, her excellent coverage of the PL Summer Series, the revelation of Earle and Mustoes interesting breakfast choices, or her insightful takes weekly on the Lowe Down (which can be found on NBC Sports’s Youtube Channel).
Palace
How did your affiliation with Crystal Palace come about? My Dad had a spare ticket in 1989 to Palace v Everton, and he can’t remember why he took me because, of course, back then 8-year-old girls were not really taken to football matches, but he did. I fell in love with it instantly, and it’s been that way ever since.
What was your earliest memory as a Palace fan? I remember bits about that first match, but my clearest early memories come from standing behind the goal in the old Holmesdale Road End and singing my heart out for the likes of Bobby Bowry and Gareth Southgate…Then, when we scored, getting shoved forward and a bit squished, which was a little worrying at times. But the atmosphere was electric when you stood.
What was your first away game? Not sure, possibly Brentford in a pre-season friendly or QPR because it was my nearest ground and Dad and I stood behind the goal at the away end. For a few seasons during my childhood, Dad would take me on one big away trip a season — I remember doing Huddersfield, Sheffield United, Stoke (which involved me making Dad park outside Robbie Williams’ mums house in the hope Robbie was visiting! I was a big Take Thatter!) We’d always arrive in the city early, and Dad would have scoped out somewhere nice for lunch before we headed to the ground. The best of days.
All-time favourite Palace player? SUCH a hard question. But I’ll have to go with Ian Wright. But on my wall in the 90’s, I had Simon Rodger, Marc Edworthy, and Geoff Thomas, to name a few!
The best player you’ve seen play for Palace? Either Wrighty, Attilio Lombardo, or Wilfred Zaha.
How should success be viewed as a Palace fan? It’s a good question, and maybe I’m unusual, but I still think just being in the Premier League is a huge success. The odd season when I was growing up when we were in the PL was great, but we were always relegated immediately, which meant it wasn’t much fun. So much of my childhood and 20’s I was watching us in the first division, so to think we are now in season eleven of the top flight of English football is truly a success for me.
How do you view the direction of the club? The direction of our club will always be safe and heading in the right way as long as we have Steve Parish at the helm. I’m lucky enough to call Steve a friend, and I am always blown away by his generosity in all its forms and his integrity. I thank my lucky stars we have him, and long, long may that continue. In 5 years, to still be in the Premier League and have a trophy in the cabinet (to go alongside that rather dusty ZDS Cup!) would be amazing.
How do you think the season is going so far? It’s tricky. You can’t fault Roy for his love of the club, and you can just see how much he wants to do well. But the injuries have hampered what he wants to do, and we’ve had some bad luck. I think there’s a really good side there; it’s just not clicked fully yet. I love seeing all the kids on the bench, and I’d like to see them get more playing time actually. Rarely have our Academy players let us down.
If you could add one former Palace player to the current team, who would it be and why? I’d add either Andy Johnson or Dougie Freedman. Have we had a better striker than AJ since he left? I’m not sure we have.
What are your hopes for next season and beyond? FA Cup, please. In 2016, I had just given birth to my son and couldn’t come to the final. I was terrified that I was going to miss the biggest day in our history. If we get there again, I’ll be on the plane quick as a flash!
Who is your ideal candidate to replace Roy next season? Graham Potter.
How are Palace received in the US? They are popular for sure – plenty of fan groups scattered around the country, and they’re all in communication with each other. Some expat groups and others just love the club based on the ground, the kit, the history, the Ultras, or the Ted Lasso connection.
Television
What was your first job on TV? Working as a football reporter on BBC’s Final Score every Saturday. And I absolutely dreaded it.
Other than being a stellar professional, how do you manage to keep it neutral in the studio? Ha! It’s SO hard. In fact, only last week we conceded a penalty late on to Chelsea, and we weren’t covering that game at the time, but we took the moment live, so I had to commentate over it, which was horrible! I just disconnect as best I can, but I am very conscious that people know who I support, so I probably go the other way to avoid being called biased.
Do you enjoy covering Palace? I don’t love covering them, to be honest. Mainly because it’s hard to watch it 100% neutrally.
What has been your proudest achievement on TV? Somehow getting through the live broadcast on ESPN when Fabrice Muamba collapsed during the FA Cup Quarter Final at Tottenham in 2012. I was presenting pitch side and had John Barnes and Kevin Keegan alongside me, who were incredible. But that was a huge challenge – especially because I knew Fabrice’s family would be watching. I also felt incredibly proud, becoming the first woman to present the FA Cup Final (2012) and then to also launch the Premier League on NBC in the States has been a dream come true.
Why the move to the US? I was the Premier League pitch side reporter for ESPN between 2009-13 and then ESPN lost the rights to BT Sport. They offered me the same role, and I turned it down. I just didn’t want to do that role anymore – I found it so hard; a thankless task at times. It was harder for women back then in that role than it is now. I just didn’t enjoy it and would have rather left TV altogether than stay doing that. Then my agent called me and said NBC would like to make me an offer to be the presenter of the Premier League in the US. How do you turn that down? I’d always wanted to work and live in America, having spent six months there during my GAP year in 1999. I love the country, and it didn’t take much persuasion for me to accept the job.
Favourite interview you’ve done? Sir Alex Ferguson. I was lucky enough to interview him well over 50 times as Manchester United manager, but my favourite interview with him was when he came to the States after he retired. He was on a book tour and asked me to interview him in Philadelphia for his book – he was very different that night compared to how he’d been during the years I’d known him in the UK. The first two years of interviewing him at United were the hardest things I had to do. But after two years, he began to warm up, and I am so incredibly blessed that he asked me to interview him over here in the States, and I am delighted to say we are still in regular contact. The greatest manager British football has ever seen, in my opinion. I adore him.
Favourite pundit to work with? I can’t say just one! I love my two Robbies (Earle and Mustoe), who I have worked with for 11 years now at NBC. Honestly, I’ve only ever had a few over the last 20 years who’ve been difficult. Back in the day in England, I always loved working with John Barnes and Steve McManaman – both real gentleman who treated me with the utmost respect.
Favourite sporting event you’ve worked on? Probably the 2016 Rio Olympics. I have done five Olympics at NBC and cannot get enough of the power the games has to bring everyone together. And the way NBC does the Olympics is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in TV. It’s unparalleled. But I also loved being a BBC reporter at the African Nations Cup in 2004 and the World Cup in 2006. Both were such hard assignments as I was so young, but I really cut my teeth and learned a lot during those trips.
Football
The best game you’ve seen live? I’ve seen so many amazing games, but they just don’t register unless it’s a Palace game. So probably Palace winning the play-offs at the old Wembley in 1997 against Sheffield United. The pain the year before when we lost to Steve Claridge’s shinner was so hard to bear that it made the day even sweeter, and I danced down Wembley High Street afterwards! Brilliant.
Where will football be in ten years? As long as there isn’t a European Super League, I’ll be happy.
What is your stance on VAR, and how do you feel about the standard of officiating as a whole? I don’t like it. We should stop adding humans to make more subjective decisions. The referee only needs assistance if the assistance is technology – not another human’s opinions. So goal line technology – yes! Automated offsides when they come in – yes! Everything else? No.
Who will win the Premier League? Who will be relegated? Who will win the Champions League? PL: Arsenal. Relegated: Sheffield United, Burnley, Fulham maybe? Champions League: Manchester City
What are your ambitions for England ahead of EURO 2024? To win it. They have to win it. Rice, Kane, and Bellingham. No more excuses. I love Southgate as a Palace legend, but please let them just go and play. Take off the handbrake. We must win it.
Quick-fire questions
Bright or Wright? NOOOOOO I refuse to answer, as I love them both then and now
Messi or Ronaldo? Messi
Promotion via the play-offs or the title? If it was guaranteed, then always the play-offs
If you could choose a player to buy in January, who would it be? Ivan Toney
The best player you’ve seen live? Gareth Bale
England winning the World Cup, or Palace winning the FA Cup? Palace
Favourite ground in England? Selhurst, obviously!
1 comment
Delightful. As always, Rebecca delights.
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