The former Liverpool and Everton striker spoke exclusively to the ECHO ahead of taking on London Marathon in support of the Owen McVeigh Foundation this weekend
Claude Makelele of Chelsea Legends is challenged by Natasha Dowie of Liverpool Legends (Image: LFC Foundation/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Claude Makelele is regarded as one of football’s all-time marathon men. So perhaps given what is on the horizon it was no surprise to see Natasha Dowie embrace the challenge of facing him head on. Quite literally.
Dowie had already made history when she stepped onto the pitch for the Liverpool Legends clash with Chelsea at Anfield in March, becoming the first female player to be involved in the game. Within seconds, she’d gone viral.
The 36-year-old went in for a tackle with Makelele and left the Frenchman crumpled in a heap. Dowie threw her hands up making it clear the coming together had been accidental and quickly sought to console her rival, although Makelele clearly was in some discomfort.
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Speaking to the ECHO, Dowie revealed the two ended the day on good terms thanks to another Liverpool legend acting as peacemaker.
“Before I came on I was just told to enjoy myself,” she said. “I had no intention to do that kind of a tackle! I was normally known for scoring goals, tackling wasn’t one of my strengths as it probably showed!
“Everyone actually said it did lift the game and got the team going a bit, so that was really nice. The 15-minute spell that I had I enjoyed every single second of it and wish I could’ve played on for longer.”
“John Barnes actually introduced me [to Makelele] afterwards!” she added. “He took me over to him and Makelele actually had a big smile on his face. So I said ‘come on, show me it [the injury] – you milked it!’ and he was laughing. Then we had a selfie together. So we were friends!”
Fresh from that eventful appearance at Anfield, Dowie will take on an altogether different challenge this weekend – running the London Marathon to raise money for the Owen McVeigh Foundation.
The 26.2-mile race represents a different test for footballers – John Terry, Leonardo Bonucci and Jack Wilshere are among the former players taking part this year – and Dowie lifted the lid on the huge differences in training for football and long distance running ahead of her first crack at the event.
“When I was a footballer everything was short, sharp, speed endurance,” she revealed. “It was probably a maximum of 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. Work like that. Being a centre-forward, that is the kind of the work that you do.
“Even when we did fitness testing in pre-season the most we would do is the one kilometre run, which is 10 lengths of a pitch as fast as you can. So as you can imagine, I used to think a 30-minute run was a long run. But I’ve enjoyed the steady increase and it’s slowly felt doable, every week just topping up the long runs.
“People ask me what I listen to. What music or podcasts and it blows their minds when I tell them I don’t listen to anything! It’s just me, my breath, in the moment taking it all in. And I’ve really enjoyed that as well.
Dowie’s career as a footballer spanned 19 years, during which she had spells with both Everton and Liverpool.
She scored 10 goals in 25 appearances for Everton – including two in the FA Cup final win over Arsenal in 2010 – before making the move across the city to the Reds.
With Liverpool she excelled, netting 46 times in 67 appearances in her first stint. The last act as a professional would also be with the Reds, scoring twice in a loan spell from Reading. She is now an ambassador for the club.
Dowie eventually called time on her career in 2023 and since then she has been looking to take part in different types of challenges. It was the Foundation that appealed to her though and then provided a big opportunity.
“I missed the routine [of football] and having a schedule and having a purpose,” she said. “In my spare time now I get involved in a lot with Liverpool. And I met Mark and Jo [McVeigh] and I thought it was incredible what they were doing for children with cancer.
“So I said, ‘I need to get involved, I want to get involved’. And they told me, ‘there will be a time’, not realising about what was to come [the marathon]!.
“Then on their social media I saw they had one place in the London Marathon, the first time that they’d ever been given a place. And I messaged Mark straight away – not really thinking about the bigger picture, because I’ve never been a strong runner to be honest! I’m not built for it.
“But they told me, ‘the place is yours’, and that’s how this has all come about. I’m so excited. I never in a million years I’d be running the distance I am.”
And what part of the iconic race is she looking forward to?
“The finish!” she joked. “I said I wasn’t going to set myself a time but being the athlete that I am…I’m starting to think around four hours. I’m excited to see how I do.
“But when I think of Tower Bridge and that being halfway…I want to pace myself for the first half and if I’m feeling good try and kick on as much as I can.”
If she does kick on, best get out of the way. Makelele would tell you that.
To donate to Natasha click HERE.
The Owen McVeigh Foundation was set up in memory of Owen McVeigh who was only 11 years old when he passed away after a short diagnosis with leukaemia, The purpose of the charity is to raise funds to help and enrich the lives of children who are ill with cancer and their Families in the local area.