Coach Lowndes hails Saints academy
Nathan Lowndes is passionate about passing on his experience to the next generation.
The former St Johnstone striker lives locally and is now a coach with the Perth club’s under-14 academy team.
It has been a rewarding journey and he said: “My lad is now 15 and for the last six years or so I started taking him along to Saints.
“With my history at the club, I managed to get back involved in coaching.
“I have experience to pass on and wanted to give something back to those who are just learning the game.
“That is how I got involved really. There was no real design to it and it just all happened quite naturally.”
He praised the academy’s head Alistair Stevenson, saying: “What a great atmosphere and environment he creates up at the football club.
“That is not just for coaches, for the boys as well.
“It has been enjoyable to be a part of and once you’re part of a nice set-up it’s not something you want to walk away from.
“The club has that sense of community.”
Lowndes is impressed with the high level of ability coming through at Saints, not just with his under-14s but across the board.
“The guys on a Saturday are the end product,” he said. “But there is a long pathway and transition from talent at a young age.
“There is a development plan that is well thought through. It eventually helps to make the finished product that you see on a Saturday.
“There is plenty of talent coming through from very young age groups to those who are on the brink of potentially full-time football.
“It starts at the top to have the ambition to support and bring through youth, seeing the value in it for first team level.
“With budgets getting tighter it will be important to develop your own talent.
“The club is focused on local talent and tries to retain that, although the net is cast far and wide with a nationwide scouting process. One of the lads who plays for the under-16s comes down from Shetland.”