Lowry is keen to build on the progress made in Academy

GETTING more academy players to follow in the footsteps of Mike Cooper and Adam Randell and make it all the way into the Plymouth Argyle first team is the aim of new under-18s lead coach Jamie Lowry.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

The 36-year-old played professionally for Chesterfield, Crewe Alexandra and Argyle, making 11 appearances for the Pilgrims during the 2012/13 League Two season. Now he has the task of overseeing the final stage of development of talented youngsters as they look to break into the senior ranks.

It is an exciting time for the club’s academy with a permanent home planned for Brickfields in 2025 as part of a £21 million redevelopment of the under-utilised site in Devonport. The proposed facilities, such as a covered pitch, would open the way for Argyle to apply to move up to category two academy status in the future.

Lowry has stepped up from being Argyle’s under-16s’ lead coach to replace Darren Way, who left to become the assistant manager of League One club Fleetwood Town. He previously assisted Way with the under-18s so, like when Steven Schumacher took over as first team manager from Ryan Lowe in December 2021, it is another example of a young coach being promoted from within the club.

“I’m grateful to be given the opportunity and really looking forward to progressing the work done by Darren, and Kevin (Hodges) before him,” Lowry told Herald Sport. “Hopefully in a few more years we can maybe go up to category two, and pushing the youngsters through so there is even more Michael Coopers and Adam Randells on the pitch is the aim. That’s what we are after.”