One Of Our Own

THE weekend clash with Crewe Alexandra on Saturday will also be a celebration of the Argyle Academy at Home Park, as our next generation of Green talent perform a half-time parade.

It is always a special annual occasion for the young Pilgrims, who will all share dreams of emulating their heroes at the Theatre of Greens, with young striker Luke Jephcott the finest recent example of the player pathway to success.

After a loan spell at Truro City, Luke returned to Argyle at the start of January and promptly banged in five goals for the Pilgrims to win the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month.

“The fans see him as one of our own and he is, but it doesn’t just happen, you’ve got to work your socks off,” said manager Ryan Lowe. “Early on in the season, Luke wasn’t in our plans but it was all credit to himself.

“He went away, toughened himself up and learned the game. He asked me what I wanted from him and he went out and produced. It’s the same with all of them, young Jarvis [Cleal] is a talented player, same with Adam Randell and Mike Cooper. We’ve got them players and we won’t hesitate [to use them] if called upon.

“Luke is fitter, stronger and more aware of the game. When I came in, we showed the lads a video of my brand of football and when I turned the lights on at the end, they were all gobsmacked.

“Some of them brought into it, some of them didn’t and some of them couldn’t do it. We knew Luke was a finisher and Nance [first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell] was always on to me that he would come good. He played on the right or left in the old regime, but that’s not his position because he’s not rapidly fast.

“His position is getting in good areas and his movement is very good. If you notice his goals, his movement is very bright and good players around him can pick him out. The kid’s finishing ability and being in the right time is very pleasing.”