Steve Lovell delighted to be back at MEMS Priestfield Stadium as Youth Coach
Steve Lovell says it’s great to be back at the club after re-joining the Gills as Youth Coach.
The striker, who scored 94 goals in 233 league games during his time at the club between 1987 and 1992, took up his new position at the start of last week and is delighted to be back in familiar surroundings.
Speaking to the club’s official website he said: “I’ve been away from the club for six years now but it feels like I’ve never been away. There are a lot of people still here from my time before and they have made it very easy for me to settle in.
“The boys have helped me settle nicely and I’m enjoyed working with them.
“It’s a club I have always held close to my heart and always looked for their results.
“As soon as the opportunity came up I applied in the right way, spoke to the right people and it was a no brainer.
“As soon as I knew the club wanted me to come back I accepted straight away.
“I love everything about the club and it’s great to be back.”
The former Welsh International has only been working with his new group of players for a matter of days, but he says the level of commitment and attitude shown has been encouraging.
He added: “They have been excellent, they have trained very hard and technically they’re very good and taking on information which I hope will help in their development.
“The main thing for me is that they understand what is needed when they get in to the professional game off the field as well as on the field so the discipline has got to be high so they I expect them to respectful of what is around them, which they are.
“I’m sure if we work together we will develop some good players.”
Steve outlined what he is expecting from the squad and what goals he has set himself in his new role.
He said: “When you are working with youngsters and people who want to be professional footballers and play for the first team, I just want to work with them and make sure that everything I do is to help them so they have a chance of progressing to the next level.
“If they come in here and they move on to the next level a better player then I’ve done my job.
"Each player will be treated individually and they will have different objectives and it will be a matter of working out what they need, what their strengths and weaknesses are and working on both aspects to make sure they have a chance of progressing.
“The main thing for me is attitude and respect; they need to work hard for the two hours they train to respect the surroundings and people at the football club.
“They need to work hard as a group, if you have a right mental attitude and direction then you have every chance of being a professional footballer because that is what is needed.”
Gills Player.You can see an exclusive interview with Steve on