He’s the man leading the youth charge at East Kilbride – but Martin Fellowes is also helping the country’s hottest prospects.
The Kilby U20s head coach works as part of former K-Park boss Billy Stark’s support staff on Scotland U19s duty when not handling youth affairs in South Lanarkshire.
It’s been a great learning experience for a coach who stepped up to senior level under Chris Aitken’s short reign during the 2021/22 Lowland League campaign at EK after taking over from brother Steven.
Not only is there a connection with Stark, Kilby youth assistant boss Mark McKenna works as a performance analyst for the Scottish FA, a role held since 2017.
Fellowes, who worked with Stark at EK in the 2017/18 season, says it’s an opportunity he will never take lightly.
“There’s a couple of connections. My assistant manager with the U20s is Mark McKenna. He is the head of analysis with Scotland and then obviously there is the connection with Billy, who I had a great relationship with at East Kilbride,” he said.
“There was a wee chance to work with the U19s as part of his support staff which has been great. It’s been a massive learning experience.
“It’s been great to learn from top coaches in Scotland.
“I have been majorly grateful for that experience. If I got one trip out of it I would have been delighted so it’s not something I ever take for granted.
“There’s a lot of people who would kill for it. Billy’s been great and a great guy to learn from.
“I have kept in touch with him, so getting the chance to learn with him again with Scotland has been excellent for me.”
There’s been plenty of learning done at East Kilbride too, with Rangers legend Ian Durrant’s influence on him during his time as a senior coach at K-Park telling.
Fellowes, now working under new EK boss Kevin Rutkiewicz, got his first step into the senior game during a domestic cup match against League One club Falkirk last year, and as brother Aidan and three other U20s players got their maiden chance too, it handed him a taste for more.
He added: “Last year, I planned for my resources to be put into the U20s. I was helping with the Aitkens and Ian Durrant at the start of last season as the main link for the young ones.
“Then everybody stepped up one as Chris moved into the manager’s role after Steven left.
“We played Falkirk in the SPFL Trust Trophy and Chris told me before we travelled that I’d be helping him with the team.
“Durranty would be there too and again, he was fantastic. He was a major influence on anyone who was there. He was struggling with his knee and it’s great he’s got that sorted.
“But it meant he wasn’t there all the time and couldn’t be the man on the grass. I can’t talk highly enough of him and his influence.
“I will always look fondly on that game as it was my first step into first team coaching and four players from my U20s team made their debuts, including my brother.
“I’ve been lucky enough that Kevin and Bill Orr have kept me on with the first team staff, which is great. They’ve been brilliant to work with. I’m really looking forward to the season now.”
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