It just makes you hungry to get involved in it yourself

St Johnstone Football Club has had outstanding success over the years in turning youth academy players to stars on the pitch.

The likes of Zander Clark, Jason Kerr, Ali McCann, Stevie May and Chris Kane have all come through the youth set-up at McDiarmid Park.

And young Jack Wills hopes to follow in that tradition.

It was announced earlier this week that the 18-yearold goalkeeper had signed a contract extension with the club until the summer 2022.

And being part of the travelling squad that won the Betfred League Cup at Hampden last month, the promising teen saw first-hand the success that young players can go on to have in the Perth colours.

“I was really happy with the extension, especially with the time we are in at the moment because of COVID,” Wills said.

“I came in one day and the gaffer said he’d like to extend the deal and see if I can go on loan next year if possible.

“So hopefully next season it would be good to get a solid loan and more games can help me progress more.

“You learn a lot in the games and that would be good for my career.”

Jack was previously on loan at Edinburgh University from December 2019 to last summer but his time there was sadly blighted by injury.

But he hopes further loan experience can propel his firstteam career.

“I only got to play a couple of games there,” he said.

“I feel I did well in the games that I played. I was happy with my performances and so was the coach.

“It was much different because I had only been playing under 18s and a couple of reserve games before.

“Edinburgh Uni were at the bottom of the Lowland League table at the time, so it was every point matters, trying to claw back up the table to avoid relegation.

“It was a different game compared to under 18s – you are fighting for every point.”

With the majority of lower league football called off due to the pandemic, Wills has had invaluable training time with the first-team squad and was in the midst of the celebrations after the team’s historic League Cup final triumph.

“It was unreal,” he said. “Even being involved on the pitch after the game and in the changing room after the fulltime celebrations was a great experience.

“It just makes you more hungry to get involved in it yourself and be one of the people starting.

“I have trained with the team near enough since I came here.

“And this season I have been travelling with the first team all year as third choice.

“The goalkeeping coach Paul Mathers is really good and you get used to being in with the first-team environment and the standard of training is much better.

“So just doing the warm-ups and then being in the stand is a really good experience.

“There is a good path for a lot of players here. You see the likes of Zander [Clark], Kano [Chris Kane] and Jason [Kerr] coming up through the youth, go on loan, get their game-time and then come back and push into the first team.

“They have done brilliantly with that and now they are starters every week.

“I have got Zander and Elliot [Parish] to look up to as keepers and you can also base yourself off what standard they are at.

“It has been brilliant seeing Zander’s standard every day. You learn and pick up things that help your game.

“Zander is always there to help you as well and there to speak if you need to ask them about anything in the session.”

Wills also draws inspiration from one of the all-time greats, which drove his dream to become a professional shotstopper.

“Every since I was young I looked up to former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas,” he said.

“He was a smaller goalie but he had his own style and I remember watching him in the World Cups and the Euros as captain.”

“Through my footballing career he has been my idol from the start.

“He is a special player I looked up to.”