The past two years for Luke Thomson have been arguably the most joyful time of his football career.

At the end of the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, Thomson took on the top role at the Nangwarry Football Club in the Mid South Eastern Football League with pride.

He led the Saints to their first win since 2014 earlier this year, but has decided to step away from the leadership role.

“I have two boys now and between that and a new job it has made my decision not to coach next year easier,” Thomson said.

“If you asked me six months ago, I said I probably was going to do it (keep coaching) but in the space of one or two months there was a couple of big changes in my life.

“Family is always first and we are flat out, so that made the decision easier.”

Thomson said he had been around football his entire life, with his first memory at the now defunct Tarpeena Football Club before his long stint at East Gambier.

“My football journey started way back playing with Tarpeena in the junior colts at the age of seven,” he said.

“Then they folded in the early 2000s and after that I made my way to East Gambier where I played all my junior and senior football right up until 2020 where we played in the Limestone Coast Football League.

“I had coached a bit of junior football for three or four years but I was ready to move on.”

After being at “The Kennel” for many years, Thomson had a dream of being a senior coach.

The Saints were looking for a leader and Thomson saw an opportunity, kicking off the process with a conversation with his parents.

“Nangwarry were looking for a coach and I had a think about it – and talking with Mum and Dad along with Azza (Aaron Davis) they said ‘if that is want you want to do, go for it’,” Thomson said.

After the 2020 Limestone Coast Football League season it was all systems go for Thomson, as the preliminary talks with Nangwarry advanced into something more serious.

“It was in the works on the following Monday after the 2020 football season, which was when I was having talks with the Nangwarry Football Club,” he said.

“It was all in the space of 72 hours and then it was on to the next year.”

Thomson had a couple more meetings with the Saints hierarchy which was where he laid everything on the table and both parties shook hands.

“I was really happy with the processes they had in place,” he said

“Craig Hicks and Dion Dennison were great in the meeting stages and took it upon themselves to find a coach.

“It was all done very well.”

Thomson has enjoyed his time at the home of the Nangwarry Saints and it was highlighted by the win earlier in the year, getting over the Tantanoola Tigers by 10 points in a history making day for the club.

Despite winning premierships with the Bulldogs, he said the drought-breaking win was easily the most memorable moment he had on a footy field, which was a sign of how much the team had grown since he took over.

“The win this year takes the cake,” Thomson said

“Looking back over the two years, the vast improvement the club has made from the first preseason session when I was over my head.

“But then we rolled out to this latest preseason and there was a massive leap, so the improvement the club has shown over the last two years has been remarkable.”

In his tenure as the senior coach, Thomson has created a family culture at the club which has seen a few up-and-coming players excel in their roles on the field.

Thomson also spoke about the progress of Joel Virtanen and the way he goes about his football as a “freak” player for the side.

For the outgoing coach he has not ruled out taking on a leadership role in the future, but will concentrate on work and family as his first priority in the short term.

“I am not sure … at this stage just a big preseason because I want to get fit and healthy mentally and physically before I make any more decisions on what I will be doing,” Thomson said.

“I will probably start thinking about it next week when I get back to running and gym work so it is exciting times.”