Perth Glory’s preparation for the upcoming season made a tremendous start last Sunday as over 60 gifted, local footballers took to the pitch for the youth team trials.
Perth Glory-s preparation for the upcoming season made a tremendous start last Sunday as over 60 gifted, local footballers took to the pitch for the youth team trials.
After an extremely successful year that saw Glory take the runners-up trophy in last season-s National Youth League competition, Perth is looking to go one better in 2010/11 with some fresh new talent.
With seven players from last season continuing on this year, Perth will bolster the squad with as many as nine new young guns.
Local clubs and the National Training Centre (NTC) were contacted and asked to nominate the best players at their respective clubs within the age group (16-21).
Perth Glory youth team manager Dan Israel said they received a very positive response for the trials which led to a high standard of participants across the park.
“We were extremely pleased with the turnout and the support we got from clubs by putting forward their best and most promising young players.
“There are a lot of young boys out there hoping to make it and the competition is going to be fierce but if it-s a hard choice for the coaches to select the best players then that-s what we want because it means they had a good selection to choose from.
“The intensity levels were obviously high with the boys all keen to make an impression on the coaching staff.
“They-re all working hard in the hope of playing in a national competition which is a great pathway to the Hyundai A – League and beyond,” Israel said.
New Glory assistant coach Ian Ferguson joined the selection panel headed by Gareth Naven and was impressed with some of the quality on display. Ferguson has also been to several state league games since his arrival to check out some players and the local standard in WA.
The trials are being held over a four week period at Beale Park in Cockburn.
