It’s Perth Glory Youth’s final game of the Foxtel National Youth League for the season, as they host Melbourne City at Ashfield Sports Club on Sunday morning.
The new look Glory side has performed well, and despite winning just the one game the performances have encouraged head coach John Gibson ahead of the PS4 National Premier League WA season.
“The group discussed at the start of the season that it was going to be a wonderful learning experience for everyone, and the entire squad has been tremendous. We will take a lot out of the games in a strong competition,” he said.
“Everyone has been superb, and it’s been great to see them grow, both on and off the pitch, whilst also pleasing seeing Jacob Collard and Joe Knowles both make their A-League debuts this season.”
The youngsters put in one of their best performances last week in the 2-1 defeat against Conference A Champions Adelaide United, and Gibson said they will be doing all they can to end the season on a high at home.
“Every game is tough and Sunday’s encounter will be no different, particularly against last season’s FNYL Champions, but we’ll enjoy the challenge and opportunity that presents itself as is the norm, and look to put in a strong performance,” he said.
Glory defender Calvin Whitney said he and his teammates deserved something from last week’s game, and hoped to cap off the season with a home win.
“I feel we played very well, even though we had a young side we played our football and it worked for us, but we conceded two sloppy goals early on in the game and we really should have drawn or even won it,” he said.
“We would love to win the last game of the season, and I really believe we can. Last time we played them, we played really well and hopefully this weekend we can again and win at home”
Whitney, who started playing as an 8-year-old at Belmont before moving to Forrestfield United, the Football West NTC and then the Glory Youth, said it’s been a huge learning curve for the younger players in the NYL this season.
But like the coach he believes they are improving ahead of the PS4 NPLWA.
“I think this season in the PS4 National Premier League WA we will do really well, seeing that we are playing well at the end of the Youth League season,” the 19-year-old said.
“Hopefully we can carry that form into the next season and improve on last season, when we finished the season with three straight wins.”
The match kicks-off at 10.30am on Sunday at Ashfield Sports Club.
Entry is free for all Perth Glory members so get along and support the Glory youngsters!
