Perth Glory can today confirm that midfielder Jacob Dowse will leave the club when his current contract expires at the end of the season.
The 22-year-old has contributed four assists during his 11 appearances for Glory this year, having joined the club in July 2022 after a hugely impressive campaign with Broadmeadow Magic in the Northern NSW NPL competition.
He was quick to thank Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich for bringing him to Glory and handing him the opportunity to take his football career to the next level.
“Ruben has done everything for me,” he said, “not just football-wise, but off the field as well from when I was a young 16-year-old where our journey started together, to now being a 22-year-old A-League player.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him wanting me to better myself and his continued belief in me.
“He is not only a great coach who has a very bright future ahead, but an even better mentor and person and I will be forever thankful for everything Ruben has done for me.
“I’ve loved my time at Glory this season.
“Everyone at the club was so welcoming when I joined and they made my transition from NPL to the A-League such an easy one.
“I’d like to thank the Glory Members and fans for making me feel so welcome and one of your own.
“Your support has helped me and the team so much and I am so thankful.
“Perth Glory is lucky to have such a good fan base.
“When it comes to the rest of this season, myself and the team have never been hungrier.
“We want to get something out of this season and to make Finals is most definitely the goal.
“We have a strong belief in the group and if we take each game as it comes, we know we can get there.”
Zadkovich was similarly full of praise for the former Newcastle Jets junior.
“I’ve been a part of his journey as a coach and mentor for a long stretch of time; nearly seven years,” he said.
“It’s been a long grind and a rewarding journey together and it’s definitely a relationship that means a lot to me.
“To watch Dowsey grow from a young kid into a young man and then see him make his mark at the professional level in Australia has been a very rewarding process.
“I’m extremely proud of how he has acquitted himself here at Glory and will be following his career from afar very closely indeed.
“I hope for his sake he can continue to grow and develop, but that responsibility isn’t in my hands anymore.
“I wish him the very best of luck.”
Glory Head of Recruitment Andy Keogh, meanwhile, was keen to clarify that the club did everything it could to retain Dowse’s services.
“We offered Jacob a two-year contract, but he wanted to return home to Newcastle to be with family and friends,” he said.
“Jacob has made a great impression during his time with Glory and on behalf of everyone associated with the club, I’d like to wish him all the very best for the future.”
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