Relocating to New South Wales to complete the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season did, of course, present Glory with a host of logistical and football challenges.
One such challenge was the need to secure access to a performance hub which would ensure that the club’s players and coaching staff remained in peak condition during what was a particularly intense period of on-field action.
Through industry connections and for the betterment of sport, Glory found exactly what they were looking for in a performance hub with the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE).
ACPE is Australia’s leading provider of specialist bachelor’s degrees in the related disciplines of sport, fitness, health, dance and physical education.
For over 100 years, ACPE has assisted both individuals and organisations across Australia by combining its passion for sport and education.
With state-of-the-art facilities, it was a natural fit and an easy decision for Glory to call ACPE home during their stay in NSW.
Michael McKnight, Partnership Manager ACPE, was delighted to welcome the men in purple to Sydney Olympic Park.
“It is exciting for ACPE that we can once again demonstrate our ability to support professional teams in their development,” he said.
“This has been a terrific learning opportunity for our students and one that I am sure they will remember.”
Jay Ellis, Sport Performance Lecturer ACPE, meanwhile, said that having Glory on campus was of real value to ACPE students.
“It has been wonderful to have a high-performance team like Perth Glory on site using ACPE’s facilities,” he said.
“It was a great opportunity for our young S&C students to learn first-hand from the Head of Strength and Conditioning on not only why he prescribed certain exercises, but more importantly how we interacted with the athletes during the session.
“Being able to watch an elite team go about their business within a strength and conditioning environment will provide huge benefits for ACPE students.
“The insight provided by Perth Glory will allow us to understand their structures and provide quality content for our students.”
Glory were similarly delighted by the arrangement, as the club’s Head of Strength and Conditioning, Scott Smith, explained.
“ACPE provided an elite-level gym environment which allowed our team to remain physically ready, while also giving the playing group the resilience required to meet the challenges that the conclusion of this competition provided,” he said.
“ACPE and their staff went above and beyond in their support of our team during our extended time away in Sydney, something that all players and staff were extremely grateful for.”
From a student-level perspective, Teigan Saunders, who is studying Health Science at ACPE, shared her excitement about being involved with a team of Glory’s calibre.
“I loved the professional atmosphere and seeing how the athletes just get in and get it done,” she said.
“Seeing how they train and understanding why they do it and what they do definitely contributed towards my learning.
“The level of focus and drive is noticeable and admirable.
“Underneath being athletes, it’s good to see them have a laugh and a joke around as well as having a genuine conversation with you.
Teigan went on to confirm how stimulating it had been for her to experience what life is like in the high-performance environment.
“It was quite motivating seeing the athletes in their set environment,” she said.
“It gives you this kind of rush or drive to want to do better and be better.
“The professional environment pushes you to strive and go forward even though you may not be ready for that.
“It constantly opens new doors and definitely opens your eyes as to what’s out there and what you can achieve; it certainly has for me.”
For more info on ACPE and its courses please click HERE.
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