Perth Glory may have gone down 6-2 to West Ham United on Saturday but it was an evening to remember for many of their promising youngsters.
Daniel Bennie stole the headlines with a superb finish in the second half, and he was one of nine teenagers on the field against the Premier League giants.
Joseph Forde, Kaelan Majekodunmi, Corey Sutherland, Andriano Lebib, Jaylan Pearman, James Overy, Aiki Tsukamoto, and Joel Anasmo also saw game time in front of 24,723 spectators at Optus Stadium.
They played with no fear and attacked at pace in the second half, causing plenty of problems for the Hammers.
Glory Academy Director Kenny Lowe, who was acting as interim head coach for the game, was excited about what he had seen from Bennie.
“I think Daniel is young, he’s got potential,” said Lowe.
“He just needs to keep his feet on the ground, keep working hard and doing the things that have got him here to play tonight, and keep progressing that and growing that.
“He’s a super kid, he’s balanced, he’s got no ego, a good family. He’s got plenty of chances.”
With 73 minutes on the clock and Glory trailing 4-1, Bennie latched onto a loose ball outside the penalty area and fired a superb shot low into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Hammers goalkeeper Joseph Anang.
An hour later, Bennie was stood outside West Ham’s changing room in full kit, hoping Jarrod Bowen would keep an on-field promise to hand over one of his matchworn shirts.
At right back in the second half was 15-year-old Overy, a winger playing the position for the first time, while Anasmo would’ve had a goal of his own were it not for a superb save from Lukas Fabianski.
The public were left guessing earlier on Thursday as West Ham boss David Moyes revealed that he had been tipped off about an exciting talent in the Glory squad.
“If I had to put my money on it, I’d probably say Corey Sutherland or Daniel Bennie,” said Lowe when asked who the mystery player could be.
“But then again, it’s my money so probably not.”
Bennie and Pearman, both 17 years of age, signed scholarship contracts with Glory last week and, along with Lebib and Majekodunmi, have represented Australia at youth level.
“The PGFC Academy’s track record for bringing players through is incredibly impressive and there are a host of other youngsters lining up to follow in Daniel and Jaylan’s footsteps,” said Glory CEO Anthony Radich.
“We are committed to giving young WA players the chance to represent their home-state club and look forward to seeing many more donning the famous purple in the future.”
The Glory production line has seen Chris Donnell move to Fulham in recent weeks, while it is just over a year since Joshua Rawlins joined FC Utrecht in the Netherlands. Forde has had interest from clubs in the UK.
As the club gets set for new owners and a head coaching appointment in the coming weeks, the youth development side of things looks to be in very good shape.
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