Welcome to A-Leagues Life, where KEEPUP brings you all the latest news and goings on at your club. This is how the week is shaping up across the A-Leagues and beyond.
It’s been some journey for Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover.
At the age of 14, Glover travelled halfway across the globe for a once in a lifetime opportunity, to trial with English powerhouse Tottenham Hotspur. It was a trip that soon became a permanent stay, signing with the club’s academy side in 2014.
Ahead of this weekend’s Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final, Glover recalled how the move to Spurs came to be and the challenges associated with moving away from the comforts of home at such a young age in order to chase your dream career.
BUY TICKETS TO THE GRAND FINAL
“I was only 14 when I first went on trial and my mum took me over there and she stayed with me for a week and then she kind of left me there and I had to kind of fend for myself,” he told KEEPUP.
“I was with a host family who took me under their wing, but it’s completely different to life back here in Australia. It was a completely different change of culture and it was a shock to be honest.
“But ultimately you had to mature at an early age and fend for yourself.
“I was sitting on the bench, I got a tap on the shoulder saying if I had ambitions to go overseas and I said, yes… within two weeks, I was on a flight to Spurs, so yeah, it’s crazy.
“You never know who’s looking, you never know who’s watching and that’s why each training session, in each game, you’ve got to perform like it’s your last because you never know when an opportunity is going to arise and, yeah, I was fortunate enough that someone saw potential in me.”
BUY TICKETS TO THE GRAND FINAL
During his time at Spurs, Glover shared the training pitch with some future stars of world football, including English striker Harry Kane – who was just starting to make his mark.
“I just always had a sore back from picking the balls out of the back of the net from Harry Kane,” he said.
“I was only a kid but he didn’t hold back. He just peppered me, so you never really left those sessions with any confidence, but they saw something with me to train with them since an early age.
“It’s just gaining those experiences and implementing in your own game.”
Glover became a regular in Tottenham’s academy sides and worked closely with the likes of French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and former Netherlands international Michel Vorm.
His impressive form led to a few call-ups to the senior side to back-up the aforementioned stoppers, but the Aussie never made a senior appearance for the club.
“I wasn’t in a regular gameday squad every single day and I was in around the first team Spurs, but I wasn’t on the bench every week and they are little experiences that you can take later down the track,” he said.
“It didn’t work out the way (I wanted), but I feel like everything happens for a reason.”
Glover went on loan twice during his time at Spurs, first to Central Coast Mariners in 2017, before joining Swedish side Helsingborg.
At the end of his contract at Spurs in 2019, Glover had the choice of returning to Gosford or signing with City – who at the time had Dean Bouzanis as their first choice keeper.
In the end, a conversation with Socceroos boss Graham Arnold helped him come to a final decision.
“It’s a funny story, I had finished up at Spurs and I had two options. I had to pick: go back to the Mariners or come to City,” he said.
“I actually had a phone call with Arnie and he pushed me to go to City. He said, just bide your time there and then you’ll eventually start playing.
“I remember that phone call so vividly and everything that we spoke about on that phone call has kind of panned out and it’s worked out.
“I bided my time. I have to be patient to get my opportunity and then once I grabbed that opportunity, it’s about running with it and not looking back, which I’ve done.
“Football is a funny game and some, you make the right moves and some make the wrong moves and I’ve been here four years now playing regular football, which is what I came here to do and obviously won a few titles on the way as well.”
This Saturday looms as Glover’s final game with City, who looks set to return to Europe next season.
Cummings to India?
Will this Saturday night be the final time Jason Cummings plays in the Isuzu UTE A-League?
According to The Scottish Sun, Cummings is set to seal a big money move to Indian Super League side Mohun Bagan, which will reportedly make him the highest paid player in the entire competition.
The Indian Super League champions also reportedly fended off interest from a number of clubs to secure the Central Coast Mariners striker.
In April, Cummings spoke about his future on The Players Pod.
“I’m as happy as I’ve ever been in my life and in my career,” he said.
“I love playing in Australia, the boys, the manager, everything, I’m so happy here. If something pops up and the club get a lot of money it might happen but just now I’m happy where I am.
“I’m focused on the last few games, securing the playoffs, and getting the boys as far as we can and winning the Grand Final.
“You never know in football. You never know what it’s going to happen, so you just kind of wait and see.”
In his one-and-a-half seasons down under, Cummings has scored 28 goals in 49 games in all competitions.
His form at the Mariners also earned him a Socceroos call-up for the FIFA World Cup, going on to feature in Australia’s 4-1 loss to France in the opening game as a second-half substitute.
Experienced defender re-signs with Macarthur
Versatile defender Jake McGing has signed a one year extension with Macarthur FC, penning a new deal until the end of the 2023/24 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
McGing – who grew up locally in Raby – has been with the Bulls since their inaugural season, making 46 appearances for the club in all competitions.
“It’s a great feeling to have re-signed,” McGing said.
“I have been at the club since the start and I want to see the club progress, being a local boy. I want to make the people of the Macarthur region proud.
“Mile (Sterjovski) was definitely a big reason for me re-signing. I really like his coaching style and the way he is as a person as well. That was a big factor in my decision to re-sign.
“The group we have, they’re a top bunch of lads so I’m really looking forward to next season with this team.”
Macarthur finished bottom for the first time in the club’s history this season and have already started to restructure their squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, announcing the departures of Craig Noone, Jason Romero, Bachana Arabuli, Aleksandar Susnjar and Nick Suman.
Meanwhile, former Wellington Phoenix midfielder Clayton Lewis signed with the club on a two year deal.
