sport
Perth Glory Youth Setup Draws National Eyes
The A-League club’s academy stands out after recent recruitment gains and community ties.
How we reported this
Perth Glory’s under-21 academy added 42 new players this month, pushing total enrolment past 260 for the 2026 season.
The timing lines up with Australia’s push deeper into the 2026 World Cup and the end of the local winter break. Glory officials see the numbers as proof that families in Perth now treat the club’s pathway as a realistic route to senior contracts rather than a hobby.
Training bases and match venues
Most sessions run at the club’s Balcatta complex on Erindale Road, while match days shift to HBF Park in East Perth for the National Premier Leagues youth fixtures. The two sites sit 18 kilometres apart, yet both report higher spectator counts than the same fixtures last July.
Glory’s academy director confirmed the club spent $1.8 million on new floodlights and video analysis gear at Balcatta in April. That investment produced a 22 per cent rise in trial requests compared with the 2025 intake window.
Numbers and next steps
Current figures show 14 academy graduates on senior A-League contracts across Australia, six of them still with Glory. The club plans an open trial day at HBF Park on 26 July for any 16- to 19-year-olds not already registered. Parents can register online through the club site or by phone before 20 July.
Anyone wanting to watch the next youth game can buy tickets at the HBF Park gate for $12. The next fixture is listed for 19 July against Adelaide United’s youth side.