Sutherland Sharks junior Tom Glover is ready to take the next step in his career after joining the Central Coast Mariners on a year-long loan deal.
Glover, who has two years remaining on his contract with English Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, will link with the A-League club for the 2017-18 season.
The 19-year-old has worked previously with Central Coast boss Paul Okon in his time in the Australian youth teams and will compete with fellow youngster Adam Pearce and former Newcastle Jets veteran Ben Kennedy for the No.1 shirt. Kennedy missed the entire 2016-17 season after suffering a rupture of his Achilles in the pre-season but the 30-year-old made 114 A-League appearances in 10 years at the club and was the Jets’ player of the season in 2012.
Glover has featured for Spurs’ under-18s, 21s and most recently played 11 times last season with the under-23s side. He played with the Olyroos in Myanmar last week where Australia secured qualification for January's AFC under-23 Championships in China.
Speaking to the Leader last month, Glover said he had been eyeing a loan away from Spurs to play first team football. He joined Tottenham in 2014 and works with Spurs’ first team keepers Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm regularly, something he believes has accelerated his development.
“A loan would be great. To go play men’s football, get that experience and see what it’s about really. Playing for proper points, a proper ladder, the coach’s job is on the line. Playing in front of big crowds and fans,” he said.
“I’m only 19 and training with those blokes you’ve just got to soak it all in because I aspire to be them. I look at them and they’re like my idols.
“Down the track, definitely [I want to play first team football]. I want to strive to be my best and play in the top leagues. It’s just a ladder to get there.”
Last season was a difficult one for Glover, who had to deal with the death of Tottenham youth team coach Ugo Ehiogu. The 44-year-old coach of the Tottenham under-23s suffered a cardiac arrest at the Tottenham training centre in April.
Glover said while it had been a tough time he was pleased with the way he overcame the setbacks.
“It was a good season. It had it’s ups and downs. I learnt a lot about myself as a goalkeeper and more as a person,” he said.
“But it was definitely a challenging season, dealing with setbacks. Within myself I had to try and find ways to deal with that which I thought I did. And now [I want to] push on to next season.
“Just things like not playing as many games as you’d like to. Just little things like that. My weaknesses, I’m easily frustrated. I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I just want to master everything.”
Okon told the Mariners website he was pleased to have Glover on board.
“Tom has all the attributes we are looking for in a goalkeeper that complements our playing style,” he said.
“With Tom’s arrival, we now have three goalkeepers who will push each other to earn that number one position which completes our goalkeeping spots for the season.”
