Some of the best young talent in the country converged on Sunbury United last week for the UK Football Trials Australia tryout.
The trials, which involves coaches and scouts from England visiting Australia to look at possible players, attracts players from all over Australia.
United’s Paul Di Blasi said the trials had expanded dramatically in the past 12 months.
Last year, United became just the second club to host the trials.
“There was 90 try out at the senior trials [13 to 28-year-olds] and 70 per cent of them have come from overseas. And there was the junior event as well.
“There’s kids from Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers youth league sides that have come and players from the Australian under-16 team.
“Scouts have come from division 2 clubs right through to premier league clubs, as well as Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.”
Manchester United Soccer Schools’ international head coach Robin Van Der Laan was among the coaches at the trials.
Blasi said he expected at least half a dozen players would get scouted, after a handful were selected last time round.
Among those trying out were about dozen local players who are part of United’s new academy.
As well as the trials, the coaches took about 100 local kids for a free community event on Monday, giving them and the local coaches the opportunity to learn from some of the best coaches in the world.
For more pictures from the trials, CLICK HERE
