Melbourne City goalkeeper Tom Glover, who was concussed when rioting fans stormed the AAMI Park pitch last December, is leaving the club and the A-League after 109 games.
Glover, who was this week called into Socceroos coach Graham Arnold’s squad to face World Cup winners Argentina in China, is headed to Europe after making the decision to exit the club.
He joins fellow Socceroo Aiden O’Neill in departing City in the wake of their 6-1 A-League grand final loss to Central Coast Mariners last weekend.
Glover was concussed when a bucket was thrown at him during the pitch invasion last December after he tossed back a flare thrown by a group of Melbourne Victory supporters towards him.
Glover picks up a flare thrown onto the field by the crowd during the Melbourne derby moments before a pitch invasion in ugly scenes at AAMI Park
Tom Glover is hit in the head by a bucket of sand as fans storm the pitch during the ugly Melbourne Derby earlier this season
Officials usher Glover from the field with blood streaming from his head after the incident that saw major sanctions handed down
Despite the jarring incident, Glover said he left City with only fond memories.
‘I’ve loved playing at the club, but the time has now come for me to take the next step in my career,’ Glover said.
‘I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities that City has given me to play senior football and to help me in my development on the pitch as a player and off the pitch as a person.’
‘It’s been special to be part of such a successful group and I’ll never forget the memories of the past few years, but lifting four pieces of silverware in front of our amazing fans will always be the highlight.’
Earlier this month he said the time had come to test himself in Europe and he would accept any offer that came his way.
‘I’m happy to go anywhere,’ he said.
‘I think when I came back here to Melbourne City my ambitions were to go back overseas. I’ve been here four years now so I feel like now’s the right time to take that step over to Europe.
‘I came back here to play men’s football and gain senior experience… that’s what I came here to do, and I feel like I’ve done that.’
Glover had a night to forget in the A-League grand final, with Melbourne City conceding six goals to the Central Coast Mariners
Glover started his career at Tottenham and is hoping to find a top flight opportunity in Europe after four years at Melbourne City
Glover said he would be happy to play anywhere and leaves without a concrete transfer or opportunity in his grasp
O’Neill, who made the move to Melbourne from Burnley FC prior to the 2020/21 season, scored four goals for City and in March earnt a Socceroos debut against Ecuador.
He’s also been named in Arnold’s squad to face Argentina next Thursday.
‘Melbourne City has been my home for the past three years and has brought me so many great memories,’ O’Neill, said.
‘It has been an honour to be part of such a great group of players and people. I can’t thank the coaching staff and the wider team enough for all they’ve done to help me become the player I am today.
‘I’m excited for what’s next but Melbourne City will always hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to cheering the boys on from afar in the future.’
Before playing for Melbourne, the pair had already experienced Europe. Glover had undergone training at Tottenham Hotspur’s youth academy and had a loan stint at Helsingborgs, a Swedish team.
Aiden O’Neill (right) will also depart Melbourne City to try his hand in a European league, leaving with Tom Glover
O’Neill is an emerging Socceroo, pictured competing for the ball with Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo in their international friendly this year
O’Neill emerged from Burnley’s academy and had a few opportunities to play in the senior team. Additionally, he had loan spells at both Oldham Athletic and Fleetwood Town.
‘We obviously wanted to keep Aiden and Tom at the club; however, both were clear in their ambitions to move to Europe,’ Melbourne City football director Michael Petrillo said.
‘Aiden and Tom arrived here as young players trying to re-establish their careers, so to have played an important role in their development into elite A-League Men’s players, and now Socceroos, fills us with enormous pride.
‘Given their character and ability, I have no doubt that they will continue to enhance their careers overseas and we look forward to watching their progress in the years to come’.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk