Neville’s a chip off the old block

When Sorrento struggled to avoid relegation in 2007, Coach Steve Neville relied on the Gulls crop of young players to see them clear of danger.

That paid dividens in 2008, when the Percy Doyle Reserve side won the Football West Premier League title, and one of the youngsters who was part of this success was Steve’s teenage son Scott.

The 19-year-old is following in his father’s foot steps, after signing for the Perth Glory Youth squad this season, and has been outstanding to date.

Neville senior, who was a professional in the UK, playing over 500 games for Southampton, Exeter City, Bristol City and Sheffield United, before heading to Hong Kong, is delighted the way Scott has performed for the Glory. “He’s done really well, but a lot of the credit must go to Gareth Naven and Scott Miller at the Glory, because he’s never played at centre half. “He’s played midfield and right back for me and when he was played in a central defensive role early a few eyebrows were raised. I’ve watched him at every home game this season and each game he seems to improve. He’s always been really dedicated with his football, he works hard before and during the game, which a lot people don’t see,” said Steve.

For Scott he’s over the moon with the opportunity to play in the A-league youth side and is relishing every minute. “Things are going really well, on a personal level I’m loving every minute of it.

“All the boys have been training hard and are a great bunch of lads and I think that shows when we play our games,” said Scott.

A number of state league players have made the step up to the Glory youth set up and Scott believes it’s a great stepping stone for them to play for the Glory senior side. “All the boys have done well this season and I think that anyone in the squad could make the step up. They are all good players and we are all willing to learn and it will just be a matter of time before some of the boys follow Andrija Jukic and make the step up,” commented Scott.

The opportunity for the young Glory players to have over aged players in the side has helped to develop the squad and Scott has learnt a great deal from them. “Personally everyone of the over age players that have came in for us have showed great professionalism and a great desire to win.

“I would have to say that I have learnt a lot from David Tarka seeing that he plays the same position as me it is good to talk to him and get advice from someone that has played at a high level with Nottingham Forest in the UK,” explained Scott.

Scott, who was part of the NTC programme and has represented the state in the under 13’s, 15’s and 16’s, believes the former Glory greats in Gareth Naven and Scott Miller have done a great job in the first season of the youth league.  “They are both great to play for as they are two different types of coaches but compliment each other really well. They are very effective as they both have had many years of experience at a high level and have been involved in the game for along time.

“The best thing about the pair is that they are always trying to improve us as players individually and as a team and that they are interested in the progress of each player and their development,” said Scott.

The Youth League is in its first season and Scott has been impressed with the standard of football and a couple of sides have stood out. “Sydney has impressed me, as they have beaten us twice and they are a well structured unit and are a very big side but saying that they are definitely beatable, as we showed in the first game.

“Another club that has impressed me is Queensland as they are all quick and dynamic and that makes them hard to play against,” added Scott.