Australian Midfielder Scores 3 in 2 Games with Fulham Academy
Australian playmaker Freddy Gagliano has scored three goals in two games for Fulham's Academy this week after getting scouted by UKFT in Brisbane in June.
Freddy, 11, was spotted at our football trials in Hervey Bay, Australia, this summer, which were run in conjunction with SOAR Football Academy hosted by Cameron Hanrahan who hosted our team and organised the event with more than 100 players on show. The UK Football Trials team ran 5 days of training and trials to find the best players from around Australia.
After being deemed to be the best player that was seen at the trials, Fulham opted to invite him to train with the the U12's and he even had a run out with the u14's making a great impression.
Two goals on his debut against Tottenham Hotspur were quickly followed up with the winner in a closely contested game against Charlton Athletic on Sunday.
Freddy's Mum, Maryanne, gave an insight into how he settled down into life at the academy.
"It's been a great experience for him, he enjoys anything that involves football," she said.
"Pete Johson, one of the scouts for UK Football Trials, came up to us and said that Freddy was a standout and he wanted us to come overseas for a trial."
She added: "We arrived on Saturday and by the Sunday he was playing against Spurs, so it all happened very quickly. He was a bit nervous at the start but he came on a lot and was very happy by the end of it, he settled in well."
Freddy also made an impression on a former England international currently playing his trade at Craven Cottage, who caught his winning goal and claimed "That lad's in a different gear!"
UK Football Trials Director Harry Price, who first met Freddy on the trip to Australia, said: "Freddy was outstanding in everything he did from minute one in Australia. Very talented in all aspects of his game and Pete immediately picked him out from the other players.
"He was polite, he listened well, had an amazing attitude and hard work ethic on and off the pitch and those reasons mixed with his technical ability meant our team of coaches and scout we took over had no hesitation in recommeding him to fulham. We're very happy that he's doing so well on his Fulham trial and will look to see how we can help him progress in the future"
Congratuations to Freddy and thanks to Pete Johnson for the hard work put in to make it happen and to Cameron Hanrahan and SOAR Academy for hosting us. We will be going to Melbourne in January to run another set of trials for players and anyone interested in attending the event can contact Cameron on soarfootballacademy@outlook.com