Young Tiger to seek Glory down under

A teenage football starlet has returned home to Australia after failing to break into Hyde United’s midfield.

Former youth international Corey Sutherland, 18, joined the Tigers academy after a trial at Premier League side AFC Bournemouth last year. 

He also turned out for Preston North End’s under-19s during a trial at Deepdale in December 2024, playing in a 7-1 win against Salford City’s youngsters in the EFL Youth Alliance League. 

Despite being a regular on the bench for Hyde’s first team over the past couple of months, he only made one senior appearance as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Morpeth Town in January. 

Sutherland found himself behind Callum Spooner, Shakeel Jones-Griffiths, Ben Kershaw, Matt Fearnley and Jordan Scanlon in the midfield pecking order. 

He also played five times for the Hyde United under-21s, notching one assist, after coming to England. 

His football career began at Perth Glory, where he won under-17s international caps for the Joeys. 

“Corey came into the club and helped when we were really struggling with injuries,” said a spokesperson for Hyde. “However, he’s decided to fly back to Australia and everyone at the Project Solar Stadium wishes him well for the future.” 

Meanwhile, his Hyde United academy teammate Ricardo Da Costa Maquengo became the youngest Tigers player to make his debut in recent memory on Saturday. 

The first-year Portuguese striker came on for the last few minutes in Nick Spooner’s side’s 1-1 draw against Whitby Town aged just 17 years and five months.