Perth Glory star Josh Risdon surprises juniors at former club in return to home ground

Junior soccer players at a Perth Glory star’s former club got a surprise on Thursday afternoon as Josh Risdon returned to his home ground. Back in Bunbury to show his home town off to his new team, the Glory star, his wife and their two boys toured town, heading to cultural icons such as the art gallery — and Nan and Pop’s house. To finish off the busy day, Risdon ventured to the Bunbury United Soccer Club to reflect on his time as a junior on the hallowed Hay Park grounds. He was met with a flurry of junior players, surprised by his visit but eager to hear about how we went from in-their-boots to the world stage. With strong ties to the club as two of his three siblings play in the red each week, Risdon said the club had always felt like home, despite leaving at 14 years old to pursue soccer seriously in Perth. “It’s one of those full-circle moments to be back here where I learnt to play soccer,” he said. “We were always here. I’ve still got a lot of mates here that still play, and my two brothers still play. “I never played for the men’s here — I obviously left when I was 14. I’d love to do that one day. “(I have) so many memories. Just playing down here with all my schoolfriends on the weekend, and then I even remember coming in here (the clubroom) on Friday nights after the men’s team would train and we’d have family nights here. “They’d put on a big feed and everyone here would mingle at the club.” To hear more about Risdon’s visit, his fond memories of Bunbury, and what he has in store for the rest of the year, pick up Thursday’s South Western Times.