From Lindfield to Loftus Road: Kealey Adamson’s remarkable rise
Football NSW’s Josh Davies sits down with QPR right-back Kealey Adamson to discuss his remarkable rise from Association football to England’s Championship.
For Kealey Adamson, football has always been a family affair. His earliest memory of the game was watching his dad play Division 1 reserves for Lindfield FC, inspiring him to follow in those footsteps at the North Shore-based club where his journey began.
After starting as a junior at Lindfield, Adamson moved to Northern Tigers in 2014, where he would spend seven formative years rising through the ranks and captaining their youth sides. At 18, he received his first taste of senior football at Tigers, a moment that would prove pivotal in his development.
“Those last two years at Tigers propelled my abilities forward a lot,” Adamson reflects. “The club was really good to me and recognised how much effort I was putting in. They rewarded that by giving me more playing opportunities.”
His performances caught the attention of selectors, earning him a spot in the 2021 All Schools Merit Boys Team while at Killara High after representing his Combined High Schools team at the 2021 NSW All Schools Championships at Valentine Sports Park.
Kealey Adamson at the 2021 All Schools Merit Boys Team.
Sydney FC shortly after came calling, offering Adamson his first taste of professional football. It was here where he lifted the Australia Cup trophy with a 3-1 victory over Brisbane Roar, what he describes as the “icing on top” of a season of hardwork. Alongside this achievement, he played a full season in the NPL Men’s NSW competition in 2022/23, making 23 appearances and scoring once in a side that included Adrian Segecic and Hayden Matthews, who now play in the Championship for Portsmouth, and Zac Sapsford, who plies his trade in Scotland for Dundee FC.
After Sydney FC, Adamson moved to Macarthur FC where he continued his upward trajectory. In his first season, he added another Australia Cup triumph to his resume, beating Melbourne Victory 1-0. His excellent form throughout the 24/25 A-League season, featuring 26 appearances, two goals, and three assists, saw him earn him the club’s highest individual honour: the Macarthur Medal award.
“It felt like a real reward for a lot of hard effort, not just that season but a lot of seasons going into that,” he says about the accolade. “It felt like justification that I was doing the right things on the field.”
That momentum carried him to international recognition with a call-up to the Australia U23s, where he scored against Croatia in his second appearance. “One of my biggest achievements I hold,” Adamson says proudly. “I always wanted to wear Green and Gold.”
Now at QPR following his move in June, Adamson is enjoying life in West London and relishing the opportunity to compete in the English Championship. “It’s been an amazing experience so far. I’m excited for more opportunities to show what I can do at this level,” he says. “I always enjoy when your fullback seems to be involved in everything on the field—put a tackle in, then suddenly I’m at the other end putting a cross in.”
Off the pitch, Adamson has invested time into coaching, as he worked with local North Shore coaching company Vision Football and coached Northern Tigers’ U13s, alongside playing. He also gained his C Licence diploma through Football NSW, demonstrating his commitment to the game beyond his playing career.
His message to aspiring players in New South Wales and beyond is clear:
“There is a pathway, and it really is a combination of a lot of little things. You’ve got a lot more control over your career than you realize. If you really want it and remain positive and proactive, you can really make a career out of this game.”
Check out the full interview on YouTube.
