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Webber Steadying in the Defence

Loyalty is not common in football these days. Players come and go from clubs, leaving fans empty as their heroes go and play for their fiercest rivals. Even in Australia, where money for football is scarce, it is rare for a player to stay with one club, especially when that club runs into trouble.

One player who has stuck it out with his club, in their hour of need, is Adam Webber. The born and bred Brisbane-ite is having one of his best seasons in the Strikers shirt as they challenge for the title in the Brisbane Premier League.

Webber says it wasn’t very difficult for him to make the decision to stay with the Strikers. “When I heard the Strikers were playing in the Premier League and they contacted me I decided to go there, it was an easy decision.”

Webber started his professional football career at the Strikers. After impressing as junior at Mount Gravatt, he was selected for the Queensland under 14 side, at the National Identification Titles.

This opened the doors to the Queensland Academy of Sport, where he honed as skills and waited for his chance to play for the Strikers. “At the end of NSL season in 1999, about 7 or 8 games to go, there was a few injuries and Kossie called up Jon McKain and I. I played the last few games of that season, and then he offered us both contracts for the next few seasons.

We played a year part time, then the club went full time which was great; training full time and being able to concentrate solely on soccer”, Webber says as he looks at his old pair of boots.

The Strikers played a vital role in helping Webber become the footballer he is today. It’s part of the reason why he wants to stay at the club he likes to call “my team”.

He notes the past players from the Strikers with a sense of pride as Webber explains his development as a footballer. “I went from playing with guys my own age straight to NSL, which was a big jump and one which I had to adapt to quickly. Just training and playing with players such as Clint Bolton, Nick Meredith, Jade North, Wayne Srhoj, and Steffo, it taught me a lot fairly quickly and forced me to mature as a player. Also as a defender having players like Gwynne, Laybutt, and McLaren to learn from was awesome.”

Having risen through the ranks, Webber has become a vital cog in the Strikers defence this season. His performances so far have been exceptional and he is proving to be a real leader on the field.

But Webber prefers to praise his team mates for the good start the Strikers are having to the season. “I think we have assembled a very good squad that should be challenging come the end of the season. We have added some quality players from Lions like Lowndesy and Carloss as well as the City boys Waugh and Belly. That has really strengthened our midfield and with Di Losa and Woodruffe up front I think we have the makings of a great side.”

For now Adam Webber is concentrating on this season for the Strikers in the Premier League. However the 22 year old still wants to show his talents at the highest level possible. “I still have ambitions to play in the A-League one day. Ideally I would love to play for them in the A-League if and when they get admitted.”

And when that happens, Strikers fans will be thrilled to see one of their favourite sons, lead the team out.