Central Coast Mariners’ nineteen-year-old goal keeper Adam Pearce grew up in Forster, getting his first taste of football in the Under 6s when he played for the Green Point  Rovers, with whom he remained until the Under 12s. 

“I then went to Football Mid North Coast for two years, then to the Wallis Lake Premier League,” he said, adding he also played for Northern NSW a few times.

Having attended Holy Name Catholic Primary School then later Forster Campus for high school, he headed to Newcastle for Years 11 and 12 at Hunter Sports High School after being selected at an inter-school match. His family followed after a year.

“I didn’t finish, but ended up playing soccer for the Newcastle Jets Youth,” he said.

 “Soccer has always been a goal, and I’ve always dreamed of playing soccer as a profession, in the A-League and then maybe overseas.

“Over last three years I have been very dedicated with what I want to do, where I want to go with the sport.”

And as they say, one man’s misfortune is another man’s gain, so when the Mariners found themselves without their first, second or third goalies due to injury it was Pearce’s turn to step up, and on April 1 he got his big break.

 “I played against the Western Wanderers and then on April 7 against the Newcastle Jets. The two games were tough. They were a lot faster than what I’m used to, the shots are a lot harder,” he said.

“The crowds were overwhelming at the start but then I got used to it.

“I like the pressure,” he said, commenting on the position of goal keeper, which he took up after the age of 14 when a Newcastle Jets scout advised him to take up a keeper position purely because of his height. All 1.96cm (6 feet 5inches) of him.

“I like saving the goals, you’re always in the game, you’ve always got something to do.”

The Mariners lost both games, 4 - 1 to the Wanderers, and 4 - 2 to the Jets, but Fox Sports commentator and local Andy Harper was calling the games and said Pearce played very well.

“He did really well in a very difficult season for the Mariners who had a challenging year. And it’s great to see a young guy from this part of the world getting into the A-League with a whole future ahead of him,” he said, full of praise. 

It’s early days yet, but Pearce is planning on more hard work training in the gym and on the field, and will take part in the Sydney National Premier League 2 for the Central Coast Mariners Academy to get some game time in before the next season. 

And then? Keep your eye out for the sandy haired goalie, who’s grown a lot since his Green Point days.