Adam Eckersley Becoming A Key Contributor For FC Edmonton

There were several big-time signings for FC Edmonton during the (NASL offseason. Defender Adam Eckersley was one of them. The England native and Manchester United Academy product added a wealth of experience to the Eddies’ back line. Unfortunately, a nagging injury kept the 30-year-old sidelined until recent weeks.

After playing a full 90 minutes in the Eddies Spring Season opener against Rayo OKC, Eckersley was once again watching from the press box with a groin injury.

“I trained with the physios for three and a bit weeks and started to feel like me old self”, Eckersley said. “I then got a week under my belt of training and then went into the first game against Ottawa. It’s really nice to be back involved, especially when you are out for such a long period of time. It’s not nice to be in the stands watching, especially when you want to be playing so bad.”

Things have turned around for Eckersley. The left back has started the previous four matches and has quickly become a staple on the team’s set piece opportunities; chipping in an assist on teammate Papé Diakité’s game-winning goal against the New York Cosmos before stepping into the scoring spotlight himself against Ottawa Fury FC. Eckersley’s in-swinger found room inside the back post of goalkeeper Marcel De Bellis’ goal on May 18, his first goal with the team.

Like Eckersley, the Eddies have begun to find their feet in league play. One of the NASL's hottest teams are now riding a five-match unbeaten streak in league play and have gone from the bottom of the league table, to second place overall.

“We have got a good group of guys here,” Eckersley added. “Everyone is fighting for the same cause and everyone knows what the goals are this year. I think everyone is focused on getting the job done. We are all pulling in the same direction and that’s the way it’s supposed to be in a club that’s wanting to win things.”

Despite arriving at a new club in a new city, and country, Eckersley and his family’s transition to Edmonton life was a smooth one, allowing the defender to focus on his return to the pitch. 

“Our family settled in pretty quickly and it was all about focusing on football from there on out,” Eckersley said. “It’s my wife that is the rock behind me, she is the one that takes care of the kids and allows me to come and do this everyday so I have got her to thank for a lot of what’s happening.”