From Adamstown Brick Wall to Asian Cup Glory: Clare Wheeler's Football Journey
Newcastle-born Matildas star Clare Wheeler has revealed the humble beginnings of her football career started with a simple brick wall at Adamstown. As she prepares for her second Asian Cup appearance, the 28-year-old midfielder reflects on how her journey from local clubs to professional success began with basic backyard practice.
Local Beginnings Spark International Career
Wheeler, a product of the Jets academy and former Hunter Sports High School student, explains that her path to 34 Australian caps began almost two decades ago at the Adamstown football club. "For me, I just got into it because a friend was playing," she said. "When I started playing, it was only under 12s I think that girls football started."
The midfielder, who now plays professionally for English Women's Super League club Everton, credits her early experiences with developing her love for the game. "Definitely at Adamstown, it started my love of football. Just being able to play. There's a brick wall at Adamstown, if you know you know, just kicking against that," Wheeler revealed.
Rapid Rise Through Football Ranks
Wheeler's football journey accelerated through her teenage years with several notable achievements:
- Selection for Northern NSW representative teams
- Emerging Jets program participation
- W-League selections leading to domestic success
Her breakthrough came in 2020-2021 when she claimed a domestic premiership with Sydney FC. The second half of 2021 proved particularly transformative as Wheeler both made her national team debut and moved overseas to join Danish side Fortuna Hjorring.
Tournament Experience Shapes Current Approach
Now preparing for her second Asian Cup appearance, Wheeler acknowledges significant personal and professional growth since her 2022 tournament debut. "Very different, just as a person and what I've been exposed to in football," she said when comparing her two Asian Cup preparations.
"Obviously it [2022] was my first tournament, I had my first start, my first time versing a lot of those teams in terms of national level. A lot of firsts," Wheeler explained. "Coming into it now I definitely feel more prepared in terms of having had that exposure."
The midfielder now brings World Cup (2023) and Olympic (2024) experience to her Asian Cup campaign, along with full-time professional experience in the Women's Super League.
Matildas Eye Tournament Success
With less than one month until Australia's opening match against Philippines in Perth on March 1, Wheeler says the Matildas have clear ambitions. "It leaves you wanting more and we haven't won this tournament in a really long time," she stated, referencing Australia's sole Asian Cup victory in 2010.
"We've experienced going deep into a tournament, to place where we haven't been before [World Cup], and we've experienced falling short [Olympics, Asian Cup]. So we've had both ends of the scale so now we come to this tournament and we want to go all the way," Wheeler emphasized.
Balancing Club and Country Commitments
While preparing for international duty, Wheeler continues her Women's Super League commitments with Everton, where she's contracted until mid-2027. She recently contributed to a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa and faces upcoming matches against London and West Ham before the Asian Cup break.
"The best and worst thing is that you always have another game, probably next week," Wheeler noted about the professional football schedule. "That means you can't ride your highs for too long but also you don't ride your lows for too long, because there's another opportunity to make a new memory basically."
The midfielder approaches the tournament with practical perspective: "With the tournament being in the season, obviously it's a bit different, but it's only one month away, a massive tournament and we're at home. Something we're starting to think about, but as a player we've all got games we have to think about now."
Newcastle Connection Remains Strong
Wheeler isn't the only Novocastrian in the Matildas setup, with fellow Newcastle native Emily van Egmond and Jets defender Tash Prior also included in coach Joe Montemurro's squad. Australia's Group A campaign includes matches against Iran on the Gold Coast (March 5) and South Korea in Sydney (March 8), with knockout stages beginning March 14 and the final scheduled for March 21 at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.
The tournament features defending champions China alongside North Korea, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Japan, Vietnam, India and Chinese Taipei, providing strong competition for the Australian team seeking their first Asian Cup title in 16 years.
