Adam Coombes

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Adam Coombes
0Full Name	Adam Julian Coombes
0Date of Birth	19 June 1991
0Place of Birth	Carshalton, England
0Position	Striker
0Chelsea career	2006 - 2013
0Debut	n/a
0Games (goals)	0/0
0Other clubs	Yeovil Town (loan)

Adam Coombes (born 19 June 1991) is a striker who formerly played for Chelsea. He was previously known as Adam Phillip, but officially changed his surname in July 2012 to adopt the use of his Mother's maiden name.

Contents 1 Pre-Chelsea career 2 Chelsea career 3 International 4 Career Statistics 5 Career honours 6 Post Chelsea Career

Pre-Chelsea career

Back in 2006, Adam was playing Sunday league football in Sutton without much chance of a professional career, let alone a chance at a big club. His luck changed when a Chelsea scout offered him the chance to try out for a place in the Chelsea Academy, and he seized his chance to take up a spot in the Under-16s squad.

Chelsea career

His first season with the club went better than may would have expected. He scored goals aplenty for the Under-16s, striking up a great partnership and understanding with fellow striker Frank Nouble. Midway through the season, he earned a place in the Under-18s side whilst still a schoolboy, making his debut in January 2007 against Norwich City in a game in which he hit the crossbar with a header. He continued to make appearances off the bench whilst still occasionally turning out at the lower age level before he made his first start away to Birmingham, then netted his first Under-18s goal in a 4-1 win away to Ipswich in what was an all Under-16s team (as the regular Under-18s team were away in the USA playing in the Dallas Cup).

His successful form for both teams earned him an England Under-16s call-up for a game against Spain. Not only an appearance in an England shirt, but the first English team to play at the new Wembley Stadium. His amazing year was complete when he was offered a two year youth scholarship from the start of the 2007-08 season.

After a quiet start in terms of goals and performances, Adam sprung into life as the year turned into 2008, scoring important goals in Chelsea’s run to the FA Youth Cup Final including goals in both legs of the Semi Final (one of which was the aggregate winner), and a run of five goals in five games in March which signalled his form reaching the very top of its current game, but nowhere near its limit.

He suffered a knee injury at the very end of the 2007-08 season, which kept him out for eight months. Upon his return, he looked stronger, fitter and broader, having matured into a man’s body, and began to assert himself on Reserve football. He scored a hat-trick against Portsmouth's second string in a 5-2 win in August 2009 but suffered another serious injury - this time to his ankle - which ruled him out of much of the 2009-10 season.

In November 2010, having made an impressive scoring comeback in reserve team football, Adam joined Yeovil Town on a month-long loan. Having made just three sub apppearances, he returned to Chelsea at the end of the spell. Maintaining fitness for the first time in a few years, he was in excellent form and finished the reserve campaign with eight goals.

The form continued into the 2011-12 pre-season with Adam scoring in every one of the club's friendlies and in the reserve season opener at home to Sunderland. Unfortunately, he suffered another serious cruciate ligament injury a week later and was out for six months, returning ahead of schedule in March 2012 and to the scoresheet away to Wigan a month later.

After another injury-hit spell in 2012-13, the decision was taken not to offer Adam an extension to his deal, and he was released in January 2013 to help him find a new club.

International

Adam has represented England at Under-16 level.

Career Statistics

Youth Team Football

Season	Total
	Apps	Goals
2006-07	6	1
2007-08	26	7
2008-09	12	2
2009-10	2	2

Reserve Team and Under-21 Football

Season	Total
	Apps	Goals
2007-08	2	0
2008-09	3	0
2009-10	1	3
2010-11	18	8
2011-12	6	2
2012-13	2	1

Senior Club Football

Season	Club	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2010-11	Yeovil Town (loan)	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0

(Statistics accurate as of the end of Adam's Chelsea career)

Career honours

• Premier Reserve League 2010-11

Post Chelsea Career

Adam signed a deal with Notts County in August 2013 and whilst his stay there was afflicted by yet more injury problems, he did famously score at Anfield against Liverpool in the 2013-14 League Cup.1