Charlie Adams, a versatile midfielder with prior USL experience, was a late season addition who seemed to knit into the team quickly and provide a bit of a spark.
Born on May 16th, 1994, Charles James "Charlie" Adams grew up in the greater London area. At the age of 16, he signed a two-year scholarship with Brentford's Centre of Excellence youth academy and featured in their youth team the next two years included a deep run in the FA Youth Cup in the 2010-11 season. Aging out of the academy, he signed a one-year development squad contract with Brentford for the 2012-2013 season and appeared in 22 of the developmental squads matches as well as a single first team match against Carlisle United in the Football League One (third division).
At the start of the 2013-2014 season Brentford signed Charlie to a further two year contract with the development squad. During the 2013-1014 season he appeared in 10 developmental squad matches and made an additional three first team appearances. On February 11th, 2014, Adams was loaned out to Barnet, another London team in the fifth division, for five games before being recalled on March 9th and having his contract upgraded to a first team contract on March 20th, 2014. At the end of the 2013-2014 season Brentford was promoted up to the Championship (second division).
Buried deep in the first team rotation during the 2014-2015 season, Charlie was loaned out to Stevenage, a fourth division team, for two one-month periods during the fall of 2014 where he featured in 9 of their games before returning on December 21st, 2014. After only nine developmental squad appearances for in 2014-2015, Adams departed mid-season and signed with Louisville City FC in the USL on a free transfer on February 27th, 2015.
A debut team in the 2015 USL season, Louisville City FC was coached by James O'Connor an Irish footballer turned coach who had seen Adams play at Stevenage. Wearing #94, Charlie appeared in 20 matches and started in 15 while playing all over the midfield as a high on the bench substitute without winning a regular starting position. He scored two goals (as a substitute against Saint Louis FC in his first appearance for Louisville on March 28th, 2015 and against the Wilmington Hammerheads later in the season), with a third in a USOC match and two assists. At the end of the season Charlie was released and returned to England.
As it was mid-season in England, Charlie was unsuccessful at hooking up with another team until he signed a short-term deal with Stevenage in late April where he made two appearances for a total of 81 minutes before their season ended in May. Finally on August 3, 2016, he returned to the United States and the USL when he signed with Real Monarchs SLC.
Away from match competition for sometime, Adams did not appear on the field for Real Monarchs until September 3rd, 2016, against the Tulsa Roughnecks. Wearing #41, Charlie appeared in the final five Real Monarch matches with three starts and a total of 291 minutes at several midfield positions. Charlie had a single goal with a left-footed side volley inside the box on a ball knocked out by the keeper during the San Antonio FC game on September 14th, 2016.
“I’ve learned a very different style of play and a lot from the other players... It’s all there... we just need a bit of consistency”
With the recent confirmation that he will be returning to Real Monarchs SLC for the 2017 USL season, it is hoped that Charlie will be able to get hone his fitness during the off-season and prepare for a full season at altitude. Look for him in a variety of midfield positions, at least initially before perhaps moving to a single role as the new 2017 roster settles down. Regardless, with his wide-eyed innocent stare and a strong British accent Adams will be a fun addition to the ever changing Monarchs.