Ocean City Barons - Ocean City Barons

Adam Williamson returns home

Ocean City native spent two years in the pros

OCEAN CITY, NJ (May 1, 2008) - The Ocean City Barons have signed Adam Williamson (Lehigh / Ocean City, NJ), a former player and Ocean City High School graduate, for the 2008 season.

After leaving the Ocean City Barons, Williamson played for the New England Revolution (MLS) and the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2).
Photo by Tony Biscaia - RevsNet.com

Williamson last played for the club in 2005 when he suited up for 13 games, helping the team make the playoffs and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup that year. The Barons welcome him back after two years of playing professionally for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Wilmington Hammerheads of the United Soccer Leagues’ Second Division (USL-2).

The year after playing the 2005 PDL season in Ocean City, Williamson was drafted in the third round (35th overall) of the MLS Supplemental Draft by the New England Revolution.

"Playing for New England was, without a doubt, my best soccer moment of my career," said Williamson. "I can still remember the day that I got drafted."

Williamson spent the season as a reserve, making the 18-man travel roster in half of the games that season. He played seven games for the Revolution reserve team, but at the end of the 2006 campaign, he was waived.

The following year he signed with the Wilmington Hammerheads, and looked to have an impressive year for the USL-2 side after scoring two goals and contributing five assists in five preseason games. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in the second to last exhibition game and missed the first half of the 2007 season. He returned midseason and played in 14 games. Along with two assists that year, he also scored his first professional goal in a 1-0 win at the Bermuda Hogges on June 19, 2007.

He was drafted by the Philadelphia Kixx of the Major Indoor Soccer League, but never suited up for the 2007 league champions. He also had another opportunity to play in the Danish First Division, but decided to stay stateside and declined the offer.

With the entire off season to think about it, the Ocean City native decided to solidify his financial future, rather than "living paycheck to paycheck." He used his accounting degree from Lehigh University to accept a job at KPMG, one of the elite accounting firms in the country. He also has plans to get his MBA and to become a CPA as well. He is currently working for Fox Real Estate in Ocean City, before he moves on to KPMG in the Fall.

"I never thought I would even play professional soccer," said Williamson. "To have two years of playing at that level, I have no regrets."

While he is hanging up his cleats, the professional ones anyway, he is still leaving the door open if another opportunity would present itself.

"With Philadelphia getting a team in MLS, you never know. Maybe I will go for a tryout," he said. "As far as I can see, I would love to play for the Barons for as long as I can. I look forward to playing again in front of my hometown friends and family."