Tom Beadling

Thomas Christopher Beadling (born 16 January 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Western Sydney Wanderers. Beadling can also play as a defender.

Born in Barrow, England, Beadling spent several years in Australia before joining Sunderland's Academy. In 2017, he was loaned to Bury, where he made his professional debut, and the following year he spent half a season on loan with Dunfermline Athletic. After a successful spell in Scotland, Beadling joined Dunfermline on a permanent deal.

Beadling has been involved with Australia's youth teams in the past.

Early life
Born in Barrow, England, Beadling was raised in Ashbrooke and attended St Aidan's Catholic Academy. Beadling joined Sunderland as an eight-year old and remained linked with the club throughout his youth. In 2008, he moved to Australia when his father was offered a job in the Royal Australian Navy.

As a teenager Beadling spent time in Western Australia where he played with the National Training Centre. In mid-2009 he represented Australia at the Under-13 Festival of Football tournament in Malaysia. A family move back to England the following year saw Beadling re-enter the Sunderland academy.

Sunderland
On 26 April 2013, Beadling made his Sunderland U21 debut, starting the whole game, against Fulham U21, which he scored an own goal, in a 2–2 draw. On 14 November 2014, Beadling signed his first professional contract on a three-year contract. He was called up to the first team and appeared as an unused substitute bench, in a 1–0 win against Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup on 4 January 2015. Beadling then scored three consecutive goals for club's Under-23s between 9 March 2015 and 6 April 2015.

He captained the club's Under-23s and featured in the first team for their tour of North America in 2015. However, his progressed with ankle injury that saw him sidelined for four months. Beadling scored on his return from injury, in a 2–0 win against Norwich City U21. Weeks after returning from injury, he was called up to the first team once again and appeared as an unused substitute bench twice in the 2015–16 season.

In the 2016–17 season, Beadling appeared two times in the EFL Trophy, including scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the 2017–18 season, he appeared three times in the EFL Trophy. At the end of the 2017–18 season, Beadling's contract with Sunderland ended.

Loan spells from Sunderland
On 31 January 2017, Beadling moved to League One side Bury on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season. He appeared two times for the Shakers and returned to his parent club. Sunderland's U23 coach Elliott Dickman felt that Beadling and Andrew Nelson being loaned out would have "thrive under the pressure of playing in the Football League."

A year later, Beadling was again sent out on loan, this time to Scottish Championship club Dunfermline Athletic. He scored on his debut, in a 2–1 lost against Greenock Morton on 3 February 2018.

Dunfermline Athletic


After a successful spell with the Pars, during which time he helped the club finish in the final Scottish Premiership play-off spot, Beadling signed a two-year pre-contract deal with Dunfermline Athletic, following the end of his contract with Sunderland. On the same day Beadling was announced to have officially signed with Dunfermline, Sunderland's new ownership expressed their dismay at the player leaving. Beadling was released by the club in May 2020 following the end of his contract.

Barrow
On 20 July 2020, Beadling signed for his hometown club, Barrow, who were newly promoted to League Two. He was released following the end of his contract in May 2022.

Western Sydney Wanderers
In July 2022, Beadling returned to Australia to sign for A-League Men side Western Sydney Wanderers. Beadling made his debut for the Wanderers on 11 February 2023, in a 0-1 defeat to Sydney FC.

International career
In 2009, Beadling was selected as part of an Australian under-13 national representative side. In 2013, he was selected for an Australia under-20 camp in London.