Thomas Waddingham

Thomas Waddingham scored in the 2023–24 Australia Cup final for Brisbane Roar, though Sydney FC won it 3–1. It was his fourth goal of that run, which took in five matches.

He grew up in Cairns and began at Edge Hill United. In 2021 he moved to Brisbane to join the Roar academy. A short trial at Blackpool's youth academy did not lead to a contract. From 2022 to 2024 he played for Brisbane Roar's NPL side, scoring 12 goals in 29 appearances, and in 2023 he stepped up to the A-League Men squad. By early 2025 he had made 34 league appearances and scored 11 goals. In November 2023 the Liberty Next Gen Tracker placed him second among the competition's under-21 players.

Australia's youth sides took notice as well. Between October 2023 and 2024 he won eight caps for the Under-20s and scored twice. In April 2024 he made one appearance for the Under-23 Olyroos. He was part of the Australia Under-23 team that finished as runners-up at the 2024 WAFF U-23 Championship.

On 22 January 2025 Waddingham left for England, signing for Portsmouth on a three-and-a-half-year contract that runs to 2028. The Portsmouth News reported the fee as £200,000, while Brisbane Roar described it as undisclosed. He is left-footed and plays as a striker. By late 2025 he had scored once for Portsmouth.