Springfield's Kelby Phillips ready for second year of Australian pro soccer

A lifelong love for soccer has taken Kelby Phillips far. Very far.

During middle school, the son of Springfield High School boys and girls soccer coach Pat Phillips, ventured to England at 13 years old to spend several weeks training in Manchester and competed in the Keele International Cup.

After finishing his stellar amateur career at Springfield High, and at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the 24-year-old Phillips isn’t yet ready to be done.

He’s back in Australia for his second year playing professionally Down Under, this year suiting up for the Souths United outside of Brisbane, Queensland.

"It is important from the club and myself to get the right players onboard for the Souths 2024 rebuild and Kelby Phillips is a fantastic example of this,” Souths United coach Damien Barker said in a press release after the squad signed Phillips.

Last year, Phillips spent his first professional season for Brisbane Strikers FC.

“I went to (a) combine in Michigan and a Chicago Fire scout (Matt Pearson) ... I got to talking to him and he said, you can stay here, you can go to Australia, or you can go to the Czech Republic,” Phillips said. “I thought I’d take the opportunity while I was young to go to Australia and experience it.”

Souths United is a member of the Football Queensland Premier League 2, under the larger umbrella of Football Queensland.

Surgery went well

The 2021 SIUE graduate, who got a degree in computer management information systems, played on a torn meniscus with a loose body in his right knee during his final collegiate season. Three days before his scheduled surgery, he had a combine in front of pro scouts. After seven months of recovery and rehab, he left for Australia.

“I had a bit of nerves and didn’t know how I was going to fit in, not knowing anyone out there,” Phillips said. “It’s basically like starting from scratch. It worked out well: I’ve got this host family out there. It’s almost like I’ve got a second family out there.”

Phillips said he credits Dr. Varun Sharma with allowing him to continue playing at a high level.

“Especially after playing hurt, I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep up with it,” Phillips said of his nerves getting back on the field. “Thankfully, after surgery, Dr. Sharma did an awesome job. I feel good: I was worried about losing my speed but somehow, I’ve still got it.

“I was worried that I’d lose certain (skills or abilities), but the instincts are still there. Getting back to the speed of play was probably the hardest adjustment because when you’re watching it, it just seems a lot slower.

“Once I got back into it, it’s like a switch went off.”

More: Hoops conference champs, swimming state qualifiers: Vote for the SJ-R's athlete of the week

Missing home comforts

Phillips had a great time living with his host family. But one thing he misses whenever he’s away from Springfield is his mom’s cooking. So when the family — including Pat, his mom, Dawn and sister Caragan — went to Australia last summer for a visit, Phillips had one major request.

“Mom makes homemade fettuccini and homemade spaghetti,” Phillips said. “I had her make fettuccini. We had an Airbnb and I was like, ‘Yeah, you’re going to have to make your fettuccini.’

“Obviously, it was different because we don’t have the same brand (of ingredients) but as soon as I tasted it, I was like, ‘I’ve been missing this.’ I tried making it once and it wasn’t as good. It was comparable; it got me by.”

With his family there in July for his birthday, Phillips and company caught games while the Women’s World Cup was in Australia.

“They got to see two games,” Phillips said. “Having them over there was just awesome.”

Phillips returned home in December before the family went to visit his sister in Florida for the holidays. Then it was back jetting off to continue his pro career.

Being adaptable

The 5-foot-8 Phillips can play almost anywhere on the pitch.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve played a lot of areas,” Phillips said. “I started out at right back and played right back, left back, center mid, defensive mid, attacking mid, right mid, striker, left mid.

“Everywhere but center back and goalie: wherever height isn’t required,” he added with a laugh.

In the top-four divisions of Australian soccer, teams are allowed just two foreign players.

“It’s difficult to get into some teams but thankfully, I got a good opportunity,” Phillips said.

More: Three-peat: Auburn senior completes quest for third state title at IHSA wrestling finals

He’s also coaching youth soccer there while finishing his master’s degree at SIUE online.

Eventually, Phillips will return to the United States when his playing days are over and the time comes to focus on his career. He might even get into coaching.

“I want to start working on the side — I can probably do some remote job — but I'm all about soccer until my body gives up and it can’t physically do it anymore," Phillips said. “I have a feeling I will be (coaching); I’ll be a lifer because I just love the game. It doesn’t matter whether I’m coaching or playing: I just like to be around it.”

He can even envision a day when he’s helping his dad out with his alma mater Senators.

“Of course, that would be awesome,” Phillips said before producing a grin then adding, “I’d be like a translator sometimes because some people can’t understand him when he’s yelling.”

Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Kelby Phillips: Springfield grad returns to Australia for pro soccer