Calder Appointed Seniors Assistant Coach

MetroStars is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Calder as Seniors Assistant Coach for the 2025 National Premier League South Australia season.

Calder joins MetroStars as a recently retired player from Salisbury Inter Womens Soccer Club in which she has co-captained her team to 3 championships, one of which was a treble in 2021 in the Women’s National Premier League South Australia.

Throughout her tenure as a player, Calder has amassed 148 WNPL SA matches, adding another premiership title during her stint at Metro United WFC in 2018. 

Known as a formidable centre back, she has been recognised with four Team Of The Year selections and multiple individual accolades, the latest being named Player of the Match during her side's 2024 WNPL SA Grand Final victory. 

Aside from her local playing experience, Calder has also travelled the world pursuing her footballing ambitions, recently returning from the UK where she signed for Rugby Borough Women’s Football Club, a team in the FA Women’s National League Northern Division.

Prior to this, Calder was fortunate to receive a full scholarship to play Division 1 football at Kennesaw State University in the US. Her earlier playing years included experiences with both the Junior and Young Matildas, captaining multiple State Teams at National Championships, as well as being the recipient of a full SASI scholarship at the age of 14. 

Whilst attending college in the US, Calder received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a specialisation in coaching.

She has furthered her coaching education by starting her licensing in three different countries, obtaining her UEFA C and AFC C licenses within the past 18 months.

Calder has also completed the Coerver courses and obtained a PFSA Scouting certificate.

Calder's education has been complemented with practical experience coaching multiple junior teams in three different countries – recently coaching an U17 Girl’s team in 2023 and co-coaching an U15 Girl's team to a premiership title in 2021. She worked in an advanced training centre program in the UK and was hired as a sports psychologist coach in the US while also coaching multiple junior teams. 

Calder spent the past 12 months in a mentorship program with the Senior Coaching group as part of the club’s commitment to inclusivity and leadership diversity. During that time Calder demonstrated exceptional levels of professionalism, commitment and dedication to the development of coaching skill sets to work at the elite level of football in South Australia. 

Senior Coach Danny Graystone welcomed the appointment of Calder:

“ Nicole approached me in 2024 to ask for support and mentorship on her coaching journey. During that time I have been extremely impressed with Nicole’s application, desire to learn and her willingness to seek feedback to progress her coaching journey which is an absolute essential requirement for any coach that works within the Senior department at MetroStars.

I am extremely pleased to welcome someone of Nicole’s pedigree into the MetroStars family and I am excited to see her coaching journey progress” 

We welcome Nicole and her family to MetroStars.