Erin Nayler – Five Things We Know About The Goalkeeper

The Football Ferns happen to be the best female national teams in Oceania. They have won the OFC Women’s Nations Cup six out of eight times. This wouldn’t have been possible without the likes of Erin Nayler. Erin has been with the team for over eight years but there are no plans of replacing the shot-stopper anytime soon.

It is no surprise, Erin began her goalkeeping career at the age of 10. For over two decades she has been catching and preventing Footballs from hitting the back of the net and she is good at it. That’s not all, here are five things we know about the New Zealand goalkeeper.

Mark Nayler was Erin’s first coach

Erin Nicole Nayler was born in Auckland, New Zealand on the 17th of April, 1992. She’s 29 years old. Mark Nayler, Erin’s father, was her high school coach at Westlake Girls High School. She won countless tournaments during her secondary school days until she graduated in 2009.

Sadly, Erin lost her mother in 2018. Erin has a younger brother who is also an athlete. He claims his choice of career was greatly influenced by his sister.

Erin Nayler is a biologist

In 2010, Erin got admitted to Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. During her time there she played for the IPFW Mastodons while studying biology. After a year, Erin left IPFW to play for another team. She played for a few teams, some for just a season before she graduated.

Presently, it is believed that Erin studies Molecular Biology at the prestigious Massey University.

Erin Nayler made her international debut in 2013

In 2010, Erin was a member of the New Zealand U-20 for the Women’s World Championships. In the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Erin’s performance earned her a spot in the senior New Zealand team. She participated again in the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Championships and was a standby player for the 2012 Olympics.

READ ALSO: Sara Stone bio

Erin officially made her debut to the senior team at the 2013 Cyprus Cup that ended in a 2–0 victory over Italy. Erin captained Northern Football in 2015, winning the National Women’s League, a top-flight Women’s Football Tournament in New Zealand.

Erin left Reading for Umeå IK

Playing for international clubs hasn’t been easy for the five feet nine inches tall athlete. Erin hasn’t been given enough playtime outside of her national team. Her best experience so far has been 2017 – 2020 where she made 11 appearances for Grenoble-Foot-38 and 32 appearances for Bordeaux.

Erin signed with the FA Women’s Super League club Reading but the contract only lasted for a year with zero appearances. “You don’t bring over an international goalkeeper unless they’re going to be your number one,” she said.

Erin had complained about being a bench warmer for most clubs and was hoping to play, preferably, for a new club putting together a team. It will be a great opportunity for her to prove to her fans that she can perform well outside her national team.

In October 2021, the shot-stopper was signed by the Elitettan club Umeå IK. Erin will head to Sweden to compete in the 2022 Damallsvenskan season after Umeå’s promotion to the competition after winning the Elitettan (Swedish second division) last season.

Erin is a married woman

Athletes, especially female athletes, are advised to keep marriage aside until they transit out of the major leagues. But to every rule, there is an exception. So, this rule (more of an advice than a rule) doesn’t apply to young Erin.

Erin got married in 2020 to Jordan Carter. The new couples are yet to have a child.

In case you have always had a crush on Erin, there it is, the nail on the coffin of ever getting to call her yours.

Image source: Besoccer