Football Ferns goalkeeper Erin Nayler is about to open a new chapter in her career after signing for English FA Women’s Super League outfit Reading FC.

Nayler has been based in France for four years and is relishing the prospect of performing in the English top flight for the first time. 

“It’s regarded as one of the top leagues in women’s football, so to go there and test myself against the best will be great,” she says. 

“It will be good to go to a culture where I can speak the language, I’ll feel a little bit more comfortable.”

The 28-year-old was most recently with Bordeaux but returned to her home in Northland in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been training with a local men’s team to keep her skills sharp.

She will become the second Football Fern to play for Reading, following in the footsteps of defender Anna Green.

Green had one season with the Royals prior to returning to New Zealand in 2018 after a seven-year stint overseas. 

Nayler will join Ferns veteran Ria Percival, who stars for Tottenham Hotspur, as one of only two Kiwis currently on the books of Women’s Super League clubs.

Another Fern, Olivia Chance, was recently with Bristol City but is on the look-out for a new club after being released while Katie Rood plays for second-tier Lewes FC.

Despite agreeing on a move to England, Nayler is keeping a keen eye on the developments around a New Zealand-based team potentially playing in Australia’s W-League, a prospect which has been further fuelled by the successful joint bid with Australia to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

“I think it would really grow the game in New Zealand and would also help our national team develop a lot,” she says. 

“The World Cup bid will help to push that and I hope it happens before the World Cup because then I would look at coming home and playing here.”

Reading finished fifth out of 12 teams last season, which was abruptly ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the most famous clubs in English football finished ahead of them with champions Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United occupying the top four places.

On the international stage, Nayler is firmly established as her country’s number one and has 71 caps to her name. 

Erin Nayler, left, celebrating the successful joint bid to host the World Cup (Photosport)

Article added: Monday 13 July 2020