After wanting to follow in her brothers' footsteps on the football pitch, Nico Nicolaou is relishing playing the game she loves.
Nicolaou plies her trade as the captain of Watsonia Heights’ Women’s team in and is the reigning Football Victoria State League 3 best and fairest winner.
Despite dominating the pitch in recent years, it wasn’t always so easy for Nicolaou or other females to play football.
“When I first started at age 11 at Bundoora SC, there was only a senior women’s team and I didn’t get to play the first time I tried out because I was too little, but I was able to play on my second try,” she explained.
“Other sisters from my brother's team wanted to play as well, but there was nowhere for us to go.
“I was 12 years old playing senior women’s, I played for a few seasons and then under 16s and 18s started to become available and I was able to play in the right age group.
“There just became so much available so quickly for women’s soccer that it was like it all happened at once.”
Nicolaou stayed at Bundoora for 15 seasons, before switching to a few kilometers down the road to Watsonia Heights seeking a “fresh start”.
“I just needed something different, and I had some friends move to the club, so I thought, why not.”
“I have been at the club for around five years and I am not going anywhere else because I am looked out for,” she said.
“Everyone looks out for each other at the club, they support you through everything.
“They are loyal to me, so I am loyal to them.”
After finishing third in State League 3 last season, Nicolaou already believes this year Watsonia will reach even greater heights.
“We recruited a lot of players over the off-season, we are looking really good,” she said.
“Last year was horrible for participation numbers I think COVID-19 made people drop off, but we are seeing a lot more girls come back to play which is great.
“At the moment we have 20 girls, and it is already looking like being a really positive season and really think we can win it this season.”
Despite not regularly watching the sport, Nicolaou’s passion for playing football has never wavered.
“I just love playing, she explained.
“I love to read the game, I would say I am a student of the game.
“Playing football keeps you fit, the friends you make is something I am very grateful for.”
Nicolaou has been afforded many opportunities throughout her playing career, including representing Australia at Coffs Harbour in at the National Championships, where she credits coach Ian Williamson for forming her into the player she is today.
“I play centre midfield, but I started off as a right-back and it was only when I started playing with Ian in the state team he saw my potential as a midfielder and I have been there ever since,” she said.
“When I was coming up there used to be American scouts but now you can play at a high level in pretty much any country, even our own.
“If that sort of stuff was around when I was younger I am sure that I would have strived to get there, player development has come such a long way in the time I have been playing.”
With less than 60 days to go, Nicolaou couldn’t wait for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ to start and see all the positive effects it would have on the next generation.
“We are always supporting and watching the men but now the availability on the women’s game will be amazing,” she said.
“All these young girls have the chance to look up to these women coming through and strive to be like them.”