Riccardo Calder
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Riccardo Calder
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Riccardo Amos Calder
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|1|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, England
| height =
| position = Defender / Midfielder
| currentclub = Brackley Town
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2005–2014
| youthclubs1 = Aston Villa
| years1 = 2014–2017
| clubs1 = Aston Villa
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015–2016
| clubs2 = → Dundee (loan)
| caps2 = 11
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)
| caps3 = 12
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016–2017
| clubs4 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017
| clubs5 = → Lincoln City (loan)
| caps5 = 1
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2017–2018
| clubs6 = Inverness Caledonian Thistle
| caps6 = 33
| goals6 = 1
| caps7 = 7
| clubs7 = Bradford (Park Avenue)
| goals7 = 1
| years7 = 2019
| clubs8 = AFC Telford United
| caps8 = 4
| goals8 = 0
| years8 = 2019–2020
| clubs9 = Nuneaton Borough
| years9 = 2020
| caps9 = 7
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2020
| clubs10 = Rushall Olympic
| caps10 = 8
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2021–2022
| clubs11 = Kettering Town
| caps11 = 12
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2022
| clubs12 = Rushall Olympic
| caps12 = 7
| goals12 = 0
| years13 = 2022–
| clubs13 = Brackley Town
| caps13 = 28
| goals13 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2012
| nationalteam1 = England U17
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = 18:06, 3 March 2023 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 16:36, 23 October 2016 (UTC)
| embed =
}}
Riccardo Calder (born 26 January 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender/midfielder for {{English football updater|BrackleT}} club Brackley Town. Calder is a product of the Aston Villa academy but did not break into their first team following loan spells at Dundee, Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City. Calder represented England internationally at Under-17 level.
Early life
Riccardo Amos Calder{{cite web |title=List of players under written contract registered between 01/03/2016 and 31/03/2016 |url=https://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/player-registration---march-2016.ashx |publisher=The Football Association |format=PDF |page=33 |accessdate=11 November 2016}} was born in Birmingham, England, on 26 January 1996.{{cite web |title=Riccardo Calder |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/riccardo-calder-248777/|publisher=11v11 |accessdate=3 January 2016}}
Club career
=Aston Villa=
Calder joined Aston Villa at the age of nine in 2005.{{cite web|title=Who is Riccardo Calder?|url=http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/2015/08/31/who-is-riccardo-calder-dundee-fans-guide-to-aston-villa-winger/|website=Evening Telegraph|accessdate=8 October 2015}} Calder was part of the Villa under-19's team which won the 2012–13 NextGen Series, beating Chelsea in the final of the competition.{{cite news|last1=Percy|first1=John|title=NextGen Series Final: Chelsea U19 0 Aston Villa U19 2|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/9965508/NextGen-Series-Final-Chelsea-U19-0-Aston-Villa-U19-2.html|accessdate=13 September 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 April 2013}} Calder never made a first team appearance.
==Loan to Dundee==
On 31 August 2015, the deadline day of the 2015 summer transfer window, Calder moved on loan to Dundee in the Scottish Premiership until January 2016.{{cite news|title=Aston Villa's Riccardo Calder moves to Dundee on loan|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34109609|accessdate=25 September 2015}} He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a 1–0 away win at Partick Thistle on 12 September 2015.{{cite news|title=Partick Thistle 0-1 Dundee|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34160629|accessdate=25 September 2015}} Calder made his first start for Dundee against Ross County on 25 September, featuring on the left of midfield in a 3–3 draw.{{cite news|title=Dundee 3-3 Ross County|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34299484|accessdate=30 September 2015}} Calder started again against Motherwell on 3 October and assisted Rory Loy with a cross for the opening goal of the game in a 2–1 home win.{{cite news|title=Dundee 2-1 Motherwell|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34366503|accessdate=5 October 2015}} Calder's loan spell ended at the beginning of January 2016, at which point he returned to Aston Villa.{{cite web|title=Riccardo returns to Villa |url=http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/news/riccardo-returns-to-villa |website=dundeefc.co.uk |date=5 January 2016 |accessdate=6 January 2016}}
==Loans to Doncaster Rovers==
On 3 March 2016 Calder moved to Doncaster Rovers on loan, making 12 appearances as Doncaster were relegated to League Two.{{Soccerbase season|80166|2015|access-date=2016-10-23}} On 12 July 2016, prior to the start of the 2016–17 season, Calder rejoined Doncaster on loan until January.{{cite news|title=Riccardo Calder: Aston Villa midfielder rejoins Doncaster on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36779297|accessdate=12 July 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 July 2015}} He scored his first goal for Doncaster in an EFL Trophy tie against Mansfield Town on 30 August 2016.{{cite news
|url=http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/mansfield-0-rovers-2-3281544.aspx
|title=Mansfield 0 Rovers 2
|publisher=doncasterroversfc.co.uk
|date=30 August 2016
|accessdate=31 August 2016}} The loan was not extended and Calder returned to Villa.
==Loan to Lincoln City==
On 11 March 2017, Calder joined National League side Lincoln City on a one-month loan deal.{{Cite news |title=City Secure Double Loan Signing |url=http://www.redimps.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/city-secure-double-loan-signing-3618097.aspx |publisher=Lincoln City Official Site |date=11 March 2017 |accessdate=11 March 2017}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
=Inverness Caledonian Thistle=
On 6 July 2017, Calder signed a two-year deal with recently relegated Scottish Championship club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.{{cite web |url=http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Inverness-CT-boss-Robertson-says-Draper-is-not-for-sale-as-Ross-County-bids-are-rejected-06072017.htm |title=Inverness CT boss Robertson says Draper is not for sale as Ross County bids are rejected |first=Jamie |last=Durent |work=Inverness Courier |publisher=Scottish Provincial Press Ltd |date=6 July 2017 |accessdate=6 July 2017}}
On 8 November 2018, Calder had his contract terminated by the club after being found guilty of an assault in Birmingham in May 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/inverness-caledonian-thistle-sack-riccardo-13556157.amp#referrer=https://www.google.com&_tf=From%20%251$s|title=Inverness CT sack Riccardo Calder after midfielder is found guilty of assault|date=2018-11-08|work=dailyrecord|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en}}
=Later career=
Since his conviction for assault, Calder has not managed to gain any long-term contract with any team. Now a journey man he has average more than two clubs per season since 2019:
On 23 August 2019, Calder signed for National League North side Bradford (Park Avenue).{{Cite web |url=https://bpafc.com/riccardo-calder-signs-for-bradford/ |title=Riccardo Calder signs for Bradford |publisher=Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC |date=23 August 2019 |accessdate=20 February 2022}}
On 3 October 2019, Calder joined fellow National League North side AFC Telford United on a contract until the end of the 2019–20 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/afc-telford-united/2019/10/03/afc-telford-united-complete-signing-of-former-aston-villa-youngster-riccardo-calder/ |title=AFC Telford United complete signing of former Aston Villa youngster Riccardo Calder |publisher=Shropshire Star |first=Lewis |last=Cox |date=3 October 2019 |accessdate=20 February 2022}}
On 21 January 2020, Calder joined Nuneaton Borough on a dual-registration basis.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/nuneatonboroughfc/news/riccardo-calder-joins-2505155.html |title=Riccardo Calder joins |publisher=Nuneaton Borough FC |date=21 January 2020 |accessdate=20 February 2022}}
On 14 August 2020, Calder signed for Southern League Premier Division Central side Rushall Olympic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rofc.co.uk/news/new-signing--calder-gets-the-call |title=New Signing: Calder gets the call |publisher=Rushall Olympic FC |date=14 August 2020 |accessdate=20 February 2022}}
Calder then returned to National League North in order to sign for Kettering Town.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ketteringtownfc.com/news/riccardo-calder |title=Riccardo Calder |publisher=Kettering Town FC |accessdate=20 February 2022}}
On 19 February 2022, Calder rejoined former club Rushall Olympic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rofc.co.uk/news/new-signing--return-of-the-calder |title=New Signing: Return of the Calder |publisher=Rushall Olympic FC |date=19 February 2022 |accessdate=20 February 2022}}
In July 2022, Calder returned to the National League North to join Brackley Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.brackleytownfc.com/news/riccardo-calder-signs-for-the-saints-2713600.html|title=RICCARDO CALDER SIGNS FOR THE SAINTS|website=www.brackleytownfc.com|date=11 July 2022|accessdate=12 July 2022}}
International career
Calder has represented England at Under-17 level, playing at the 2012 Nordic Under-17 Football Championship in the Faroe Islands. He made four appearances including the final as England came runners-up to Sweden.{{cite web|title=P16 Nordisk pojk Placering Matchinformation: England mot Sweden (Swedish)|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/landslag/2012/08/startelvan-i-finalen/|website=svenskfotboll.se|accessdate=8 October 2015}} Calder is also eligible for the Jamaica national football team through his family history.
Conviction and imprisonment
In a November 2018 trial at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, Calder was found guilty of assault on a 24-year-old woman, what began with a minor car accident resulted in a repeated assault on the victim by Calder.{{cite news |title=Footballer Riccardo Calder jailed for car park assault |date=12 December 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-46542785 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=14 December 2018}} As a result, his contract with Inverness Caledonian Thistle was immediately terminated.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46142675|title=Riccardo Calder: Inverness Caledonian Thistle sack defender after guilty verdict|date=2018-11-08|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2018-11-08|language=en-GB}} This came less than a week after he scored his first professional league goal. Calder was subsequently sentenced to nine months in prison. Calder was released after serving 10 weeks of the sentence and stated his hope to return to professional football.{{cite web |title='I've been at my lowest' - Former Aston Villa man's account of life after jail |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-riccardo-calder-jail-16150807 |website=Birmingham Live |date=18 April 2019 |publisher=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=2 May 2019}}
Personal life
Calder records music under the pseudonym Cardz and made a rap music video for the YouTube channel, Link Up TV, called "Gettin' It", as well as an album called Overtime which is available on streaming platforms Spotify and Deezer.{{cite web |title=Footballer by day and rapper by night - Inverness CT's Riccardo Calder reveals he's turned down record deals to stay in football |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/footballer-day-rapper-night-inverness-13275345 |website=Daily Record |date=20 September 2018 |access-date=17 January 2022}} In 2018 he claimed to have turned down recording contracts to focus on his professional football at Inverness.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 6 December 2022}}{{soccerway|riccardo-calder/260309|accessdate=8 November 2017}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Aston Villa
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Aston Villa Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dundee (loan)
|2015–16{{soccerbase season|80166|2015|accessdate=8 November 2017}} |11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers (loan)
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Doncaster Rovers (loan)
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|80166|2016|accessdate=8 November 2017}} |15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4Appearances in the EFL Trophy | 1 | 20 | 1 | |
| Lincoln City (loan)
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1Appearances in the FA Trophy | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3" |Inverness Caledonian Thistle
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|80166|2017|accessdate=8 November 2017}} | rowspan="2" |Scottish Championship |24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup | 2 | 34 | 2 | |
| 2018–19{{soccerbase season|80166|2018|accessdate=20 February 2022}}
|9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| colspan="2" |Inverness Total
!33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 46 | 3 | |
| Bradford (Park Avenue)
|7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| AFC Telford United
|National League North |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Nuneaton Borough
|7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Rushall Olympic
|Southern Football League |8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
| Kettering Town
|National League North |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Rushall Olympic
|Southern Football League |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Brackley Town
|National League North |17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | ||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!134 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 155 | 6 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
=Aston Villa U19=
= Inverness Caledonian Thistle =
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway}}
- [http://www.thefa.com/england/all-teams/players?p=353150 England profile] at The Football Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calder, Riccardo}}
Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
Category:Lincoln City F.C. players
Category:Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. players
Category:Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. players
Category:AFC Telford United players
Category:Nuneaton Town F.C. players
Category:Rushall Olympic F.C. players
Category:Kettering Town F.C. players
Category:Brackley Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Criminals from the West Midlands (county)
Category:English male criminals
Category:English people convicted of assault