CALGARY—Calgary Wild FC brass have turned to “The Land of The Ferns” for the second player added to its inaugural roster, locking up Kiwi, Meikayla Moore.
The centre back, and key member of New Zealand’s National Team since 2013, has booked her ticket to Calgary to join the city’s first professional women’s sports team just two months after representing New Zealand at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Moore also represented the Kiwis at the Tokyo 2020 and Brazil 2016 Games. Her impressive resume boasts more than 60 matches with the national squad.
Moore joins Afghan-Canadian professional footballer, Farkhunda Muhtaj, as the first two players penned to the Calgary Wild FC roster.
“It’s very exciting to be the second player named to this team. Farkhunda seems like an incredible and empowering individual and although I do not know her personally yet, I am really looking forward to meeting her, along with the rest of the squad, and to creating some magic on an off the field together,” said Moore, who also captained New Zealand’s U20 World Cup squads in 2016 in addition to being on the 2014 roster.
“I love Canada as a country. I think there are a lot of similarities with New Zealand which is comforting! To be a part of the program as a whole, especially in its inaugural season, is quite special. I can’t wait to get started.”
Nicknamed “Mousey,” Moore is no stranger to professional football, having played for many notable clubs over the course of her distinguished career including: FC.1 Köln; MSV Duisburg; Liverpool FC; and Glasgow City FC. She has achieved significant milestones that include winning the Women’s Championship Trophy in England, promotion to the Women’s Super League, and becoming Scottish Women’s Premier League champions in 2023.
“Meikayla is an experience defender who has delivered under some of the most pressured situations at all levels of the sport. Her experience and leadership make her a valuable addition to our club,” said Alix Bruch, sporting director, Calgary Wild FC. “Beyond playing the game, each of the players on the Calgary Wild FC team will play a huge role in making meaningful connections and positive change in our community. Meikayla’s rollercoaster journey on and off the pitch is a true inspiration for young girls who will have the chance to connect with her, providing the next generation with comfort and security that if she can do it, maybe they can too.”
Calgary Wild FC’s mission to leverage sport as a vehicle to make a positive impact on the pitch and in the community attracted Moore to join the movement in bringing the “call of the wild” from Calgary’s first professional women’s soccer team.
An advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and women’s empowerment, Moore is driven to inspire younger generations to live a healthier and more active life by engaging in sports while ensuring all have a place to play.
“Calgary Wild FC’s values align with my own of being bold, brave and wanting to be a catalyst for change. Everything the Wild FC stand for, on and off the pitch, I believe embodies me as a player,” added Moore. “I will aim to play with humility and desire in the relentless pursuit of excellence, but this game, this team, and the Northern Super League, is so much bigger than 90 minutes of football. I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career to experience different environments and opportunities within the game, and I’ve also faced many challenges that have both shaped me into the person I am today. I aim to bring all of that to Calgary and hopefully inspire younger Calgarians in the process through my actions on the field and through community outreach off of it.”
Moore also understands the importance of Calgary having one of the six founding teams in Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league.
“I sympathise with young Calgary female footballers who have not had a home professional football team to aspire to play for. Growing up in New Zealand, I also didn’t have that opportunity, going overseas was all I knew,” said Moore. “It’s exciting to see the younger generations now have that option on home soil to do so. I am committed to doing my part to make meaningful connections with all Albertans and hope to bring them on this incredible new journey with Calgary Wild FC.
Moore will continue to train while spending time with her family in New Zealand before arriving to Calgary in January in advance of the Northern Super League’s inaugural season which is scheduled to begin in Spring 2025.
Farkhunda Muhtaj was officially welcomed as the first player named to the Calgary Wild FC roster at the end of October, setting the tone for the culture and values the Calgary Wild FC will exude, putting particular focus on inclusion in sport. Muhtaj, who is also the captain of the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team, is a social activist who bridges the world of sport, education and humanitarianism. She was a key figure in the evacuation of over 300 Afghans, including members of the Afghanistan Youth National Team, to Portugal after the Taliban's return to power.
About Calgary Wild FC
Calgary Wild FC is one off six teams in the newly created Northern Super League which will begin its inaugural season in 2025, featuring some of the best women’s soccer players in the world. Shop our exclusive merch and be one of the early #fansinthewild. For the latest news and information on Calgary Wild FC, visit www.calgarywildfc.com or follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and X. Follow the league at www.nsl.ca.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Calgary Wild FC
T: 403-620-8731
E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca