From backyard goals to the biggest stage in the world, get to know the football journey of young defender, Courtney Nevin.
When Courtney Nevin was just 14, she asked her father to build a practice goal at home to help improve her skill level. She is now representing her country on the national team and playing on the biggest stage in the world.
Her journey was encouraged by her coaches and parents, who could see her potential from a young age.
Her playing career started with her local club, Oakville Ravens in Blacktown, where she found enthusiasm for the game. Her parents encouraged her to believe in her abilities and continue following her passion. As a teenager she moved to Blacktown Spartans, a club she still represents in the NSW NPLW competition.
Courtney is no stranger to playing in the green and gold, having been called up to the Junior Matildas by Ante Juric for the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualifiers.
She excelled in the tournament, notching nine goals against Palestine. The young defender then made the transition to Leah Blayney’s Young Matildas squad and showed her versatility through playing several different positions and helping Australia achieve fourth place in the 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship.
Nevin’s favourite team to watch growing up was the Western Sydney Wanderers, so it was a dream come true when Wanderers offered the youngster her first professional contract for the 2018/19 Westfield W-League season.
She made the transition from train-on player to a utilised member of Dan Barrett’s squad, after her 2018 season in the NPLW in which she scored 11 goals in her 25 appearances and claimed the NPLW Player of the Year award. Her first season in the W-League, as a left-back, saw her make nine appearances for the red and black and earn high praise from her teammates.
Nevin’s first call-up for the Matildas came in September 2019, to a training camp ahead of their friendly games against Chile.
The call-up arrived in the middle of her preparations for the HSC, but Courtney relished the opportunity to train alongside some of her heroes. Nevin’s football idol is Ellie Carpenter and watching both of these defenders play, it is easy to see how she emulates her idol.
Nevin continued to shine for the Red & Black as she re-signed for the 2019/20 season, named in the starting 11 and playing the full 90 minutes for every match. Her dangerous balls into the penalty area earned her the nickname “Lethal” from her teammates and were integral in Wanderers achieving their first semi-final appearance.
The talented defender was voted by her fellow teammates as the club’s W-League Player of the Year and was awarded the Wanderers’ Medal. Assistant Coach at the time, Catherine Cannuli, praised Nevin’s talents and attributed her success to her hard work and determination.
Tony Gustavsson and his coaching staff saw her potential on full display in the W-League and awarded Courtney her first call up to a senior international match squad for the Matildas' games against Denmark and Sweden.
She learnt of her call-up while watching TV with friend and teammate, Kyra Cooney-Cross. Both would travel to Europe for the camp, debuting against Denmark, where they came on as substitutes in the 3-2 defeat.
