G’Day sport – Nomads sign Australian international stopper

Cymru Premier League champions Connah’s Quay Nomads have signed Australian U20 goalkeeper Kai Calderbank-Park.

Kai joins the Nomads having spent time at Burnley’s academy before for the last four years, with loan spells at Curzon Ashton, Hyde United and, most recently, joining the newly-formed Bury AFC in October.

Born in Wollongong, New South Wales, Kai has represented Australia’s “Socceroos” on a number of occasions throughout various youth age groups.

Most recently he was in goal for two of the side’s three matches in their qualification group for the AFC U19 Championship.

Australia finished top of their group, ahead of Laos, Chinese Taipei and Macau, qualifying for the Asian U19 Championships which are now scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan this March where they will be in a group with Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Laos.

In August 2019, Kai was also part of the Australia U18 team which won the AFF U18 Youth Championships in Vietnam, winning the final 1-0 against Malaysia.

Nomads manager Andy Morrison said “Kai has come in and trained and done really well – he’s signed with us until the summer and will challenge Ollie (Oliver Byrne) for the number one spot.”

Kai will wear the number 24 shirt and will be available for selection following international clearance.