{{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<ref>{{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}}</ref> was born in Birmingham, England, on 26 January 1996.<ref name="11v11">{{cite web |title=Riccardo Calder |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/riccardo-calder-248777/|publisher=11v11 |accessdate=3 January 2016}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Aston Villa===
Calder joined Aston Villa at the age of nine in 2005.<ref name="ET">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=nextgen>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aston Villa's Riccardo Calder moves to Dundee on loan|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34109609|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a 1–0 away win at Partick Thistle on 12 September 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Partick Thistle 0-1 Dundee|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34160629|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> Calder made his first start for Dundee against Ross County on 25 September, featuring on the left of midfield in a 3–3 draw.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dundee 3-3 Ross County|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34299484|access-date=30 September 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dundee 2-1 Motherwell|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34366503|access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> Calder's loan spell ended at the beginning of January 2016, at which point he returned to Aston Villa.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
====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.<ref>{{Soccerbase season|80166|2015|access-date=2016-10-23}}</ref> On 12 July 2016, prior to the start of the 2016–17 season, Calder rejoined Doncaster on loan until January.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Doncaster in an EFL Trophy tie against Mansfield Town on 30 August 2016.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===Inverness Caledonian Thistle=== On 6 July 2017, Calder signed a two-year deal with recently relegated Scottish Championship club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
On 8 November 2018, Calder had his contract terminated by the club after being found guilty of an assault in Birmingham in May 2018.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===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).<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
On 21 January 2020, Calder joined Nuneaton Borough on a dual-registration basis.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
On 14 August 2020, Calder signed for Southern League Premier Division Central side Rushall Olympic.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
Calder then returned to National League North in order to sign for Kettering Town.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ketteringtownfc.com/news/riccardo-calder |title=Riccardo Calder |publisher=Kettering Town FC |accessdate=20 February 2022}}</ref>
On 19 February 2022, Calder rejoined former club Rushall Olympic.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In July 2022, Calder returned to the National League North to join Brackley Town.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="ET"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> Calder is also eligible for the Jamaica national football team through his family history.<ref name="ET"/>
==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.<ref name="BBC-46542785">{{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}}</ref> As a result, his contract with Inverness Caledonian Thistle was immediately terminated.<ref>{{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}}</ref> This came less than a week after he scored his first professional league goal. Calder was subsequently sentenced to nine months in prison.<ref name="BBC-46542785" /> Calder was released after serving 10 weeks of the sentence and stated his hope to return to professional football.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== 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.<ref name="Music">{{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}}</ref> In 2018 he claimed to have turned down recording contracts to focus on his professional football at Inverness.<ref name="Music"/>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 6 December 2022}}<ref name="RC Soccerway">{{soccerway|riccardo-calder/260309|accessdate=8 November 2017}}</ref>
{| 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 |2015–16<ref name="RC15"/> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||0||0 |- |2016–17<ref name="RC16"/> |Championship |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<ref name="RC15">{{soccerbase season|80166|2015|accessdate=8 November 2017}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |11||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||11||0 |- |Doncaster Rovers (loan) |2015–16<ref name="RC15"/> |League One |12||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||12||0 |- |Doncaster Rovers (loan) |2016–17<ref name="RC16">{{soccerbase season|80166|2016|accessdate=8 November 2017}}</ref> |League Two |15||0||0||0||1||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFT">Appearances in the EFL Trophy</ref>||1||20||1 |- |Lincoln City (loan) |2016–17<ref name="RC16"/> |National League |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT">Appearances in the FA Trophy</ref>||0||2||0 |- | rowspan="3" |Inverness Caledonian Thistle |2017–18<ref name="RC17">{{soccerbase season|80166|2017|accessdate=8 November 2017}}</ref> | rowspan="2" |Scottish Championship |24||0||2||0||4||0||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC">Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup</ref>||2||34||2 |- |2018–19<ref name="RC18">{{soccerbase season|80166|2018|accessdate=20 February 2022}}</ref> |9||1||0||0||2||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||12||1 |- ! colspan="2" |Inverness Total !33!!1!!2!!0!!6!!0!!5!!2!!46!!3 |- |Bradford (Park Avenue) |2019–20<ref name="RC Soccerway"/> |National League North |7||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||7||1 |- |AFC Telford United |2019–20<ref name="RC Soccerway"/> |National League North |4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||5||0 |- |Nuneaton Borough |2020–21 |Southern Football League |7||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0||7||0 |- |Rushall Olympic |2020–21 |Southern Football League |8||1||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0||8||1 |- |Kettering Town |2021–22 |National League North |12||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0||12||0 |- |Rushall Olympic |2021–22 |Southern Football League |7||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0||7||0 |- |Brackley Town |2022–23 |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''' *NextGen Series: 2012–13<ref name=nextgen/>
'''Inverness Caledonian Thistle''' * Scottish Challenge Cup: 2017–18<ref>{{cite web|title=Dumbarton 0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43445358|publisher=BBC Sport|last=Crawford|first=Kenny|date=24 March 2018|accessdate=1 May 2018}}</ref>
'''Brackley Town''': *National League North: 2024–25<ref>{{cite news|date=26 April 2025|title=Brackley delighted by 'extraordinary' promotion|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx251qk1zzvo|access-date=26 April 2025|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
==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:1996 births Category:Living people 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:Dundee 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 Category:Prisoners and detainees of England and Wales Category:21st-century English sportsmen