Heidelberg United have added former Cairnlea custodian Candice Sallama to their goalkeeping stocks.
The long serving keeper was at Cairnlea for a number of years, helping the club earn promotion and guiding them through the WPL, before the club was relegated back to State One in 2014.
The former Green Gully junior has also previously played as an outfielder.
Her form between the sticks for Cairnlea once attracted interest from Mark Torcaso at Bundoora United, though she turned down the opportunity to play at Hillsview Recreation Reserve.
“The passion… it felt good to be a part of it,” Sallama said while still at Cairnlea playing under Jamie Monteith.
“Since I’ve been at Cairnlea I was welcomed with open arms into the family that we are,” Sallama said.
“We’ve had our ups and downs on the field but have always stuck together and pulled through.”
Like many of her NPLW counterparts, Sallama has also featured in the futsal V-League and represented Pascoe Vale and Victoria in the National Championships.
She now returns to the top flight of women’s football in the state to play for Bill Mihaloudis’ Heidelberg side.
There will be considerable competition for the number one spot between the sticks in 2016 at Olympic Village.
The Bergers will be looking to build on their finals finish in 2015 as one of only three existing WPL clubs to retain their existing status in the NPLW.