Attacking fullback providing dangerous offence while staying defensively responsible for Calgary’s pro footie club
Fraser Aird is loud and proud.
He’s smart and experienced, tenacious and responsible.
And this year, the veteran defender is arguably the best of the bunch on Cavalry FC, using all those traits to make him a two-way star for the Canadian Premier League club.
“I feel good,” said the 29-year-old Aird, a native of Toronto and a 19-game Canadian international at various levels.
“Last year was a funny one for me,” continued Aird. “I was coming back from a long-term (ACL) injury, and being able to be involved in every game last year was massive for me. It was getting back playing and just enjoying football again, to be honest.
“I feel like two years off my surgery, I’m back to showing the player that I know I can be and the player that the club signed at the end of the day.”
And how. Nobody has shown more up and down the pitch in 2024 for Cavalry (3W-8D-3L), which hosts nemesis Forge FC (6-3-4) on Sunday at ATCO Field (3 p.m., OneSoccer, OneSoccer.ca).
Need a corner kick into a dangerous area? How about a cross to fall into the box? Or a free kick to create a goal-scoring opportunity?
Indeed, the defender’s best trait this year is his pinpoint delivery of the ball into danger — from wherever on the field — for Calgary’s professional footie crew.
“Dangerous, for sure — and they come thick and fast,” said Cavalry teammate Sergio Camargo. “He loves putting the balls in. And it’s up to the runners — up to myself and Toby (Warschewski) and the other wingers — to just meet the ball in the box.
“Most of the time, if the cross goes without a connection at the other end, it’s not on Fraser. It’s us not being positive enough — not gambling enough — to get on the end of it. We have asked him to keep doing that and keep getting forward, and hopefully, we get some joy and continue putting balls in the net.”
With Cavalry struggling to find the back of the net these days — because of injuries up-front and sudden off-season changes — they need Aird to continue to generate chances, among the other key aspects of the game he brings to the club.
“I’m vocal and a very attack-minded fullback,” Aird said. “I’ve played wing most of my life and converted into kind of an attacking fullback now, especially in the way that our team wants to play. I’m a leader — very experienced. I use my voice to help my teammates through the game and just provide that quality when we get to the final third.
“And I like crossing the ball and setting up my teammates.”
But how — why — is Aird so effective of getting the ball into those danger spots?
“Years of practice,” said Aird, with a confident smile. “It’s my 14th year professionally (with eight spent primarily in Scotland), so I’ve been have been working at it for a while.
“Part of it is just watching games,” continued Aird. “I’ve always prided myself on my delivery and watching other players at the top level — like (Belgium’s) Kevin De Bruyne or (England’s) Kieran Trippier. These are guys that just can put the ball anywhere they want at any moment. It’s watching games and practising and going and trying to implement that on the training ground what I see from them doing in games.
“You’re trying to perfect those deliveries, because you might only get one or two of those moments in the game, and that can be the difference between taking the result or not.”
Take for instance Aird’s chip-on for Warschewski’s winning goal early in the year against visiting Vancouver FC for a Canadian Championship first-round victory. That highlight was just one of many from the attacking fullback on the season.
And it’s continued from there, with Aird supplying more offence on the season than every teammate except Warschewski’s league-leading seven on the CPL campaign.
Included was Aird’s kick wired from inside the right side of the penalty area in the 34th minute of a 1-0 win over host Valour FC in their most recent win. That goal came after the sudden death of good friend Dylon Powley, a one-time goalkeeper for Calgary Foothills FC and the CPL’s FC Edmonton and Atlético Ottawa, with Aird prompting an emotional “that goal was for you, Dylon’ comment post-game on national TV.
“Fraser’s got big moments in him,” said Cavs GM/head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “And Fraser’s been through a fair bit with his best mate in Dylon Powley passing away (last month). I think the game’s given him that great release (from that tragedy), and it’s been great to see him play the way he has.
“He’s certainly put himself in the conversation,” continued Wheeldon, when talk turns to best-player-on-the-team buzz. “I think what’s good about it is he’s playing on a defence that’s either the best or the second-best in the league in terms of data for expected goals against, and he’s also adding goals and assists the other way. So there are not many defenders that can attest to being the same.”
If at all, to be sure.
“I’m just happy to be playing,” added Aird. “Hopefully, I’ll stay fit, healthy and just putting my best foot forward and giving the best for the team. I think everyone knows the quality that I have and that I bring to this team, and hopefully, I can keep showing that.”
FREE KICKS
Another new casualty for Cavalry is Lleyton Brooks (undisclosed), who’s been deemed unavailable for Sunday’s match. Brooks joins other forward threats in Ali Musse (ankle) and William Akio (ankle) on the sideline. Others hurting for Cavalry include attacking midfielder Camargo (leg) and key defenders Eryk Kobza (undisclosed) and Bradley Kamdem Fewo (leg). “At this rate, I’ll be bringing myself out of retirement and playing centre fireworks,” quipped Wheeldon … Cavalry is coming off last weekend’s 2-1 home loss to York United FC (7-2-5), the surprise second-place team on the CPL table … Forge has stumbled lately with a 2-2-2 mark in its last half-dozen battles, but comes in off a 2-1 home win last Sunday over Pacific FC (5-4-5).