And it was the most unlikely of places — walking along a beach in Morocco — where she found her love for the game again.
Nixon was sidelined with a hairline fracture at 18 and later headed overseas for a couple of years, giving her a taste for life outside of competitive sport.
She shifted to Dunedin in 2021 to start her degree in marine biology and played a couple of games for University before heading to England for a cousin’s wedding.
A six-month trip turned into a two-year adventure travelling and it was the other side of the world where Nixon found the beautiful game again.
"I rediscovered my love for football in Morocco," Nixon said.
"There’d just be like the local men, or the local young boys, playing football on the beach at sunset, or low tide, and it’d just be the perfect flat surface and I’d go down and join them and kick the ball around.
"My passion for footy came back."
Nixon later returned home, decided she wanted to finish her studies and landed back in Dunedin.
She played a couple of games for the University third XI before committing to her first full season in eight years this season.
"I kind of wanted to just play football and the way for me to get back into footy was just playing for the Uni club.
"That was an awesome environment and it was really fun.
"One thing led to another and I decided to continue with Southern."
The 26-year-old has been suiting up for Southern United in the National League this season, enjoying working with a strong squad and a variety of coaches.
"There’s just been such a good group of girls. It’s been really enjoyable.
"The senior girls who have been there for quite a few years create a nice environment to set the standards for everyone."
Nixon, who hails from Waikato and previously played a couple of games for Waikato-Bay of Plenty, is part of the leadership group alongside captain Rose Morton, defender Hannah Mackay-Wright and Australian Georgia Keen, back for her second season in Dunedin.
It was a mixture of surprise and excitement when head coach Kris Ridley asked her to join the group.
"The girls who have been here for years ... I always respect whatever they say, but it’s nice to bring some kind of fresh ideas.
"Everyone’s super open and receptive to hearing things — it’s been cool to be part of it."
Working under Ridley, and his coaching staff, had been great.
He orchestrated an attacking forward style of football that Nixon enjoyed.
Southern have three wins, one draw and two losses this season, including last week’s tough 2-0 loss to second-placed Eastern Suburbs.
That has seen Southern drop back to fifth on the table and they will be hunting for a win at home against winless Central tomorrow.
They have been playing some really nice football this season, but just struggle to link in the final third when they need.
"We can retain the ball, we pass it, we dominate ... but it’s just that final pass and that final link up in that critical zone.
"It’s just playing some fluid football, trusting that first pass and playing one-two touch football and getting the shot on when it’s actually on."
Wellington United played Petone last night, while all other games are scheduled for tomorrow.
Eastern Suburbs host Phoenix Reserves, Canterbury United Pride are home to West Coast Rangers and Western Springs meet Auckland United in what shapes as the game of the round.
