Quaker’s Hill footballer Taylor Ray keen to put injury drama behind her in W-League for Sydney FC
It was a blow which nearly knocked young football talent Taylor Ray out of the game for good. But she’s made of stern stuff and is on track to return to the W-League this season.
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Taylor Ray doesn’t remember much except the nauseating pain and an emotional teammate holding her hand in comfort.
And the date. January 10.
It is the same date in 2020 she will finally be cleared to play again after doing her second ACL in the space of just two years.
And the young Sydney FC player cannot wait because more than anything she loves playing football.
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It’s why the Quakers Hill youngster has been getting up at 4am the last few weeks to be in time for training at Macquarie Park with the Sydney FC squad without grumbling too much.
It’s why she decided to come back from her second surgery before she had even left her teens.
It’s why she left her family home in Townsville while still at school to pursue her dream of playing for Australia.
And it’s why she has fought back from depression and distress to be both stronger mentally and physically ahead of her third W-League season.
“I moved to Sydney in 2016 to be with a host family. I was at Westfield Sports High for a month and did an ACL in my right knee, had surgery and then retuned home,” Ray, 17, said.
“I was going to give up soccer then. I thought it was too hard. I didn’t want to go through that again.
“But I started training again and realised I wanted to give it another go.
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Ray and her mother moved back to Sydney in 2017 to give her another shot at success and it came via young Matildas, Junior Matildas and Sydney FC selections.
“I started to do really well, making great teams,” said Ray who just completed her Higher School Certificate at Westfield Sports High..
“Then last W-League season I was getting good time and on January 10 I tore my second ACL on my left leg against Wanderers.
“I was in shock the first three days. I felt the heartbreak again.”
Screaming for teammate Amy Harrison, now with the Wanderers, Ray said she knew her knee was serious when she looked at her teammate.
“I could feel it. It was like a pop. It was really painful. Amy (who has also undergone two ACL surgeries) held my hand and she teared up and I knew it was bad,” Ray said.
“But I have fought back. The first month I went through depression. I’m not going to lie. But I had good support,” she said.
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While she won’t be cleared to play until the new year, Ray is back training with Sydney FC who play their opening game of the season against Melbourne Victory at Jubilee Ovals on Sunday.
“I can do everything with the team but contact training,” she said. “I just can’t wait to get back out there in the sky blue.”