Football Confidential: Tim Cahill’s World Cup role raises eyebrows, Sky Blue back for W-League derby
Having gone through two year-long rehabs for ACL ruptures, Taylor Ray is set to be rewarded in the best way possible. Plus Tim Cahill is stirring a few passions. It’s all in FOOTBALL CONFIDENTIAL.
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Saturday’s W-League derby has enough at stake for both sides, but it’s doubtful it means more to anyone than Taylor Ray.
The 18-year-old is likely to be thrown into the Sky Blues side a week after officially being declared recovered from her second ACL operation – having suffered the injury in the derby 13 months ago.
Showing remarkable fortitude, Taylor has now gone through two year-long rehabs, the second last year while also doing her HSC.
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Knowing what lay ahead of her, she initially toyed with dropping out of school, but is now full of gratitude to her mum for convincing her to stay the course, ready to start
The first injury came just a month after she had moved from Townsville to attend Westfield Sports High in 2016, so she knew exactly what lay ahead when her knee went against last year against the Wanderers.
“It was hard as first, and I missed all of term one last year because I could hardly walk and mentally I was in no state to do anything,” she said.
“I just wanted to drop out, but luckily mum told me I had to keep going. In some ways the rehab was harder second time around because I knew what lay ahead, but this time I had Sydney FC behind me and all their facilities.
“In the end the HSC gave me something else to focus on besides doing all the rehab, but even so being cleared to play again has been a long time coming.
“I can’t really put into words what it means to me.”
Ironically, the player closest by on the pitch last year was Amy Harrison, who has herself come back from two ACL ruptures but will face Ray on Saturday in Western Sydney’s colours.
“Amy gave me such support, and I’m so glad she’ll be on the same pitch as me on Saturday. Though knowing Amy, she’ll be the first in to tackle me, too.”
RIGHT CHOICE FOR TIM?
Tim Cahill’s appointment as an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been met with a few quizzical looks, not least at FFA HQ.
Australia’s bid team for the 2023 Women’s World Cup still hopes Cahill will come on board as an ambassador for that campaign in the months leading up to a decision.
PERTH SALE CONTROVERSY
It remains to be seen whether FFA will approve Tony Sage’s sale of 80 per cent of Perth Glory to the London Football Exchange, but not all the other clubs are entirely happy.
The news met some confused reactions elsewhere in clubland, not least because not many people seem to understand what the LFE actually does.
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BEYOND THE GAME
With sponsors falling away, FFA is keen to keep those remaining – but one in particular is proving a hit with the players.
Seven Consulting, sleeve sponsor for the Matildas, has had several players doing internships, to the extent that at least a couple look set to work there once they hang up their boots.
One of those is veteran midfielder Elise Kellond Knight, who got three-quarters of the way through a masters in pharmacology but wants a change of direction.
“It’s really important, even just to have a balanced life,” she said.
“We train and we work extremely hard but it’s not a 9-5 job. You have hours in there, and the question is what you’re doing with those hours.”