Euro 2016: Neil Taylor's amazing journey from Grays to glory with Wales
Left-back scored rare goal in victory over Russia
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Your support makes all the difference.One of the most arresting of the many memorable images from Wales’ evisceration of Russia in Toulouse on Monday night was the sight of Neil Taylor cuddling his two children at the side of the Stade Municipal pitch after the game, their shirts proudly emblazoned with his number, 3, and the word 'DADDY'.
It was a sweet, belated Father’s Day treat for the 27-year-old left-back, one which capped the most memorable night of his and his team-mates’ international career. It was not just that Taylor had been part of the best Welsh performance in history, he had also scored.
The last time Taylor scored neither of his children were born. It was 2010, he was a non-League footballer, playing for Wrexham in what was then the Blue Square Conference. Whereas Monday’s goal was watched by more than 30,000 spectators and millions more on television, the attendance was fewer than 300 at Grays Athletic with no TV coverage.
“Grays away,” he recalled. “That was my last game for Wrexham actually. It was a volley at the back post: it was a bit nicer than the one today.” Informed of the gate he added, “Including the players, that. I remember we got changed in a Portakabin.”
“To go from there to here shows how far we have come. It is massive for all of us. We're very proud of what we have done and how far we have come. Let's just enjoy the journey. The fans enjoyed it, let's enjoy it too.”
Grays away. That was my last game for Wrexham actually. It was a volley at the back post
Taylor certainly is. Told he was the first player of Indian descent to score in a major tournament (his mother is from Kolkata) he quipped: “Not only that: I'm actually ahead of Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic. Hopefully it can stay that way.”
North Walian Taylor began at Manchester City but was released without making an appearance and joined Wrexham. He went out of the league with them but came back when Swansea signed him after that Grays’ goal and became a fixture as they won the Championship and fairly regular in the top flight ever since.
He is one of several top-flight players in this Welsh squad, which is a key reason for their success this summer. “There are a lot of players now playing at a very high level,” he said. “That never used to be the case; we didn't used to always have that. But a lot of the players are now playing in the Premier League.”
Indeed, it not just Gareth Bale plus 10. That showed on Monday night as Wales stroked the ball around an admittedly decrepit Russian side. “You have to learn from your defeats and if there was one thing that came out of the England game it was that we didn't play well enough on the ball,” said Taylor, “we weren't brave enough. We defended well and we probably should have got a draw with a minute to go, and we would have taken that, but deep down we knew that we hadn't played well. And we spoke: ‘Listen, win, lose or draw, let's go out playing the way we play'. And it takes some bravery to do that in a tournament like this.
“We proved today that we can play good football. To win the game in the manner that we did, and to get on the score-sheet myself, was unbelievable. It's a crucial goal the second one, and then the third made it a really nice game for us. The last thirty minutes of the game was enjoyable, to be able to enjoy it with the fans; that was a really special occasion.
“I was nervous,” he admitted of his goal. “I looked to square it twice. No one was there. I looked to put it through the keeper's legs. He didn't open them. So when it came back to me I said: 'just put your foot through it'.”
Yesterday the players had a day off with their families, though Taylor, as mentioned, had a quick catch-up on Monday night. “I haven't seen them for probably 25 days,” he said.”It's more difficult for them. They are five and two, and one on the way.”
The baby is due in August so even if Wales reach the final he will not have to rush for the birth back mid-tournament “unless”, he said wryly, “she goes early”. All being well the baby’s arrival should cap a a summer to remember for Taylor.
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