Taylor Ray loving her Sydney Olympic journey

Hailing from North Queensland, Townsville, Taylor Ray has found her home away from home at Belmore Sports Ground with Sydney Olympic. 

Into her second season at Sydney Olympic, Ray is loving life with the Blues.

“Honestly, it’s such a great culture here at Olympic, I’m very grateful to be a part of it for another season. There are quite a few girls that I’ve been playing with for the last five years since I’ve been living in Sydney and the atmosphere we bring each game I love it and that’s why I came back,” Ray said.

A ‘Queenslander at heart’ as she says, Ray moved from Townsville to Sydney at the young age of 15 to pursue her football career, looking for a better opportunity.

“We don’t get enough opportunities in Townsville for football and I had to make that sacrifice to leave my family to pursue this career,” the midfielder said.

When Ray first moved to Sydney, she represented the Football NSW Institute and attended Westfields Sports High School.

“From there I got scouted by Ante Juric to sign for Sydney FC as well as George Beltsos for Sydney Olympic and was lucky enough to be a part of the Young Matildas and Junior Matildas.”

One of the best midfielders in the #NPLWNSW competition and even in the A-League Women’s competition, Ray sees the World Cup in 2023 on home turf as a realistic goal for herself.

“The World Cup next year is my main goal and to make that squad I need to work hard this season in the NPL and have a good year in the A-League Women’s.”

Before last season’s COVID season stoppage, Sydney Olympic were on top of the league and Ray cheekily believes they were the Premiers despite the halt.

“Technically we were on top when we finished the season so I’m going to say, we won,” Ray said with a smile.

This season though, Olympic want to go all the way.

“We want to be one of those top teams, that have a good chemistry and work hard for one another.”

“We can go all the way; I have all the faith in this team. We’re a great bunch of girls, some of my best mates and when you have that combination you have that faith that we can win if we work hard,” said Ray.

“A Premiership and Grand Final double.”

-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder