PRETTY IN PINK
Why Charlton’s Lyle Taylor has pink hair and boots this month...
LYLE Taylor carries those closest to him with every ball he kicks.
During Charlton’s 5-3 midweek defeat at Scunthorpe, in which he found the net, striker Taylor couldn’t help but think of his aunt Lisa and his other family members that have had their lives affected by cancer.
This month, the 28-yearold is donning pinks boots while also sporting pink hair to raise awareness for Cancer Research UK.
Each match will hold extra significance for Taylor, whose aunt passed away last year as he prepared to take on his current employers for AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup.
He may insist he’s done nothing unusual to raise awareness but three of Taylor’s four grandparents have suffered from cancer and the humble Addicks forward, is, so far, the only player in the Football League to make such a visual commitment to rallying against something that weighs upon so many people across the country.
“I found myself, against Scunthorpe especially – having the pink boots and pink hair in a match for the first time – thinking about my aunt and those closest to me that have been touched by cancer,” he said.
“I’ve had so many people message me on social media, telling me about this person or that person that has passed away and they’ve thanked me for shining a light on it. That in itself is enough.
“I’m not sacrificing anything here. I’m simply doing what I can with what I’ve been given. I’m not doing anything out of the ordinary.
“I’ve got a good friend of mine’s wife to dye my hair and I’ve got some pink boots.
“It makes a difference to people’s lives and, because of that, I’ll do all I can to raise as much awareness and money as I can for Cancer Research UK.
Awareness
“I walked into Sainsbury’s on Monday morning after it had been done and nobody batted an eyelid. I don’t know what that says about my hair or the people at Sainsbury’s!
“But I think as the month goes on and there’s more pictures, then it will start those conversations.
“I wanted to do it years ago but there was no way I had the profile in order to do it. I’m at a point where my profile is high enough for me to be able to actually do this and for people to take notice.”
Taylor has teamed his pink hair with a Charlton jersey this campaign following a summer switch from Wimbledon, departing Kingsmeadow as the club’s record goalscorer.
Six strikes in his first 11 appearances for Lee Bowyer’s men is a good start for the Montserrat international, who admits the move was triggered by a yearning to apply himself and fire Charlton higher up the league pyramid.
He said: “The Championship is the target. You see players go from League One or League Two to the Championship and then, all of a sudden, they’re playing in the Premier League, so who knows what’s possible.
“But there’s a lot of hard work for me to do in order for us to get up there. That’s all we can do so we’ll just focus on ourselves and just push the team as far as we can possibly go.
“As soon as I walked in, I knew exactly what was expected. From within the club that is – from the staff and players.
“Top six is the target, as a minimum. I think we’re good enough for that. I think there are one or two things to iron out and then we’ve got a good chance of bettering last season.”