Taylor spreads Swans gospel in India
26th June
Neil Taylor is spreading the Swans gospel in India this week as he helps nurture the nation's underprivileged young footballers.
The Swans left-back, whose mother hails from Calcutta, flew out to India due to his role with the Barclays Premier League's Premier Skills Kolkata Goalz Project, which is run in partnership with the British Council.
Wales international Taylor, who also has relatives living in New Delhi, landed in Kolkata (Calcutta) yesterday, and went straight into sessions with local players, coaches and coordinators of the project at East Bengal's ground as he passed on his experience.
And he expressed his delight in being involved in the project.
"All the kids have got their own kits - that's amazing," said Taylor. "The infrastructure is good here and it's been a great experience.
"My mother comes from Calcutta and I have close family both there and in Delhi. I have visited my aunts, uncles and cousin several times when growing up and I love the country.
"Since I turned professional as a footballer at 16 I haven't been able to visit India until now."
The 24-year-old added: "I think India would be a great place to stage the football World Cup.
"Football is a growing sport there, the Indian public is so passionate about sport - it would be an absolute winner.
"It would bring football in India along in leaps and bounds; a bit like the 1994 World Cup has done for the USA."
*Launched in July 2011, Kolkata Goalz is inspired by the Premier League's innovative partnership with the London Metropolitan Police, which has successfully engaged over 70,000 young people from all over England in sport and other positive activities.
The project runs in partnership Kolkata Police, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, AIFF and IFA and is delivered in association with nine Kolkata clubs - Mohun Bagan, East Bengal Club, George Telegraph, Mohammedan Sporting, Police Athletic, United Sports Club, Aryan, Dalhousie Athletic and Kalighat Milan Sangha.
