Taylor Graham Delights Kids at BF Day

Sounders FC centre half Taylor Graham appeared this morning at BF Day School in Fremont to educate children on the right balance between maintaining physical health and mental health. The Stanford grad showed his oral skills match those on the pitch and kept an audience of about 200 children aged 4-9 listening intently.

In the question and answer session, kids being kids, Taylor had to answer questions about food and took the opportunity to stress the importance of a balanced diet, through the child friendly mechanism of stressing that the occasional burger was probably permissible.

Taylor then challenged the kids to play keepy-uppy with a ball and asked them if they thought he could do 30 headers. We are happy to report that Taylor indeed performed this feat to delighted children and surprised hardcore Sounders fans!

School Principal Susan McCloskey was delighted with Taylor’s appearance, telling us “He’s absolutely natural with the children. I’m going to ask him to become a teacher.”

She may have to wait. Speaking to us later, Taylor confirmed that he was back to 100% fitness and that the 2009 lay-off had made him even hungrier to play.

Looking at the challenge of dislodging either Tyrone Marshall or John Hurtado from their starting berths at centre-half, he stressed his aim was to be part of a successful squad, but if he got the chance to start, he’d take it willingly. Talking openly about the injuries that kept him out the team for much of last season, he said, “I realise that all the injuries were down to the first one, which was a result of a freak tackle by an opponent. But if you go into games thinking about that, you won’t be able to play at your best.”

Other questions in a Q&A were about how many games Taylor had won and what was his next game. Of course, that will be in La Manga where the Sounders will be going for pre-season.

The event was organised by BF Day teacher and leader of Gorilla FC, the Sounders supporters club, Kevin Zelko, working with Symetra Financial and AAA, who sponsor the Active Minds, Active Bodies campaign.

Also See:

Sounders Head to La Manga to Take on Scandinavian Challenge

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