Katie Taylor will retire from boxing tonight when she faces Flora Pili at Croke Park, but the Irish sporting icon also boasts 11 caps in international football, a career that began with a chance encounter two decades ago.
A Talent Spotted at Ten
Tony Poutch, a seasoned football coach, first noticed Taylor when she was just 10 years old. "I was on my way to look at a few boys playing," said Poutch. "But on my way to the field, I passed these other kids, and one of the 10-year-olds stood out. This kid, she was buzzing all over the place and I stopped to look for a while, and I asked somebody who she was, and they said, 'That's Katie Taylor'."
Poutch knew the Taylor family, having coached Katie's dad Peter to the Irish lightweight boxing title. Two years later, Peter called him to ask if he could find a team for his 11-year-old daughter. Poutch, who was coaching Newtown Juniors with Dave McGrogan and Hughie Nolan, rang Nolan, who "nearly jumped off his tractor" to sign her immediately.
Footballing Prowess
Taylor's footballing style mirrored her boxing approach. "Katie kind of tore up the rule book because she was better than most of the boys," Poutch said. "She could read what was going on. Footballers go out there and play to instruction but if something out of the ordinary happened, Katie would find the solution herself."
She represented Ireland at Under-17 and Under-19 level, earning International Player of the Year for the latter in 2004. Former Ireland boss Noel King recalled her versatility: "She played wide, but I would say central or attack would have been her position. She played against Italy and scored a goal from 30 yards, straight through the middle. That was an outstanding goal at the highest level of women's football."
The Choice to Box
Taylor won 11 caps for Ireland, scoring two goals, but the financial realities of women's football influenced her decision to focus on boxing. "She was never going to make a living in women's football," Poutch noted, adding that a teammate who went to Arsenal earned very little and worked in the laundry. Taylor went on to compete at the Olympics in boxing, building a career that culminates tonight.
Despite her fame, Poutch says Taylor remains grounded. "She is a very, very humble girl. I asked her to do me a favour once; I wanted an autograph for a kid who needed a little boost. Katie didn't give me the autograph, she made a video for the child and sent it to him." He added, "She's never forgotten what it took for her to get to where she was. She epitomises everything that’s good about sport; she's Ireland's darling."
