Lyle Taylor has been praised for a ‘gesture way beyond football’ towards loyal Colchester United supporters in need of help.
The 34 year old U’s striker helped Matt Calmus, by paying for a taxi ride from the train station to the stadium for a League Two match against Harrogate Town.
This gesture was particularly significant as it allowed Calmus and his friends, who have mobility restrictions, to attend the game.
The act was highlighted on social media, with posts expressing gratitude and admiration for Taylor’s kindness, suggesting he deserves a new contract with the club for his actions both on and off the pitch.
Matt (@MrMatador_), tweeted: “Lyle Taylor’s kindness, supporting myself & some fellow mobility-restricted supporters to get into Harrogate Town FC tonight is a gesture way beyond football!
“Sharing timely & safe passage to our #colu game meant I could still attend: unbelievable care.
“Give him a new deal! 
x”
Lyle Taylor’s kindness, supppring myself & some fellow mobility-restricted supporters to get into Harrogate Town FC tonight is a gesture way beyond football!
Sharing timely & safe passage to our #colu game meant I could still attend: unbelivavle care.
Give him a new deal!
— Matt (@MrMatador_) January 21, 2025
Danny Cowley (@dancowley1) retweeted Matt’s post, saying: “Love this…”
The club’s head coach then said, per Gazette News: “I spoke to Matt, one of our supporters who I know is very popular amongst the Colchester United supporters.
“He got the train up and was going to have to walk to the ground.
“Lyle had become aware of this and transferred over £40, so that he and his friends could get a taxi to the stadium.
“Matt let me know that – he’s a really important supporter to us and means so much to the club.
“For the boys to recognise that and in this day and age to give back, it makes me really proud.
“Sometimes footballers get bad press so whenever they do something good, I think we should always celebrate this.”
Matt (@MrMatador_): “Thank You for thse kind words, @dancowley1.
“Bang up for Saturday now & will bring the noise! 
#colu x”
He added: “Proud times – if people ever ask why I support my local team, I’ll tell ’em about our incredible manager! Amazing words…
“See y’all Saturday to cheer the greatest team, #colu!
“Right behind the boys. 
“Beautiful, @dancowley1! x”
LISTEN
The #ColU head coach Danny Cowley on the club’s transfer window dealings and getting back in front of the home fans against Morecambe on Saturday.https://t.co/Nbl1uimPsP pic.twitter.com/u98emnMnuU
— BBC Sport Essex (@BBCEssexSport) January 23, 2025
Still smarting from our #colu defeat today- inquest feels natutal, but painful; that hurt!
So proud @lyletaylor90 waved to us when he scored though. Superb take.
Privilege cheering his fundraising for cancer; adds mirth into something so serious.
Ten more like him, please! pic.twitter.com/pVGo342nDu
— Matt (@MrMatador_) October 19, 2024
In October, Matt wrote for the Gazette News, saying: “Lyle Taylor’s mission in bringing fresh empathy, energy and understanding to challenging conversations around cancer has won hearts plus minds at Colchester United.
“Throughout October, our charismatic striker made a bold statement: wear pink hair unashamedly and unapologetically for an entire month.
“The U’s supporters’ association (CUSA) promised matched pounds; a double donation for every penny raised, incredible support towards his cause. They now have circa £1,500 confirmed additional to this year’s final totals; truly tremendous.
“Lyle’s hair-raising style has had us all thinking a little longer and perhaps far more thoughtfully about things, using our heads quite literally for a greater good. Welcome pause, really, during frenetic lives and a typically fraught, nervy, ninety-plus minutes football.
“Cancer does not discriminate, nor did our number 33 when designating donations for all types and variants. It’s just like Lyle to have courage in his convictions, so why not raise a bucket-load of cash, too, while leading the charge? Inspired.
“He’s helped too, by a clutch of team-mates and fellow employees, who’ve been moved to add monies themselves.”
He’s also “…allowing for some obviously more heartfelt yet often devastatingly candid tales of illness and loss, which he’s bravely acknowledged whenever asked.”
A new legion of U’s fans “join the growing army of folk who’ve been cheerleading Lyle’s initially personal fight across a past half-decade, since this is the fifth time he’s chosen to both promote awareness and make it all a spectacle.
“He’s proved also that sport will take on traditionally taboo subjects like cancer and advocate powerful social change.
“We can choose to see triumph in his joyful rebellion, wearing pink hair. From the ashes of despair so many of us already know or may yet feel due to this terrible disease, comes some comfort: a better, brighter beacon for a more hopeful future.
“Lyle Taylor is a credit to Colchester United. But since everybody’s in this campaign together, so are you.”
‘Lyle Taylor is a credit to Colchester United. But since everybody’s in this campaign together, so are you’
U’s supporter and birthday boy @MrMatador_ says Lyle Taylor’s hair-raising efforts have brought everyone together #coluhttps://t.co/PoAn3cwzvQhttps://t.co/PoAn3cwzvQ
— Jon Waldron (@JonWaldron1) October 31, 2024
We’re incredibly proud to support Lyle Taylor’s #PinkOctober campaign once again!
You can find Lyle’s fundraising page here: https://t.co/Vrl1RXn3LN
Together we can beat cancer
#BreastCancerAwareness #PinkOctober #CancerResearchUK #LyleTaylor #SupportTheFight #UKMeds pic.twitter.com/sUuKZFITkQ
— UK Meds (@UK_Meds) October 18, 2024
Unreal moment as @lyletaylor90 acknowledges our pink hairdos on Saturday- think you can make us out!
Some finish, albeit in vain.
Full bells & whistles next weekend, as October reaches crescendo.
Keep the cancer convo going! #colu#ThinkPink #Wild4Lyle x pic.twitter.com/kdhobO3hMT
— Matt (@MrMatador_) October 21, 2024
Showing cancer the red card!
Tremendously proud to support Lyle Taylor this #PinkOctober– & so should everyone at our club be, too.
Not only is Lyle a great sport, he’s a class person.
Still time to add pledges if you’re willing; never too late to make a difference! #colu x pic.twitter.com/PyU0Wqhlgl
— Matt (@MrMatador_) October 27, 2024
Y’know what I love about Lyle Taylor’s insatiable career-long hunger for yet more net-busting, blockbuster goals?
He heaps peaise on creative assistors, those oft setting #colu moves ablaze; oxygen to a striker’s lifeblood.
Lyle’s huge on giving folk flowers- the whole bouquet. pic.twitter.com/9B3dHAuLp5
— Matt (@MrMatador_) October 24, 2024
Just another reason why #colu is such a special club!
“It’s just great to see everybody getting involved in something that to me was personal,” says @lyletaylor90 on our support for @CR_UK.
Right with you for the weekend’s game!
#ThinkPink #Style4Lyle x pic.twitter.com/QAQQeGPccD
— Matt (@MrMatador_) October 25, 2024
Unreal eve, resounding win over Swindon & these incredible #colu moments.
Proud to have won Lyle Taylor’s pink boots, but more so of our whole squad, coming together to support Josh Foster, currently fighting sarcoma cancer.
Thank You Lyle, @dancowley1 & all the boys! #United x pic.twitter.com/6E94fbA1Hn
— Matt (@MrMatador_) December 4, 2024
Lyle Taylor continues to be praised for a ‘gesture way beyond football’ towards a loyal Colchester supporters…
@002Tomo: It’s safe to say this man has made himself a hero to all Col U fans in a very short space of time! He genuinely cares about the fans and appreciates their efforts. We all want players that work hard on the pitch but it’s what they do off the pitch that speaks the loudest!
@PaintedPonyLady: That’s brill x
@Jonathonp66: Lyle, I was one of those mobility restricted supporters. I shared taxi with Matt. You are more than a great player, you are a great person. Thank you so much. A very caring gesture. Jon P.
@StuartGarrard: Sign him up for next season Gaffer 
@tm8lesh: Class
@foreverayellow: things you love to see, that’s a lovely gesture, and also nice to see just how much he does, he may get a lot of stick and doesn’t help himself in doing so, but boy does he also do a lot of good that should be spoke about more
@DavidMilling84: This is class Danny. We miss you and Nicky, at Sincil Bank.
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