Athlete Academy Success Stories: Riley Taylor

When Riley first joined The Athlete Academy back in July 2021, he was just 9 years old and already showed the natural speed, strength and athleticism that would become the foundation of his sporting success.

At the time, Riley was playing his football with Eastside Rapids and was looking to develop the physical qualities that would help him maximise his potential on the pitch. His goals were simple – build on his natural strengths while improving his balance, mobility and explosive power.

Riley joined The Athlete Academy on our Group Coaching Membership, attending one session per week. Despite his young age, he quickly embraced one of the most important values we teach at The Athlete Academy: consistency.

That consistency soon began to pay off. Riley earned Athlete of the Month recognition before reaching one of our key milestones by joining The 50 Club in October 2022. His commitment never wavered, and in December 2023 he became just the 5th athlete in Academy history to reach the incredible milestone of 100 sessions.

While Riley continued to develop physically at The Athlete Academy, his football journey was progressing rapidly. After beginning with Dalkeith Thistle, he moved to Eastside Rapids in 2020, where he regularly challenged himself by competing with players in the age group above his own.

One of the highlights during this period was helping his team secure the St George’s Internal Cup in May 2022, demonstrating both his ability and competitive mindset.

His development continued to accelerate over the following years and, in June 2025, Riley’s contributions were recognised with two of Eastside Rapids’ highest individual honours. He was voted both Players’ Player of the Year and Parents’ Player of the Year, reflecting not only his performances on the pitch but also the respect he had earned from teammates, coaches and families throughout the club.

As Riley transitioned into high school, further opportunities followed. Despite being an S1 pupil, he was invited to play for the S2 school football team, helping the side secure the league title. It was another sign that his hard work and development were being recognised by coaches and teachers alike.

Riley’s progress eventually led to an exciting opportunity at professional academy level. Following a successful trial period, he signed for Livingston FC Under-14s Academy in August 2025.

He immediately made a strong impression within the academy environment, spending part of the season competing with the Under-15s before going on to captain the Under-14 side. His performances and leadership qualities earned him a further contract extension, signing on for another year with Livingston FC from June 2026.

However, football isn’t the only area where Riley has excelled.

Throughout his high school years, he has also distinguished himself in athletics and Physical Education. His speed and dedication saw him break his school’s sprinting record for his age group, while his commitment in the classroom earned him Academic Excellence Awards for PE.

These achievements perfectly reflect what we strive to develop at The Athlete Academy – not just better athletes, but young people who apply discipline, consistency and hard work across every area of their lives.

In May 2026, Riley became on the 11th Athlete to reach 200 sessions and join the Athlete Academy Hall of Fame. Looking back on Riley’s journey, what stands out most is the steady commitment he has shown since joining us as a 9-year-old. From reaching Academy milestones, to competing above his age group, captaining a professional academy side and setting school records, every achievement has been built on years of consistent effort.

We are incredibly proud to have played a small part in Riley’s development and can’t wait to see what the future holds as he continues his football journey with Livingston FC and beyond.

The best part? Riley’s story is still only just beginning.