John Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Taylor is an English ex-professional footballer who is currently assistant manager of Walsham-le-Willows
. As a player, striker Taylor made over 500 league appearances, scoring 153 goals, the majority of which were for Cambridge United
.
in 1982 but he managed just one substitute appearance for the Essex club, in a League Cup
tie. Dropping out of the league, Taylor took a job as a shipping clerk and played part time for Sudbury Town F.C.
where he was spotted by Cambridge United
manager Chris Turner
who paid Sudbury £1,000 for his services in the Summer of 1988.
Taylor had joined a young team hungry for success and after a season on the fringes of the side, he quickly built up a partnership with Dion Dublin
to forge arguably the clubs most successful ever striking duo. From 1989 to 1992 Cambridge United
embarked on an amazing run of success that culminated in successive promotions from Division 4 to Division 2. Much of this was down to manager John Beck
and his controversial long ball methods. Beck had replaced Chris Turner as manager in January 1990 and had taken the club on a rollercoaster ride. Promotion from Division 4 was achieved via a play-off final win at Wembley over Chesterfield whilst the Division 3 Championship was sewn up a year later. Coupled with this were 2 successive FA Cup Quarter-Final appearances with The U's being knocked out by Crystal Palace
and Arsenal
after some famous giant killing along the way.
Cambridge United
were top of the (old) Division Two in November 1991 and looking good for promotion up to what would be the first Premiership season in 1992/93. Beck's long ball tactics had become unpopular with the players however, including Taylor. Following 46 goals in total for the club he was surprisingly off-loaded to Bristol Rovers
in March 1992. Rovers striker Devon White
made the opposite move and United also parted with £90,000 to complete the transfer. It remains one of the most unpopular moves in the history of the club. United eventually made the play-offs but were beaten 6-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals by Leicester City
and fans still wonder what might have happened had Taylor stayed - White played just once in the final run-in, failing to score.
Taylor carried on where he left off for Rovers under their manager John Ward. He scored 44 goals in 95 appearances for the club before being sold to Bradford City
for £300,000 after a proposed move to Middlesbrough
fell through. A further 11 goals in 36 games followed at Bradford before Luton Town
paid £200,000 to bring him back to East Anglia.
His time at Luton was a struggle and he suffered with injuries which contributed to his return of just 3 goals in 37 games. Loan spells at Lincoln City
(who were now managed by John Beck
) and Colchester United
followed. Both were successful and both clubs wanted to sign him on a permanent basis. It was Cambridge United
manager Roy McFarland
that won the race for his signature however and he made a welcome return home to the Abbey Stadium on a free transfer in January 1997.
Taylor's playing career was resurrected at Cambridge. Playing with youngsters such as Trevor Benjamin
, Martin Butler
and Michael Kyd
he was able to lend his experience and score some vital goals along the way. Taylor's goals helped United to promotion from Division 3 in 1999 and in total he went onto score a further 40 goals for the club, beating Alan Biley
's long standing club record of league goals - Taylor finished his Cambridge career with 86 league goals for the club. Taylor had also been appointed Reserve Team manager after hanging up his boots and spoke of his keenness to one day go into management.
Following Roy McFarland
's sacking, John Beck
was once again appointed to the club as manager and Taylor remained in his role with the Reserve Team. Beck's second coming was short lived and he was sacked in November 2001. Taylor expressed his desire for the job and after an initial caretaker appointment, the role was given to him on a permanent basis in January 2002, the resounding choice of the fans.
Taylor's first game in charge was a 6-1 defeat at Tranmere Rovers and the season didn't get any easier as the club were relegated to Division Three. One highlight was an appearance in the final of the LDV Vans Trophy where they played Blackpool
at the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff, losing 4-1.
Taylor steered United to a mid-table finish in their first season back in the basement division. The following season he was awarded a testimonial
game against Leeds United
to recognise 10 years service to the club. Disappointment was just around the corner however. League form had been poor and Taylor himself had been forced to put his boots back on following the controversial sale of star striker Dave Kitson
to Reading
. The clubs board were concerned that the club could be relegated from the Football League
and made the decision to sack Taylor in March 2004, finally ending his long association with the club.
. Following the sacking of their manager, Richard Carter, he was appointed as his replacement. However, keen to progress back up the ladder, he accepted the position of manager at Newmarket Town in the Ridgeons Premier Division in February 2007 but he was sacked just three games into the 2007-2008 season. He returned to playing, rejoining Mildenhall Town
and scoring the winner on his debut, a 1-0 Eastern Counties League Premier Division victory at Lowestoft Town
on 8 September 2007.
In July 2011 he was appointed assistant manager of Walsham-le-Willows
.
Walsham-le-Willows F.C.
Walsham le Willows Football Club is an English football club based in Walsham-le-Willows, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Sumner Road.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA....
. As a player, striker Taylor made over 500 league appearances, scoring 153 goals, the majority of which were for Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
.
Playing career
Taylor started his career as a trainee with Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in 1982 but he managed just one substitute appearance for the Essex club, in a League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
tie. Dropping out of the league, Taylor took a job as a shipping clerk and played part time for Sudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:...
where he was spotted by Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
manager Chris Turner
Chris Turner (footballer born 1951)
Christopher James "Chris" Turner is an English former professional footballer and manager, best known for a nine year association as a player with Peterborough United.-Playing career:...
who paid Sudbury £1,000 for his services in the Summer of 1988.
Taylor had joined a young team hungry for success and after a season on the fringes of the side, he quickly built up a partnership with Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin , is a retired English footballer. He was capped four times for England. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City, but made his name at Cambridge United as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an...
to forge arguably the clubs most successful ever striking duo. From 1989 to 1992 Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
embarked on an amazing run of success that culminated in successive promotions from Division 4 to Division 2. Much of this was down to manager John Beck
John Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
and his controversial long ball methods. Beck had replaced Chris Turner as manager in January 1990 and had taken the club on a rollercoaster ride. Promotion from Division 4 was achieved via a play-off final win at Wembley over Chesterfield whilst the Division 3 Championship was sewn up a year later. Coupled with this were 2 successive FA Cup Quarter-Final appearances with The U's being knocked out by Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
after some famous giant killing along the way.
Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
were top of the (old) Division Two in November 1991 and looking good for promotion up to what would be the first Premiership season in 1992/93. Beck's long ball tactics had become unpopular with the players however, including Taylor. Following 46 goals in total for the club he was surprisingly off-loaded to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in March 1992. Rovers striker Devon White
Devon White (footballer)
Devon Timothy White is a former professional footballer who played as a striker for seven different Football League clubs.-Playing career:...
made the opposite move and United also parted with £90,000 to complete the transfer. It remains one of the most unpopular moves in the history of the club. United eventually made the play-offs but were beaten 6-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals by Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and fans still wonder what might have happened had Taylor stayed - White played just once in the final run-in, failing to score.
Taylor carried on where he left off for Rovers under their manager John Ward. He scored 44 goals in 95 appearances for the club before being sold to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
for £300,000 after a proposed move to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
fell through. A further 11 goals in 36 games followed at Bradford before Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
paid £200,000 to bring him back to East Anglia.
His time at Luton was a struggle and he suffered with injuries which contributed to his return of just 3 goals in 37 games. Loan spells at Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
(who were now managed by John Beck
John Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
) and Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
followed. Both were successful and both clubs wanted to sign him on a permanent basis. It was Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
manager Roy McFarland
Roy McFarland
Roy Leslie McFarland is an English football manager who was also a player, notably at Derby County where he played 434 league games helping him to earn 28 caps for England.-Playing career:...
that won the race for his signature however and he made a welcome return home to the Abbey Stadium on a free transfer in January 1997.
Taylor's playing career was resurrected at Cambridge. Playing with youngsters such as Trevor Benjamin
Trevor Benjamin
Trevor Junior Benjamin is an English born Jamaican ex-international footballer who is now plying his trade as player-manager at Northern League side Morpeth Town. He plays as a forward or winger....
, Martin Butler
Martin Butler
Martin Neil Butler is a former English footballer who played as a striker between 1993 and 2009. Butler notably played for Walsall, Cambridge United and Reading...
and Michael Kyd
Michael Kyd
Michael Kyd is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a forward for Cambridge United....
he was able to lend his experience and score some vital goals along the way. Taylor's goals helped United to promotion from Division 3 in 1999 and in total he went onto score a further 40 goals for the club, beating Alan Biley
Alan Biley
Alan Biley was a former English professional footballer and now a football manager who played for Cambridge, Everton and Portsmouth amongst others...
's long standing club record of league goals - Taylor finished his Cambridge career with 86 league goals for the club. Taylor had also been appointed Reserve Team manager after hanging up his boots and spoke of his keenness to one day go into management.
Following Roy McFarland
Roy McFarland
Roy Leslie McFarland is an English football manager who was also a player, notably at Derby County where he played 434 league games helping him to earn 28 caps for England.-Playing career:...
's sacking, John Beck
John Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
was once again appointed to the club as manager and Taylor remained in his role with the Reserve Team. Beck's second coming was short lived and he was sacked in November 2001. Taylor expressed his desire for the job and after an initial caretaker appointment, the role was given to him on a permanent basis in January 2002, the resounding choice of the fans.
Taylor's first game in charge was a 6-1 defeat at Tranmere Rovers and the season didn't get any easier as the club were relegated to Division Three. One highlight was an appearance in the final of the LDV Vans Trophy where they played Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff, losing 4-1.
Taylor steered United to a mid-table finish in their first season back in the basement division. The following season he was awarded a testimonial
Testimonial
In promotion and of advertising, a testimonial or show consists of a written or spoken statement, sometimes from a person figure, sometimes from a private citizen, extolling the virtue of some product. The term "testimonial" most commonly applies to the sales-pitches attributed to ordinary...
game against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
to recognise 10 years service to the club. Disappointment was just around the corner however. League form had been poor and Taylor himself had been forced to put his boots back on following the controversial sale of star striker Dave Kitson
Dave Kitson
David Barry "Dave" Kitson is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship side Portsmouth as a striker.-Early life:...
to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. The clubs board were concerned that the club could be relegated from the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and made the decision to sack Taylor in March 2004, finally ending his long association with the club.
Coaching career
The following season Taylor pulled his boots on once again and both played and coached for Mildenhall Town. His spell at Recreation Way was brief however and he accepted a chance to play for Long MelfordLong Melford
Long Melford is a large village and civil parish in the county of Suffolk, England. It is on Suffolk's border with Essex, which is marked by the River Stour, approximately from Colchester and from Bury St. Edmunds...
. Following the sacking of their manager, Richard Carter, he was appointed as his replacement. However, keen to progress back up the ladder, he accepted the position of manager at Newmarket Town in the Ridgeons Premier Division in February 2007 but he was sacked just three games into the 2007-2008 season. He returned to playing, rejoining Mildenhall Town
Mildenhall Town F.C.
Mildenhall Town F.C. is an English football club based in Mildenhall, Suffolk. They are currently members of the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League, and play at Recreation Way.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.-History:...
and scoring the winner on his debut, a 1-0 Eastern Counties League Premier Division victory at Lowestoft Town
Lowestoft Town F.C.
Lowestoft Town F.C. is an English football club based in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Crown Meadow.-History:...
on 8 September 2007.
In July 2011 he was appointed assistant manager of Walsham-le-Willows
Walsham-le-Willows F.C.
Walsham le Willows Football Club is an English football club based in Walsham-le-Willows, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Sumner Road.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA....
.