Shaun Taylor
Encyclopedia
Shaun Taylor is an English former professional footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League
and Premier League, playing for Exeter City
, Swindon Town
and Bristol City
.
Taylor was born in Plymouth
. A hard-tackling no-nonsense defender, he played non-league football
for clubs including St Blazey and Bideford before moving to Exeter City
in December 1986 at the age of 23. He captained Exeter to the Fourth Division
championship in 1989–90, and played 200 league games for the club before moving to Swindon Town
in July 1991 for a £200,000 fee. He was an ever-present as Swindon gained promotion to the Premier League in 1992–93, a season when he scored 13 goals, a high total for a defender, and played every game in their only season in the top flight. After a second relegation, he captained Swindon to the Second Division
title, and became the first player to win the club's Player of the Year award three times. He played 259 games in all competitions for the club before joining Bristol City
in September 1996 for £50,000.
After a further 105 league games for Bristol City, helping the club to promotion to Division One
in 1998, Taylor retired as a player and joined the club's coaching staff. Released in May 2005, he moved to Conference National
club Forest Green Rovers
in June as assistant to manager Gary Owers
; their contracts were terminated by mutual consent after a poor start to the 2006–07 season. In July 2009 Taylor rejoined Exeter City as youth coach. He is now currently Assistant manager at Exeter City's Devon rivals Torquay United (June 2011.)
Taylor's younger brother Craig
was also a professional footballer.
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 Premier League, playing for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
, Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
Taylor was born in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. A hard-tackling no-nonsense defender, he played non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
for clubs including St Blazey and Bideford before moving to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in December 1986 at the age of 23. He captained Exeter to the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
championship in 1989–90, and played 200 league games for the club before moving to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
in July 1991 for a £200,000 fee. He was an ever-present as Swindon gained promotion to the Premier League in 1992–93, a season when he scored 13 goals, a high total for a defender, and played every game in their only season in the top flight. After a second relegation, he captained Swindon to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title, and became the first player to win the club's Player of the Year award three times. He played 259 games in all competitions for the club before joining Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in September 1996 for £50,000.
After a further 105 league games for Bristol City, helping the club to promotion to Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1998, Taylor retired as a player and joined the club's coaching staff. Released in May 2005, he moved to Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
club Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
in June as assistant to manager Gary Owers
Gary Owers
Gary Owers is an English former professional footballer and was previously manager of Forest Green Rovers of the Nationwide Conference as well as the Assistant Manager at League Two side Aldershot Town...
; their contracts were terminated by mutual consent after a poor start to the 2006–07 season. In July 2009 Taylor rejoined Exeter City as youth coach. He is now currently Assistant manager at Exeter City's Devon rivals Torquay United (June 2011.)
Taylor's younger brother Craig
Craig Taylor (footballer)
Craig Taylor is an English professional footballer.Taylor was born in Plymouth. He began his professional football career with Exeter City in June 1992, but failed to make the first team before dropping into the non-leagues with Dorchester Town.In April 1997 he joined Swindon Town for a fee of...
was also a professional footballer.