Aaron Taylor-Sinclair

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair

ATS with Partick Thistle.
Personal information
Full name	Aaron Taylor-Sinclair [1]
Date of birth	(1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Aberdeen, Scotland
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Airdrieonians
Number	26
Youth career
2001–2006	Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2011	Montrose	66	(5)
2011–2014	Partick Thistle	99	(4)
2014–2015	Wigan Athletic	0	(0)
2015–2017	Doncaster Rovers	47	(2)
2017–2018	Plymouth Argyle	24	(0)
2018–2019	Motherwell	6	(0)
2019	→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)	6	(2)
2019–2021	Livingston	20	(3)
2021–2022	Falkirk	16	(1)
2022–	Airdrieonians	38	(1)
International career‡
2021–	Antigua and Barbuda	13	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:00, 19 November 2023 (GMT) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:35, 22 November 2023 (GMT)

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (born 8 April 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a left sided central defender for Scottish Championship club Airdrieonians. Born in Scotland, he plays for the Antigua and Barbuda national team.

Taylor-Sinclair started his career at Aberdeen as a youth player, having been scouted by the club at age ten. He then joined Scottish Third Division club Montrose, where he played for three years and scored five goals. His talents were then spotted by First Division side Partick Thistle in 2011. After a successful spell at Thistle (including promotion to the Scottish Premiership), Taylor-Sinclair signed for English Championship side Wigan Athletic in 2014.

After spells with Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle, Taylor-Sinclair returned to Scottish football in 2018 with Motherwell. He spent the second half of the 2019–20 season on loan at Crewe Alexandra and was then released by Motherwell in May 2019. He then had two years with Livingston, before a six-month spell with Falkirk in 2022. He joined Airdrieonians on 1 September 2022, and subsequently took up the role of first team player-coach.

Club career

Montrose

Taylor-Sinclair began his career with Montrose as a youngster. He began playing football at the age of seven for Middlefield Wasps Boys Club. He then was scouted by Aberdeen Football Club at the age of 10 where he played for five years. He had one season at Albion Boys Club before moving to Montrose where he made his debut on the final day of the 2008–09 season against Albion Rovers. During the following two seasons he became a first team regular at Links Park. His first goal came on 16 March 2010, against Forfar Athletic, with his second coming four days later. In his second season, Sinclair scored three goals within the opening two months and was named as Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month for September 2010. ^[3] His form over the two seasons at Links Park, earned him the chance to train with SPL side St Johnstone. ^[4]

Partick Thistle

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair in possession

Taylor-Sinclair signed for First Division side Partick Thistle on 5 July 2011, where he signed a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. ^[5] He made his competitive debut during a 2–1 victory against Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Challenge Cup on 23 July 2011. ^[6] His impressive form at the start of the season, led to some attraction from English Championship clubs, such as Cardiff City and Southampton. ^[7] and he was given the SFL Young Player of the Month award for October 2011. ^[8]

Taylor-Sinclair playing against St Mirren

Taylor-Sinclair played an instrumental part in season 2012–13 as Partick Thistle won the First Division Championship. His impressive form at Thistle sparked interest from Glasgow rivals Celtic and from English clubs including Cardiff City and Middlesbrough.

Wigan Athletic

In June 2014, Taylor-Sinclair left Thistle for a move to English Championship club Wigan Athletic. ^[9] He made his debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat away to Burton Albion in the League Cup. ^[10]

Doncaster Rovers

On 20 July 2015, Taylor-Sinclair joined League One side Doncaster Rovers on a two-year contract. ^[11] In the final match of the 2015–16 season, against Burton Albion, he suffered an injury which was expected to keep him out for up to nine months. ^[12]

Plymouth Argyle

On 28 June 2017, Taylor-Sinclair joined League One Plymouth Argyle. ^[13] He was released by Plymouth at the end of the 2017–18 season. ^[14]

Motherwell

Taylor-Sinclair signed a one-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Motherwell in June 2018. ^[15]

On 30 January 2019, Taylor-Sinclair was loaned to English League Two side Crewe Alexandra until the end of the season. ^[16] He made his Crewe debut on 16 February 2019 coming on as a second-half substitute for Harry Pickering at Oldham Athletic, ^[17] and scored his first Crewe goal on 30 March 2019 against Cheltenham Town at Gresty Road. ^[18]

In May 2019, Taylor-Sinclair was released by Motherwell at the end of his contract. ^[19]

Livingston

On 6 November 2019, Taylor-Sinclair signed a short-term contract with Livingston. ^[20] Taylor-Sinclair would sign an extension to stay for the full season, and later another extension to stay at the club for the 2020–21 season. ^{[21] [22]} It was announced in May 2021 that Taylor-Sinclair would be released upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season. ^[23]

Falkirk

On 29 December 2021, Taylor-Sinclair signed with Scottish League One side Falkirk until the end of the 2021–22 season, scoring on his debut in a 6–2 win against Dumbarton. Taylor-Sinclair was released by Falkirk at the end of the 2021–22 season. ^{[24] [25] [26]}

Airdrieonians

On 1 September 2022, following his release from Falkirk, Taylor-Sinclair signed with fellow League One side Airdrieonians, winning promotion to the Championship via the League One Play Off final victory over Hamilton Academical FC in May 2023. ^[27]

He scored his goal for the Diamonds in a 6-2 play-off first leg win against Falkirk.

International career

Born in Scotland, Taylor-Sinclair is of Antiguan descent. He was called up to represent the Antigua and Barbuda national team for a pair of friendlies in June 2021. ^[28] He debuted for Antigua and Barbuda in a 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification win over Grenada on 4 June 2021. ^[29]

Career statistics

As of 22 April 2021

^[30]

Club	Season	Competition	League		Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Montrose	2008–09	Scottish Third Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2009–10		30	2	3 [31]	1	1	0	0	0	34	3
	2010–11		35	3	5 [32]	1	1	0	0	0	41	4
	Total		66	5	8	2	2	0	0	0	76	7
Partick Thistle	2011–12	Scottish First Division	30	1	3	0	1	0	2	0	36	1
	2012–13		33	1	2	0	2	0	3	1	40	2
	2013–14	Scottish Premiership	36	2	1	0	3	0	0	0	40	2
	Total		99	4	6	0	6	0	5	1	116	5
Wigan Athletic	2014–15	Championship	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Doncaster Rovers	2015–16	League One	43	2	3	0	2	0	1	0	49	2
	2016–17	League Two	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		47	2	3	0	3	0	1	0	54	2
Plymouth Argyle	2017–18	League One	24	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	27	0
Motherwell	2018–19	Scottish Premiership	6	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	9	0
Crewe Alexandra (loan)	2018–19	League Two	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	2
Livingston	2019–20	Scottish Premiership	14	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	3
	2020–21		6	0	1	0	4	1	0	0	11	1
	Total		56	5	1	0	8	1	2	0	67	6
Falkirk	2021–22	Scottish League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Airdrieonians F.C.	2022-23	Scottish League One	21	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	23	1
Career total			289	17	19	2	19	1	9	1	336	21

Honours

Partick Thistle

• Scottish First Division: 2012–13

Individual

• Scottish Football League Young Player of the month: September 2010, ^[3] October 2011 ^[8]
• PFA Scotland First Division Team of the Year: 2011–12, ^[33] 2012–13 ^[34]

References

1. "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
2. "BBC Radio Sheffield: Aaron Taylor-Sinclair speaking to Andy Giddings". audioboom.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
3. "Montrose's Sinclair wins young player prize". BBC Sport. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
4. "Saints look at Sinclair a third time". Scottish Professional Football League. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
5. "Aaron joins jags". Partick Thistle. 5 July 2011. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
6. "Partick Thistle 2–1 Stenhousemuir". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
7. "Eyes on Thistle starlet". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
8. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards – October October 2011". Scottish Professional Football League. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
9. "Wigan Athletic: Aaron Taylor-Sinclair joins from Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 4 June 2014.
10. Jones, Ed (12 August 2014). "REPORT: BURTON ALBION 2 WIGAN ATHLETIC 1". Wigan Athletic F.C. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
11. "Aaron Taylor-Sinclair: Doncaster Rovers sign Wigan defender". BBC Sport. 20 July 2015.
12. Goodwin, Paul (24 May 2016). "Doncaster Rovers: Injured Taylor-Sinclair facing nine months out". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
13. "Plymouth Argyle sign Gregg Wylde and Doncaster's Aaron Taylor-Sinclair". BBC Sport. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
14. "Gary Sawyer: Plymouth Argyle offer new deal to captain as nine are released". BBC Sport. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
15. "Aaron Taylor-Sinclair joins Motherwell after Plymouth Argyle release". BBC Sport. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
16. "Aaron Taylor-Sinclair Joins Crewe Alexandra". Motherwell F.C. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
17. "Oldham Athletic 1–1 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
18. "Crewe Alexandra 1–3 Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
19. "UPDATE ON PLAYING SQUAD FOR 2019/20". Motherwell F.C. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
20. "Livingston: Aaron Taylor-Sinclair signs as Ibrahima Savane leaves". BBC Sport. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
21. FourFourTwo Staff (30 December 2019). "Aaron Taylor-Sinclair to remain at Livingston until end of season". fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
22. admin (1 June 2020). "First Team squad update". Livingston FC. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
23. "Livingston exodus as 13 depart and defender submits transfer request". www.scotsman.com. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
24. "AARON TAYLOR-SINCLAIR SIGNS!". Falkirk Football Club. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
25. Kearney, Ben (29 December 2021). "Defender Aaron Taylor-Sinclair joins Bairns as Rennie's first signing". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
26. "Falkirk 6-2 Dumbarton".
27. "Airdrieonians sign former Motherwell defender". Daily Record. September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
28. "Five Overseas-Based Players Identified For Benna Boys' World Cup Clash Against Grenada". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 1 June 2021.
29. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers – North, Central America and Caribbean – Matches – Antigua and Barbuda – Grenada". fifa.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021.
30. Aaron Taylor-Sinclair at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
31. Includes 1 appearance not recorded on Soccerbase or Soccerway. "Banks O'Dee 0–3 Montrose". BBC Sport. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
32. Includes 2 appearances not recorded on Soccerbase or Soccerway. "Montrose 1–1 Arbroath". ESPN. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2016. & "Arbroath 2–3 Montrose". ESPN. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
33. "PFA SCOTLAND DIVISION ONE TEAM OF THE YEAR". PFA Scotland. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
34. Wishart, fraser (2 May 2013). "PFA SCOTLAND TEAMS OF THE YEAR". PFA Scotland. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.

External links

• Aaron Taylor-Sinclair at Soccerbase