Ian Taylor (footballer, born 1968)

Last updated

Ian Taylor
Taylor, Ian.jpg
Taylor in 2019
Personal information
Full name Ian Kenneth Taylor [1]
Date of birth (1968-06-04) 4 June 1968 (age 55) [1]
Place of birth Birmingham, England [2]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Municipal Officials
Shirley Crusaders
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1986–1992 Moor Green
1992–1994 Port Vale 83 (28)
1994 Sheffield Wednesday 14 (1)
1994–2003 Aston Villa 233 (28)
2003–2005 Derby County 81 (14)
2005–2007 Northampton Town 66 (8)
Total477(79)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ian Kenneth Taylor (born 4 June 1968) is an English former professional footballer and sports television pundit.

Contents

A midfielder, he had a fifteen-year career in the Football League and Premier League, scoring 103 goals in 577 league and cup competitions. He made the move from non-League Moor Green to Port Vale in 1992. With Vale he lifted the Football League Trophy in 1993. His impressive performances earned him a place on the Second Division PFA Team of the Year in 1992–93 & 1993–94, as well as the club's Player of the Year award in 1993. He made a million pound move to Sheffield Wednesday in June 1994, and he was sold on for another million to Aston Villa later in the year. He lifted the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final with the club he had supported as a boy. In 2003, he signed with Derby County, helping the club to the Championship play-offs before signing with Northampton Town in June 2005. He helped the club to win promotion out of League Two in 2005–06, before he announced his retirement in April 2007.

Playing career

Moor Green to Port Vale

Taylor played for Municipal Officials and Shirley Crusaders, and was a forklift trucker driver when started his career with Southern League Premier Division side Moor Green. [4] He got a move into the Football League in May 1992 after scoring in Green's Midland Floodlit Cup final victory, when Port Vale paid the club £15,000 (this figure later rose to £25,000 due to instalments based on appearances). [5] [6] He was spotted playing for Moor Green against Burton Albion by Ray Williams, who had actually intended to scout Burton player Darren Roberts. [7] Rudge saw him as a potential replacement for Robbie Earle. [5] His debut came on 7 August 1992, in a 5–0 win over De Graafschap in the TNT Tournament. He became a regular in the side and in 1992–93 scored 15 goals to become the club's top scorer and earn himself the Player of the Year award, as well as a place on the PFA Second Division team. He was once again selected in the PFA's divisional team of the season for the 1993–94 season. [6] He also lifted the Football League Trophy, scoring a "stunning overhead back heel" against Fulham in the opening round, and going on to play in the final as Vale beat Stockport County 2–1 at Wembley Stadium. [8] He would later state: "John Rudge... gave me the opportunity to play professional football. He put me in the team and had faith in me. That was the bedrock of my career". [9]

Sheffield Wednesday

In June 1994, Taylor signed with Premier League club Sheffield Wednesday. The next month a tribunal decided upon a £1 million fee, plus £100,000 for an England appearance and £25,000 for every ten goals up to a maximum of fifty goals as well as 15% of the profit of any future sale. [6] As it happened he was shifted on to Brian Little's Aston Villa in December that year for £1 million plus Guy Whittingham. The "profit" for Wednesday was therefore Whittingham himself, meaning all the would-be bonuses were an irrelevance. Taylor played just eighteen games for Wednesday.

Aston Villa

A lifelong supporter of the "Villans", as a child he used to stand on the Holte End at Villa Park. This fact, combined with his utterly committed displays and knack of scoring crucial goals, quickly established him as a fans' favourite. [3] Villa narrowly stayed in the Premier League in 1994–95 after finishing three points and one place above relegated Crystal Palace. Villa finished fourth in 1995–96, and Taylor scored in wins over Manchester United, Wimbledon, Leeds United, and Southampton. He also played, and scored, in the Aston Villa side that won the 1996 League Cup final 3–0 against Leeds.

He played 36 domestic games in 1996–97, scoring in wins over Leeds, Wimbledon, and Liverpool. He scored 9 goals in 44 games in 1997–98, and maintained his first-team place under new manager John Gregory. Taylor also netted important goals in Villa's 1997–1998 UEFA Cup run, when they would eventually be knocked out by Atlético Madrid on away goals at the quarter-final stage.

He scored four times in 38 games in 1998–99, and again Villa won all games in which he found the net, including a 2–1 victory at Coventry City in which Taylor scored both Villa's goals. He was prolific in 1999–2000, scoring ten goals in 42 games, helping Villa to reach the 2000 FA Cup final, where they lost out 1–0 to Chelsea. Taylor hit five goals in 35 games in 2000–01, including both goals in a 2–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. However, he was restricted to just eighteen appearances in 2001–02, as manager John Gregory was replaced by Graham Taylor in January. After only nineteen appearances in 2002–03, he was released by Taylor at the end of the campaign. [10]

Derby County

Taylor joined First Division side Derby County, [11] where he was made captain. He was the club's top-scorer in 2003–04 with twelve goals, as Derby avoided relegation by a single point. He played 44 games in 2004–05, as Derby reached the Championship play-offs , where they were defeated by Preston North End in the semi-finals. Taylor was released in May 2005. [12]

Northampton Town

In June 2005 he signed with League Two club Northampton Town. [13] The "Cobblers" won promotion in 2005–06 as League Two runners-up, with Taylor making 38 appearances. For his performances he was named on the PFA Team of the Year. Northampton retained their League One status in 2006–07, as Taylor played another 36 games. Taylor announced that the game at home to Huddersfield Town on 27 April would be the last of his career before retiring as a professional player. [14] A small number of Aston Villa fans attended this match. At Villa's away match against Manchester City the day after Taylor's final game, the travelling Villa fans sang "There's only one Ian Taylor".

International career

Taylor was born in Birmingham, England and is of Barbadian descent through his mother. [15] In May 2004, he was considered by Barbados manager Kenville Layne for a call-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying double-header against Saint Kitts and Nevis in June 2004. Taylor revealed that he turned down a similar approach from the nation five years previous, as he wanted to play for England.

Post-retirement

Taylor is now an occasional football co-commentator for the Aston Villa website's Villa TV, and can regularly be seen at Aston Villa games as was appointed as a Club Ambassador in February 2011. [16] He also makes occasional appearances on Sky TV and TNT Sports. [17] During the 2007–08 season, he has been given a regular column as the final feature in Aston Villa's matchday programme, titled 'Tayls Talking'. Still held in very high esteem by Villa fans, he maintained his cult status in October 2005, when instead of sitting with the directors and VIPs for the Second City derby against Birmingham City at St Andrew's, he was amongst the travelling Aston Villa contingent; Taylor did the same thing again in Villa's game against Blues on 11 November 2007. [3]

In 2012, Taylor created his own brand of headphones and speakers called iT7 Audio, which has been worn by a host of celebrities and sportspeople supporting the brand. [18] Taylor is also a director of Optima Sport, which brings academy football teams from across the world to compete against academies in the UK. [19] He also runs his own consultancy in the solar and renewable energy industry, being Global Business Development Ambassador for MJ Quinn Solar and is an Ambassador for car company Express Car Leasing.

In January 2024, Taylor was named by Aston Villa as a member of the Honorary Anniversary Board ahead of the club's 150th anniversary season. [20]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition [21]
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 1992–93 Division 2 411541219 [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] 2 [lower-alpha 1] 5619
1993–94 Division 2 421320214 [lower-alpha 1] 2 [lower-alpha 1] 5016
Total8328614213410636
Sheffield Wednesday 1994–95 Premier League 1410041—182
Aston Villa 1994–95 Premier League2212000—241
1995–96 Premier League2533161—345
1996–97 Premier League3420031—373
1997–98 [22] Premier League32630108 [lower-alpha 3] 3 [lower-alpha 3] 449
1998–99 [23] Premier League33410103 [lower-alpha 3] 0384
1999–2000 [24] Premier League2955085—4210
2000–01 [25] Premier League29410104 [lower-alpha 4] 1 [lower-alpha 4] 355
2001–02 [26] Premier League1631110—184
2002–03 [27] Premier League13010213 [lower-alpha 4] 1 [lower-alpha 4] 192
Total2332817223818529143
Derby County 2003–04 [28] First Division 42111011—4412
2004–05 [29] Championship 39320102 [lower-alpha 2] 0443
Total81143021208815
Northampton Town 2005–06 [30] League Two 33730101 [lower-alpha 1] 0387
2006–07 [31] League One 3313000—361
Total668601010748
Career total477793233412349577104
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance/s and goal/s in the Football League Trophy.
  2. 1 2 Appearance/s in the play-offs.
  3. 1 2 3 Appearance/s and goal/s in the UEFA Cup.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Appearance/s and goal/s in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Honours

Moor Green

Port Vale

Aston Villa

Northampton Town

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Warnock</span> English footballer (born 1981)

Stephen Warnock is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Davis</span> Northern Irish association football player

Steven Davis is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made his full international debut in 2005 and made 140 appearances at senior level, scoring 13 goals, to become the most capped Northern Ireland player, also a record for any man from the British home nations. He captained his country at UEFA Euro 2016 where they reached the last 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Whittingham</span> English footballer (1984–2020)

Peter Michael Whittingham was an English professional footballer. His primary position was as a central midfielder, although he also sometimes operated as a wide midfielder on both the left and right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Bent</span> English footballer (born 1984)

Darren Ashley Bent is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He played in the Premier League and Championship for nine clubs, and at senior international level for the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlon Harewood</span> Retired English professional footballer

Marlon Anderson Harewood is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Brown (footballer, born 1977)</span> English footballer, manager, and pundit

Michael Robert Brown is an English former professional footballer and football manager who now works as a pundit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Horsfield</span> English footballer

Geoffrey Malcolm Horsfield is an English former professional footballer and football coach. He made more than 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a striker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Husbands</span> English footballer

Michael Paul Husbands is a footballer who plays as a winger and forward.

James Francis Edward O'Connor is an English former professional footballer who is the assistant manager to Russell Penn at National League club Kidderminster Harriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Davies</span> English footballer (born 1985)

Curtis Eugene Davies is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Cheltenham Town and the Sierra Leone national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Young</span> English footballer (born 1985)

Ashley Simon Young is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back, wide midfielder or winger for Premier League club Everton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theo Robinson</span> Association football player (born 1989)

Theo Larayan Ronaldo Shadiki Robinson is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for National League North club Gloucester City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobias Mikaelsson</span> Swedish footballer (born 1988)

Tobias Lars Mikaelsson is a Swedish footballer.

Raymond Walker is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times. He was promoted twice with the club and also played a part in the club's highest ever post-war finish in the English Football League. With Aston Villa in the early '80s, he joined Port Vale in 1986, after a short loan spell in 1984. After eleven years at Vale Park he went into non-League football with Leek Town and Newcastle Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Chester</span> Welsh footballer (born 1989)

James Grant Chester is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and signed for EFL League Two club Barrow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andreas Weimann</span> Austrian footballer

Andreas Weimann is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Bristol City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conor Hourihane</span> Irish footballer (born 1991)

Conor Geraroid Hourihane is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League One club Derby County and the Republic of Ireland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Johnson (footballer)</span> Jamaican footballer (born 1992)

Daniel Anthony Johnson is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Stoke City and the Jamaica national team.

Oliver George Arthur Watkins is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the England national team.

Corey Josiah Paul Blackett-Taylor is an English professional footballer who plays for Derby County on loan from Charlton Athletic. He has represented England at Under-19 level.

References

  1. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 412. ISBN   1-85291-651-6.
  2. ↑ "Aston Villa Player Database". astonvillaplayerdatabase.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Player Profile: Ian Taylor". threematchban.com. 16 December 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "The Guardian: Port Vale". onevalefan.co.uk. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ian Taylor: the OVF interview". onevalefan.co.uk. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 287. ISBN   0-9529152-0-0.
  7. ↑ "Port Vale: England hit-man Ricky Lambert was so close to joining the Valiants after being spotted by Ray Williams". The Staffordshire Sentinel . 12 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  8. ↑ Fielding, Rob (4 March 2017). "Five great Port Vale goals". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Baggaley, Michael (27 May 2022). "Promotion hero Ian Taylor talks Port Vale and return to Wembley". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "Villa release veteran pair". BBC Sport. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  11. ↑ "Taylor joins Derby". BBC Sport. 26 June 2003. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  12. ↑ "Quartet are released by Rams boss". BBC Sport. 21 May 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  13. ↑ "Cobblers complete quartet capture". BBC Sport. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  14. ↑ "Taylor set for final appearance". BBC Sport. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  15. ↑ "Taylor considering Barbados call". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Brown, Paul (23 February 2011). "Aston Villa Football Club | The official club website". Aston Villa Football Club. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  17. ↑ Vincent, Bobby; Challies, Josh (17 June 2020). "Ian Taylor sums up how every Aston Villa fan is feeling after major controversy". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  18. ↑ Beeston, Dave. "Ian Taylor: Villa Legend to Entrepreneur". avillafan.com. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "OPTIMA SPORT". Optima Sport. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "AV 150: Honorary Board Announced". Aston Villa Football Club. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  21. ↑ Ian Taylor at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  22. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  23. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  28. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Ian Taylor in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  32. ↑ Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879–1993. Witan Books. p. 236. ISBN   0-9508981-9-8.
  33. ↑ "Milosevic gives; Villa a touch of magic". The Independent. 25 March 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  34. ↑ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 150.
  35. ↑ Kent, Jeff (1996), Port Vale Personalities, Witan Books, p. 288, ISBN   0-9529152-0-0
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.