Matt Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew James Taylor is an English
footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic
.
Boys before being a member of the Everton
U17 Academy. He joined Burscough
and, alongside brother Joe, played in the club’s finest hour – their 2003 FA Trophy
final win 2-1 over Tamworth
. The game was played at Aston Villa
’s Villa Park
in front of more than 14,000 spectators and was televised live on Sky; the club had started their FA Trophy campaign that year rated at 400-1 to win the silverware. However, it would be his final game for the club as he and a number of other senior players left the club following the departure of the manager Shaun Teale
.
in July 2003, he joined Rossendale United
before moving to Matlock Town
, a club his uncle Neil Fairclough had previously played for, at the end of September. He debuted for the club in the 4-0 victory at Ossett Town
on 27 September 2003. and his signing coincided with the club going on a run that took them to the top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division
table before eventually finishing as runners-up to Hucknall Town
; Taylor was named the club's player of the season.
's manager Ernie Moss
moved to Hucknall Town
and he swiftly returned to his former club to sign Taylor and also his brother Joe who had been with Worksop Town
.
On 31 March 2005 he joined Halifax Town
until the end of the season but did not make an appearance for the club.
In August 2005 he joined Guiseley on trial, eventually joining the club permanently for the season.
where he played as a centre back
, representing the university in the British Universities Sports Association
(BUSA) championship games, catching the eye of the Team Bath
manager Ged Roddy, who picked him to play as a defender in the England Universities team at the 2006 British Universities Games. He joined Team Bath
in the summer of 2006 to play as a centre back whilst studying for a Diploma in Fitness Excellence at the University of Bath
. Taylor enjoyed a successful season at the heart of the team's defence being named Players’ Player of the Year as the team finished runners-up in the Southern League Premier Division, missing out on promotion to the Conference South
after losing 1-0 to Maidenhead United
in the play-off final. In June 2007 he completed a move to Exeter City
He signed a new contract with the club in December, which would expire in 2010. He featured in the Conference play-off final
for Exeter, which was won 1–0 and finished the season with 46 appearances and scored nine goals. He played in the club's first game on their return to the Football League
, which finished as a 1–1 draw with Darlington
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
.
Early career as a goalkeeper
Taylor began his career as a goalkeeper playing for Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
Boys before being a member of the Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
U17 Academy. He joined Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
and, alongside brother Joe, played in the club’s finest hour – their 2003 FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
final win 2-1 over Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
. The game was played at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
’s Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
in front of more than 14,000 spectators and was televised live on Sky; the club had started their FA Trophy campaign that year rated at 400-1 to win the silverware. However, it would be his final game for the club as he and a number of other senior players left the club following the departure of the manager Shaun Teale
Shaun Teale
Shaun Teale is a former English professional footballer. He is perhaps most famous for being in the League Cup winning team of Aston Villa in 1994.-Playing career:...
.
2003–2004 season
After an unsuccessful trial with Lincoln CityLincoln 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....
in July 2003, he joined Rossendale United
Rossendale United F.C.
Rossendale United F.C. was an English football club based in Newchurch, near Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The club was formed in 1898 but was expelled from the North West Counties League Premier Division on 18 June 2011....
before moving to Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
, a club his uncle Neil Fairclough had previously played for, at the end of September. He debuted for the club in the 4-0 victory at Ossett Town
Ossett Town F.C.
Ossett Town Football Club are an English football club based in Ossett, in the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire, playing in the Northern Premier League in the 2011-12 season.-History:...
on 27 September 2003. and his signing coincided with the club going on a run that took them to the top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
table before eventually finishing as runners-up to Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
; Taylor was named the club's player of the season.
2004–2005 and 2005–2006 seasons
In June 2004, Matlock TownMatlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
's manager Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...
moved to Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
and he swiftly returned to his former club to sign Taylor and also his brother Joe who had been with Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
.
On 31 March 2005 he joined Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
until the end of the season but did not make an appearance for the club.
In August 2005 he joined Guiseley on trial, eventually joining the club permanently for the season.
Conversion to a centre back
Taylor combined his playing career with life as a student at Sheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
where he played as a centre back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, representing the university in the British Universities Sports Association
British Universities Sports Association
British Universities & Colleges Sport is the governing body for university sport in the United Kingdom. BUCS was formed in June 2008 following a merger of the British Universities Sports Association and University College Sport organisations...
(BUSA) championship games, catching the eye of the Team Bath
Team Bath F.C.
Team Bath was an English association football club affiliated with the University of Bath in the city of Bath, Somerset at the turn of the 21st century. The club was formed to allow the players to combine professional football with higher education...
manager Ged Roddy, who picked him to play as a defender in the England Universities team at the 2006 British Universities Games. He joined Team Bath
Team Bath F.C.
Team Bath was an English association football club affiliated with the University of Bath in the city of Bath, Somerset at the turn of the 21st century. The club was formed to allow the players to combine professional football with higher education...
in the summer of 2006 to play as a centre back whilst studying for a Diploma in Fitness Excellence at the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
. Taylor enjoyed a successful season at the heart of the team's defence being named Players’ Player of the Year as the team finished runners-up in the Southern League Premier Division, missing out on promotion to the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
after losing 1-0 to Maidenhead United
Maidenhead United F.C.
Maidenhead United Football Club is an English football club in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The club was founded in 1870 and moved to their current ground at York Road the following year...
in the play-off final. In June 2007 he completed a move 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...
He signed a new contract with the club in December, which would expire in 2010. He featured in the Conference play-off final
Conference National Playoff Final 2008
The 2007–08 Blue Square Premier League Playoff Final took place on 18 May 2008 at Wembley Stadium, London. It was contested between Cambridge United and Exeter City, with Exeter winning 1–0 and securing their return to the Football League after five years' absence.This was the third...
for Exeter, which was won 1–0 and finished the season with 46 appearances and scored nine goals. He played in the club's first game on their return to 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...
, which finished as a 1–1 draw with Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
.