Bob Taylor (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Bob Taylor


fullname = Robert Taylor
height = height|ft=5|in=10
nickname = "Super Bob"
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1967|2|3
cityofbirth = Easington, County Durham
countryofbirth = England
clubnumber =
position = Striker (retired)
youthyears =
youthclubs = Horden Colliery Welfare
years = 1986–1989
1989–1992
1992–1998
1998
1998
1998–2000
2000–2003
2003–2004
2004–2006
2006–2007
clubs = Leeds United
Bristol City
West Bromwich Albion
→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)
→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)
Bolton Wanderers
West Bromwich Albion
Cheltenham Town
Tamworth
Kidderminster Harriers
Total
caps(goals) = 042 00(9)
106 0(50)
238 0(96)
004 00(1)
008 00(2)
065 0(18)
086 0(17)
028 00(7)
060 0(19)
002 00(0)
639 (219)
pcupdate = May 31, 2007

Robert Taylor (born 3 February 1967 in Easington, County Durham), better known as Bob Taylor, is an English former footballer who played as a centre forward. Known by supporters as "Super Bob", "Superbob" or simply "Super",cite book | last = Matthews | first = Tony | title = The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion | publisher = Breedon Books | year = 2005 | pages = pp228–229 | isbn = 1-85983-474-4] cite book | last = Wright | first = Simon | title = West Brom's Cult Heroes | publisher = Know the Score | year = 2006 | pages = pp202–213 | isbn = 1-905449-02-X] cite web | title=Bob Taylor's Background | url=http://www.superbobtaylor.co.uk/background.cfm | publisher=Bob Taylor official website | year=2007 | accessdate=2007-09-05] Taylor scored more than 250 goals in a professional career that comprised almost 750 games in 20 years. He is West Bromwich Albion's eighth highest goalscorer of all-time.

He began his professional career at Leeds United, making his debut in 1986 at the age of 19. In 1989 he moved to Bristol City, before joining West Bromwich Albion in 1992. Taylor signed for Bolton Wanderers in 1998 following two successful loans spells at the club, but in 2000 returned to West Bromwich Albion, where he remained for a further three seasons. He then moved to Cheltenham Town before ending his career at non-league sides Tamworth and Kidderminster Harriers.

Football career

Early career

Taylor, the son of a miner, was born in Littlethorpe Hospital in Easington, and brought up in the small mining community of nearby Horden. He attended Dene House School in Peterlee, where he proved to be a useful cricketer. He was also a successful schoolboy footballer and captained his school team; he played initially at full-back, but later became a striker, the position he would go on to play for his entire professional career. Taylor had unsuccessful trials at both Hartlepool United and Newcastle United. At the age of 17 he joined his local non-league club, Horden Colliery Welfare. In March 1986, after only a few months there, Taylor turned professional by signing for Leeds United, at that time managed by Billy Bremner.cite video | people = Mike Inman (Executive producer) | title = The Bob Taylor Story | medium = DVD | publisher = Carlton | year = 2003 ]

He gradually worked his way into the Leeds first team, making his professional debut against Millwall on 12 April 1986, and was part of the Leeds squad that lost the 1986–87 Division One playoff final, losing to Charlton Athletic in a replay. By the 1987–88 season he had become a regular in the side. However when Howard Wilkinson succeeded Bremner as Leeds manager in 1988, the young centre-forward found himself surplus to requirements. Taylor believed that this was because Wilkinson wanted immediate success, and needed to bring in established, experienced players in order to achieve this. Thus in March 1989 Taylor moved to Bristol City, with Carl Shutt moving to Leeds as part of the deal. Taylor made an instant impact at his new club, scoring eight goals in 12 games during the remainder of the season. In 1989–90, his first full season at City, he helped the club achieve promotion to Division Two. Taylor finished as Division Three leading goalscorer with 27 league goalscite web | title=English League Leading Goalscorers 1889-2007 | url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engtops.html | publisher=RSSSF | date=2007-06-14 | accessdate=2007-09-05] (34 in total) and was also named Bristol City Player of the Year.

West Bromwich Albion

Although the following season proved to be less prolific for Taylor, he nevertheless attracted the attention of West Bromwich Albion. It was Albion manager Bobby Gould who brought him to The Hawthorns for a £300,000 fee in January 1992. Taylor was seen as a replacement for Don Goodman, who had been sold to Sunderland earlier in the season. Taylor scored on his debut against Brentford in a 2–0 Hawthorns win, and added another two on his away debut as Albion beat local rivals Birmingham City 3–0 at St. Andrews. Initially nicknamed "Trigger" (due to a perceived resemblance to the character in the television comedy "Only Fools and Horses"), Taylor soon became known as "Super Bob", a moniker he was first given by fans of Bristol City during his spell there, and scored eight times in 19 games during the second half of 1991–92.cite book
last=Matthews
first=Tony
title=West Bromwich Albion: The Complete Record
publisher=Breedon Books
year=2007
pages=p143–144
isbn=978-1-85983-565-4]

During the 1992–93 season, Taylor capitalised fully on the attacking football Albion played under manager Ossie Ardiles, finishing as Division Two's top goalscorer with 30 league goals, and scoring 37 in all competitions. This was despite having a succession of different strike partners throughout the season, including Simon Garner, Luther Blissett, David Speedie and even midfielder Gary Robson. However when Andy Hunt arrived at Albion in March 1993, he and Taylor quickly forged a successful striking partnership that would last several seasons. Hunt and Taylor were part of the Baggies team that beat Port Vale at Wembley in the Division Two playoff final, to secure promotion to Division One. In the second half, with the game still goalless, Taylor was through on goal when he was brought down by former Leeds team-mate Peter Swan. Swan's subsequent dismissal proved to be the turning point in the game, with Hunt scoring the first goal in a 3–0 victory. [cite book| last=McOwan | first=Gavin | title=The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion | publisher=Headline | year=2002 | pages=pp158–159 | isbn=0-7553-1146-9 ]

Taylor was the club's top league goalscorer once again in 1993–94, scoring 18 goals.cite book
last=Matthews
first=Tony
title=West Bromwich Albion: The Complete Record
publisher=Breedon Books
year=2007
pages=p173
isbn=978-1-85983-565-4] Albion however struggled in Division One and only avoided relegation on the last day of the season.Taylor scored several goals in local derbies during his time at Albion, including a diving header against Wolves to seal a 2–0 win in March 1995; he later described it as the best goal of his career. His only hat-trick for Albion, in a 4–4 draw against Watford on 12 March 1996, helped him to finished as Albion's top league goalscorer for the third time, finding the net on 17 occasions in 1995–96. He captained the side for the second half of that season and scored his 100th goal for the club in the final league game of the campaign, against Derby County.cite book
last=Matthews
first=Tony
title=West Bromwich Albion: The Complete Record
publisher=Breedon Books
year=2007
pages=p56
isbn=978-1-85983-565-4] Things changed however in 1998, when Denis Smith succeeded Ray Harford as manager. Recovering from an ankle injury and struggling with his fitness, Taylor was sent out on loan to Premiership club Bolton Wanderers.

Bolton Wanderers

Taylor made his Bolton debut on 10 January, 1998 in a 0–0 draw with Southampton. He played four times for the club during his initial month-long spell on loan, scoring once. The goal came in the fourth and final game – against Manchester United at Old Trafford – as Taylor helped to earn Bolton a 1–1 draw. He then returned to West Bromwich Albion, playing in a further nine games and scoring twice, before re-joining Bolton Wanderers for a second loan spell, this time for the remainder of the 1997–98 season. During this period he scored two goals in eight games for Bolton, who were relegated from the Premier League on goal difference.

When Albion were only prepared to offer him a one-year contract, Taylor moved to Bolton permanently in July 1998 for a £90,000 fee. He was the Wanderers' top scorer in the 1998–99 season as Bolton reached the First Division promotion play-offs. Taylor scored twice in the playoff semi-final second leg against Ipswich Town, to help earn his team a 4–4 draw on aggregate and qualification for the final via the away goals rule. [cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=303981
title = Ipswich 4–3 Bolton
accessdate = 2007-11-11
work = soccerbase.com
publisher = Racing Post] Bolton just missed out on a return to the Premiership by losing 2–0 to Watford in the final at Wembley Stadium. However when Sam Allardyce arrived as Bolton manager in 1999–2000, Taylor found his chances limited.

Second spell at Albion

With West Bromwich Albion struggling near the foot of Division One, manager Gary Megson signed Taylor in a £90,000 deal, making the striker one of four deadline-day signings by the club. Taylor's return to the Hawthorns paid off as he scored five goals in eight games, including one in a last day 2–0 victory over Charlton Athletic, to keep Albion in Division 1. His goal against former club Bolton – an overhead kick in a 4–4 draw – was voted as Albion's goal of the season for 1999–2000. The following season (2000–01) then saw Albion exceed all expectations, reaching the Division 1 playoffs, where they lost in the semi-final to Bolton.

Quote box|width=250px|align=right|quote="I've got my beloved Baggies to the promised land."|source=Bob Taylorcite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1943230.stm|title=Taylor's immaculate timing|accessdate=2007-09-05|date=2002-04-22|publisher=BBC Sport] Taylor became the 100th Albion player to be sent off in a first team match when he received a red card against Barnsley on 28 October, 2001. After scoring vital goals in the final few games of the 2001–02 season against Nottingham Forest, Coventry and Rotherham, he sealed Albion's promotion to the Premiership with the second goal in a final-day 2–0 win over Crystal Palace. [cite news
date=2002-04-21
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1935828.stm
title=Baggies back in big time
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-22] Albion struggled in their first season in the Premiership however, with Taylor starting only one game. In March 2003, he expressed his unhappiness at his lack of first team action, saying that he was forced to train with the Albion youth team, and that he hadn't spoken to manager Gary Megson for four months. [cite news
date=2003-03-17
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/2857647.stm
title=Taylor unhappy at Albion
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-05-17] Albion were already relegated by the time Bob Taylor made his 377th and final appearance for them, in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United on 11 May, 2003. In what was only his second start of the season, Taylor was substituted due to injury after half an hour, but left the field to a standing ovation. [cite news
date=2003-05-11
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2978135.stm
title=Baggies go out on a high
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-05-17]

Later career and retirement

Bob Taylor's testimonial match was played at The Hawthorns on 13 May 2003, in front of 12,000 fans. It marked the end of his second and final spell at West Bromwich Albion, who had released him the day before. [cite news
date=2003-05-12
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/3021829.stm
title=Baggies begin clear-out
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-06-01] Taylor then spent a season at Cheltenham Town. [cite news
date=2003-08-19
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/3162707.stm
title=Cheltenham sign Taylor
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-22] He made his Cheltenham debut on 23 August, 2003, coming on as a substitute in 3–3 draw away at Hull City. He marked his first start for Cheltenham with two goals in a 4–1 away win at Leyton Orient a week later. [cite news
date=2003-09-01
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/3198737.stm
title=Robins win delights Taylor
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-05-17] He then joined Tamworth in 2004. [cite news
date=2004-09-01
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tamworth/3617396.stm
title=Taylor joins Tamworth
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-05-17] A highlight of his time at the latter club was a 10-minute 2nd-half hat-trick in a 3–2 win at Leigh RMI on 6 November, 2004. [cite news
date=2004-11-06
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/3967643.stm
title=Leigh RMI 2-3 Tamworth
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-22] In 2005 Taylor signed for Tamworth for a further 12 months. [cite news
date=2005-04-19
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tamworth/4459947.stm
title=Taylor signs new deal at Tamworth
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-05-17] During 2005–06, Taylor received a conviction for drink-driving; Tamworth gave him two weeks leave "to deal with personal matters". [cite news
date=2005-11-01
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tamworth/4395514.stm
title=Taylor allowed leave by Tamworth
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-05-17] Following his release from Tamworth in May 2006, [cite news
date=2006-05-03
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tamworth/4968240.stm
title=Six let go in Tamworth clearout
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-22] Taylor linked up with Kidderminster Harriers for pre-season training and signed a non-contract deal with the club in September 2006. [cite news
date=2006-09-13
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kidderminster_harriers/5341498.stm
title=Kidderminster sign striker Taylor
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-22] He left Kidderminster in January 2007 having made three appearances as a substitute. [cite news
date=2007-01-19
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kidderminster_harriers/6279311.stm
title=Taylor's contract ended by Yates
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-22] He subsequently retired from professional football and has since set up his own promotions company, Super Bob Events. [cite news
last=Kendrick
first=Mat
date=2007-04-29
url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaymercury/sport/tm_headline=i-m-holding-out-to-see-albion-at-wembley---super-bob&method=full&objectid=18989788&siteid=50002-name_page.html
title=I'm holding out to see Albion at Wembley - Super Bob
publisher=Sunday Mercury
accessdate=2007-05-10]

tyle of play

Bob Taylor was primarily a goal-scoring centre-forward. His goals were often unspectacular, and he lacked the pace necessary to chase long balls. Instead he relied heavily on his sense of timing; of being in the right place at the right time. He was also adept at holding the ball up in order to bring other players into the game. Taylor was "all effort" and did not shy away from the physical side of football. He has been described by West Bromwich Albion club historian Tony Matthews as "Strong and powerful both on the ground and in the air and a perpetual hard worker".

Honours

;Bristol City
*Promotion
**Football League Third Division (old): 1989–90, as runners-up;West Bromwich Albion
*Promotion
**Football League Second Division: 1992–93, via playoffs
**Football League First Division: 2001–02, as runners-up;Individual awards
*Leading scorer
**Football League Third Division (old): 1989–90 (27 goals)
**Football League Second Division: 1992–93 (30 goals)

Career statistics

Club performance

cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=7830
title = Bob Taylor player statistics
accessdate = 2007-08-27
work = soccerbase.com
publisher = Racing Post]

References

External links

* [http://www.superbobtaylor.co.uk/ Official site]
*soccerbase|id=7830|name=Bob Taylor
* [http://www.harriers-online.co.uk/squad/bobtaylor.shtml Harriers Online profile]
* [http://www.thelambs.co.uk/page/index.asp?pageCatID=17&pageID=101 Interview] on the official Tamworth F.C. website

Persondata
NAME=Taylor, Bob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Taylor, Robert
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=February 3, 1967
PLACE OF BIRTH=Easington, County Durham, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=