 Taylor in 2007 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Taylor[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1967-02-03)3 February 1967 (age 58)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Easington, County Durham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Horden Colliery Welfare | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1989 | Leeds United | 42 | (9) |
| 1989–1992 | Bristol City | 106 | (50) |
| 1992–1998 | West Bromwich Albion | 238 | (96) |
| 1998 | →Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 1998 | →Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 1998–2000 | Bolton Wanderers | 65 | (18) |
| 2000–2003 | West Bromwich Albion | 86 | (17) |
| 2003–2004 | Cheltenham Town | 28 | (7) |
| 2004–2006 | Tamworth | 60 | (19) |
| 2006–2007 | Kidderminster Harriers | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 639 | (219) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert Taylor (born 3 February 1967) is an English formerfootballer who played as acentre forward. Known by supporters as "Super Bobby Taylor", "Super Bob" or simply "Super",[3][4][5] Taylor scored more than 250 goals in a professional career that comprised almost 750 games in 20 years. He isWest Bromwich Albion's eighth highest goalscorer of all time.
He began his professional career atLeeds United, making his debut in 1986 at the age of 19. In 1989, he moved toBristol City, before joiningWest Bromwich Albion in 1992. Taylor signed forBolton 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 toCheltenham Town before ending his career at non-league sidesTamworth andKidderminster Harriers.
Taylor, the son of a miner,[4] was born in Littlethorpe Hospital inEasington, and brought up in the small mining community of nearbyHorden.[5] He attended Dene House School inPeterlee, where he proved to be a useful cricketer.[4] He was also a successful schoolboy footballer and captained his school team; he played initially atfull-back, but later became astriker, the position he would go on to play for his entire professional career.[5] Taylor had unsuccessful trials at bothHartlepool United andNewcastle United.[5] 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 forLeeds United, at that time managed byBilly Bremner.[6]
He gradually worked his way into the Leeds first team, making his professional debut againstMillwall in the Second Division on 12 April 1986,[5] and was part of the Leeds squad that lost the1986–87 Division One playoff final, losing toCharlton Athletic in a replay, also reaching theFA Cup semi-finals that season.[4] By the1987–88 season he had become a regular in the side. However, whenHoward Wilkinson succeeded Bremner as Leeds manager in 1988, the young centre-forward was no longer considered a regular player, as the new manager looked to make new signings to build a promotion-winning team. Taylor believed that this was because Wilkinson wanted immediate success, and needed to bring in established, experienced players in order to achieve this.[6] Thus in March 1989 Taylor moved toBristol City, withCarl Shutt moving to Leeds as part of the deal.
The signing of Taylor was an important one for Bristol City and its fans. Between 1980 and 1982 the club endured three consecutive relegations, the first club ever to experience this unwanted feat.[7] With Terry Cooper as manager the team regained some stability following promotion from the Fourth Division, but by 1989 the fans were frustrated after several years of austerity and a failure to make the next step into the Second Division. The signing of Taylor provided them with a long sought-after goal-scoring hero.
Taylor made an instant impact at his new club, scoring eight goals in 12 games during the remainder of the season.[5] His immediate importance earned him the deferential nickname of 'God' a significance that was noted by the club's influential fanzine The Bountyhunter. The front cover of its April 1989 issue conveying supporter sentiment by contrasting the signing of Taylor ('Hope') with the club's board members ('Hopeless').[8]
In1989–90, his first full season at City, he helped the club achieve promotion to Division Two.[6] Taylor finished as Division Three leading goalscorer with 27 league goals[9] (34 in total) and was also named Bristol City Player of the Year.[5]
Although the following season proved to be less prolific for Taylor, it was nevertheless a major surprise when Bristol City agreed to sell Taylor toWest Bromwich Albion – who were in the Third Division, while City were in the Second Division. Such was the backlash against manager Jimmy Lumsden following the sale that he was dismissed by the club shortly after, to be replaced by Denis Smith.[10]
It was Albion managerBobby Gould who brought him toThe Hawthorns for a £300,000 fee in January 1992 to boost Albion's Third Division promotion challenge. Taylor was seen as a replacement forDon Goodman, who had been sold toSunderland earlier in the season. Taylor scored on his debut againstBrentford in a 2–0 Hawthorns win, and added another two on his away debut as Albion beat local rivalsBirmingham City 3–0 atSt Andrew's.[6] Initially nicknamed "Trigger" (due to a perceived resemblance to the character in the television comedyOnly 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,[4] and scored eight times in 19 games during the second half of1991–92, although Albion missed out on the playoffs. Gould then left the club and was replaced byOssie Ardiles.[11]
During the1992–93 season, Taylor capitalised fully on the attacking football Albion played under new managerOssie Ardiles, finishing as Division Two's top goalscorer with 30 league goals,[9] and scoring 37 in all competitions. This was despite having a succession of different strike partners throughout the season, includingSimon Garner,Luther Blissett,David Speedie and even midfielderGary Robson.[4] However, whenAndy Hunt arrived at Albion in March 1993, he and Taylor quickly forged a successful striking partnership that would last for several seasons. Hunt and Taylor were part of the Baggies team that beatPort Vale atWembley in the Division Two playoff final, to secure promotion to Division One.[6] In the second half, with the game still goalless, Taylor was through on goal when he was brought down by former Leeds teammatePeter 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.[12]
Taylor was the club's top league goalscorer once again in1993–94, scoring 18 goals.[13] 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 againstWolves to seal a 2–0 win in March 1995; he later described it as the best goal of his career.[6] His only hat-trick for Albion, in a 4–4 draw againstWatford on 12 March 1996, helped him to finish as Albion's top league goalscorer for the third time, finding the net on 17 occasions in1995–96.[13] 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, againstDerby County.[14] Things changed however in early 1998, following the appointment ofDenis Smith in place ofRay Harford as manager. Recovering from an ankle injury and struggling with his fitness, Taylor was sent out on loan to Premiership clubBolton Wanderers.
Taylor made his Bolton debut on 10 January 1998 in a 0–0 draw withSouthampton. 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 – againstManchester United atOld Trafford – as Taylor helped to earn Bolton a 1–1 draw. The goal against United instantly gave Taylor cult hero status amongst the Bolton faithful. 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 the1997–98 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.[6][11] He was the Wanderers' top scorer in the1998–99 season, partneringEiður Guðjohnsen as Bolton reached theFirst Division promotion play-offs. Taylor scored twice in the playoff semi-final second leg againstIpswich Town, to help earn his team a 4–4 draw on aggregate and qualification for the final via theaway goals rule.[15] Bolton just missed out on a return to the Premiership by losing 2–0 toWatford in the final at Wembley Stadium. However, whenSam Allardyce arrived as Bolton manager in1999–2000, Taylor found his chances limited.
Aside from his affinity with Albion, he remains a favourite amongst the Bolton support, he returned to theReebok for teammate and former roommateJussi Jääskeläinen's testimonial in August 2009.
With West Bromwich Albion struggling near the foot of Division One, managerGary 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 overCharlton 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.
"I've got my beloved Baggies to the promised land."
Taylor became the 100th Albion player to be sent off in a first team match when he received a red card againstBarnsley on 28 October 2001.[3] After scoring vital goals in the final few games of the2001–02 season againstNottingham Forest,Coventry andRotherham, he helped seal Albion's promotion to thePremiership with the second goal in a final-day 2–0 win overCrystal Palace.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]
Bob Taylor's testimonial match was played at The Hawthorns on 13 May 2003, in front of 12,000 fans.[4] It marked the end of his second and final spell at West Bromwich Albion, who had released him the day before.[20] Taylor then spent a season atCheltenham Town.[21] He made his Cheltenham debut on 23 August 2003, coming on as a substitute in 3–3 draw away atHull City. He marked his first start for Cheltenham with two goals in a 4–1 away win atLeyton Orient a week later.[22] He then joinedTamworth in 2004.[23] A highlight of his time at the latter club was a 10-minute 2nd-half hat-trick in a 3–2 win atLeigh RMI on 6 November 2004.[24] In 2005 Taylor signed for Tamworth for a further 12 months.[25] During2005–06, Taylor received a conviction fordrink-driving; Tamworth gave him two weeks leave "to deal with personal matters".[26] Following his release from Tamworth in May 2006,[27] Taylor linked up withKidderminster Harriers for pre-season training and signed a non-contract deal with the club in September 2006.[28] He left Kidderminster in January 2007 having made three appearances as a substitute.[29] He subsequently retired from professional football, playing for Turnpike FC in Lichfield Pub League, and has since set up his own promotions company, Super Bob Events.[30]
Bob Taylor was primarily a goal poacher. His goals were often unspectacular, and he lacked the pace necessary to chase long balls.[4] Instead he relied heavily on his sense of timing; of being in the right place at the right time.[4] He was also adept at holding the ball up to bring other players into the game.[4] Taylor was "all effort" and did not shy away from the physical side of football.[4] 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".[11]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[a] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Leeds United | 1985–86 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986–87 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 1987–88 | 32 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 39 | 12 | |
| 1988–89 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 54 | 13 | |
| Bristol City | 1988–89 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 |
| 1989–90 | 37 | 27 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 34 | |
| 1990–91 | 39 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 11 | |
| 1991–92 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 5 | |
| Total | 106 | 50 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 126 | 58 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1991–92 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 8 |
| 1992–93 | 46 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 59 | 37 | |
| 1993–94 | 42 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 52 | 21 | |
| 1994–95 | 42 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 11 | |
| 1995–96 | 42 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 54 | 23 | |
| 1996–97 | 32 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 10 | |
| 1997–98 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| Total | 238 | 96 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 19 | 8 | 281 | 113 | |
| Bolton Wanderers | 1997–98 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
| 1998–99 | 38 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 48 | 18 | |
| 1999–00 | 27 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 6 | |
| Total | 77 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 96 | 27 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1999–00 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| 2000–01 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 6 | |
| 2001–02 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 7 | |
| 2002–03 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 86 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 18 | |
| Cheltenham Town | 2003–04 | 28 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 8 |
| Tamworth | 2004–05 | 35 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 19 |
| 2005–06 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| Total | 60 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 19 | |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 2006–07 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 639 | 219 | 30 | 12 | 46 | 13 | 34 | 12 | 749 | 256 | |
Bristol City
West Bromwich Albion
Individual
