Hull City great Peter Taylor picks his best player, signing and moment from decorated tenure
Back-to-back promotions ensure the 67-year-old commands a special place in club folklore
Peter Taylor’s four-year reign asHull City boss saw a tired club transformed.
Not only did he end a long period in the bottom division of English football with promotion in 2003-04, he also guided the Tigers back into the Championship at the first time of asking 12 months later.
No manager in City’s 116-year history has achieved back-to-back promotions, handing Taylor an unrivalled place in club folklore.
The 67-year-old has been reflecting on his hugely successful spell in charge of City,including how he almost quit and then came close to a return.
Here Taylor answers a handful of quick-fire questions from his 184 league and cup games as the Tigers’ boss.
Best player at City
"The best professional was Nick Barmby by a million miles. People say now who the best player I had was in club management and I surprise a lot of them by saying Nick Barmby.
"He was such a fantastic pro. I’d tell other players to watch him warming up and down. Learn from him.
"Even before he signed he wanted to make sure I wanted him. He wasn’t going to sign just because it was Hull City. He wanted to be sure the manager wanted him there.
"Other people would have gone ‘Bosh, where do I sign?’ with their hometown club but he was first class. You couldn’t meet a better professional."
READ MORE:Full EFL statement as Hull City given key update on season and financesREAD MORE:Hull City players asked to take a pay cut as staff set for furlough decisionMost influential player
"Ian Ashbee was a fantastic captain. I remember the Rochdale game and I said straight away to Adam that I knew a lot about Ian Ashbee. I knew him when he was at Cambridge and he was a better player than people gave him credit for.
"What I didn’t know was how good a captain he was as well. He was my perfect captain.
"If anyone dropped their standard he’d be straight on them. He did my job sometimes. He was very important to us."
Best signing
"That’s where it’s very tough for me. People like Andy Dawson didn’t cost a penny. Ryan France cost £10,000, something like that. Craig Fagan cost £100,000 and went for £800,000. Leon Cort for nothing and went for £1.2m. Boaz (Myhill), £50,000 from Aston Villa.
"People like Ben Burgess, Danny Allsopp. Even Jason Price, people don’t realise how important he was for us. He’d worked hard and then go down the other end and score.
"If I had to pick one, I’d probably have to say Nick Barmby. Because of where we were at that time and because we needed that little bit extra, he was that bit of class."
Where are they now? Catching up with ex-Tigers
Most underrated player
"Junior Lewis. He didn’t have such an influence at Hull City as he did when he was with me at Gillingham and Brighton but he was still the exact thing I wanted.
"He didn’t hide when things weren’t going well and that’s the reason I signed Junior the amount of times he did. He completely changed us at Gillingham and Brighton because he made us play football but he was still a lot, lot better at Hull than people give him credit for. He got some stick but he always contributed.
"I’ll mention Ryan France as well. What a good signing he was. What he could do in the air and on the ball was incredible for a lad that had come from Alfreton."
Best moment
"The game at Yeovil was special. I remember saying to Adam (Pearson) over breakfast that we would do it that day. I was very confident. I’ll never forget a video I’ve got that shows all the supporters back at the arena in Hull watching the live link. Absolutely brilliant.
"The home promotion was great as well but it’s the one-off games that I’ll never forget as well. Sheffield Wednesday away. Leeds at home in the Championship, when Jon Parkin scored for a 1-0 win. They are such great memories."