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Stuart Taylor (footballer, born 1980)

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For other people named Stuart Taylor, see Stuart Taylor (disambiguation).

Stuart Taylor
Taylor warming up for Aston Villa in 2008
Personal information
Full name Stuart James Taylor[1]
Date of birth (1980-11-28) 28 November 1980 (age 43)[2]
Place of birth Romford, England
Height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Wimbledon
Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2005 Arsenal 18 (0)
1999 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 4 (0)
2000 → Crystal Palace (loan) 10 (0)
2001 → Peterborough United (loan) 6 (0)
2004–2005 → Leicester City (loan) 10 (0)
2005–2009 Aston Villa 12 (0)
2009 → Cardiff City (loan) 8 (0)
2009–2012 Manchester City 0 (0)
2012–2014 Reading 4 (0)
2013 → Yeovil Town (loan) 0 (0)
2014–2015 Leeds United 3 (0)
2016–2018 Southampton 0 (0)
Total 75 (0)
International career
1997 England U16 1 (0)
1998–1999 England U18 5 (0)
1999 England U20 2 (0)
2001 England U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stuart James Taylor (born 28 November 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Taylor began his career with Arsenal, winning the 2001–02 Premier League and 2002–03 FA Cup and representing England at under-16, under-18, under-20 and under-21 level. He was spoken of as a future replacement for Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman but after other goalkeepers were signed, he struggled to get playing time after 2003 and he joined Aston Villa in 2005.[4]

Initially second-choice behind Thomas Sørensen, Taylor was again supplanted by other keepers and pushed down the pecking order. He left Aston Villa in 2009, having played only 12 league matches in four seasons. He then joined Manchester City, before spells at Reading, Leeds United and Southampton. Taylor spent most of his career as a third-choice goalkeeper, only making 95 career appearances. He currently runs his own goalkeeping academy.[5]

Club career

[edit]

Arsenal

[edit]

Taylor was born in Romford, London.[6] After a brief spell as a teenager with Wimbledon,[4] Taylor joined Arsenal in 1997 as a youth player. He made his Arsenal debut in a League Cup game against Ipswich Town in November 2000.[7] While at Arsenal he was loaned out to Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Peterborough United and Leicester City.[8][9] His league debut for Arsenal came in a 3–1 win against Manchester United in November 2001.[10][11] He went on to make ten League appearances in Arsenal's 2001–02 Premier League-winning season, thus qualifying him for a winners' medal. This feat was achieved in the final match against Everton, with the title already won. Richard Wright started the game with Taylor upon nine appearances. Manager Arsène Wenger substituted Wright in the 85th minute of play for Taylor who thus earned a medal with this cap.[12][13]

During his time at Arsenal he was tipped to become David Seaman's successor.[4] However, although he saw off competition from Alex Manninger and Wright, the signings of Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia in 2003 and 2004 respectively saw him struggle for playing time. Taylor also missed the whole of the 2003–04 season due to a persistent shoulder problem.[14] After the signing of Almunia, Taylor thus became the club's third-choice goalkeeper and Wenger told Taylor that he would understand if he chose to leave.[4] During his stay at Highbury Taylor won a league title, an FA Cup as well as two Charity Shields. Altogether he made 30 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal.[15][16][17][18]

Aston Villa

[edit]

In June 2005 Taylor moved to Aston Villa, signing on a four-year deal.[19] He became Villa's second-choice goalkeeper, behind Thomas Sørensen. Taylor recalls being told that he would play if Sørensen was injured or in poor form, but those chances "never materialised. I kept being told I would play this game or that game, and I never did. You get your hopes up, and it's hard to take. Football is a cruel game. People tell you what they think you want to hear."[4] During the 2005–06 season he made just two appearances for the club. He saved Wayne Rooney's penalty in a match against Manchester United on 20 October 2007 during a match in which first-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson was sent off.[20] When Sørensen left, Villa signed Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan at the start of the 2008–09 season. Friedel became the first choice goalkeeper with Guzan second choice and Taylor slipping down to third. This despite generally putting in good performances, when called upon. Taylor's final appearance for Villa was the game against Odense BK in the 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup.[citation needed]

Cardiff City (loan)

[edit]

In a bid to find first team football,[4] Taylor began to search for a short-term loan deal at a Football League side, entering into talks with League One club Leeds United.[21] However, on 13 March 2009, a last minute offer from Cardiff City prompted Taylor to instead opt for the Championship side on a one-month loan deal, becoming the third goalkeeper to sign on loan at the club during the season, after Tom Heaton and Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.[22] He made his debut for the side two days later in a 1–1 draw with Bristol City.[23]

Taylor continued as first choice for Cardiff throughout his first month at the club, despite the return of Tom Heaton from injury, and his loan deal was extended to the end of the season.[24] However, following a 6–0 defeat to Preston North End, Taylor was dropped from the side for the final three games of the season. At the end of the campaign, he returned to Villa Park.[25]

Manchester City

[edit]

Taylor signed for Manchester City on a free transfer on 23 June 2009, following the expiration of his contract at Villa. He officially became a Manchester City player on 1 July 2009.[26] Taylor admitted taking advice from Brad Friedel, who had previously worked with manager Mark Hughes and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock at Blackburn Rovers. On 18 July 2009, when Manchester City played the South African team Orlando Pirates, Taylor conceded his first two goals for the club. Signed as cover for Shay Given, Taylor was promised playing time in the FA Cup and League Cup, but this also failed to materialise.[4] Taylor made his only first-team appearance for the club in an FA Cup 4th round tie against Scunthorpe United on 24 January 2010, which City won 4–2.

On 10 July, he signed a new two-year deal with the club,[27] despite being officially released by City nine days earlier.[28] Taylor also played against New York Red Bulls on 25 July 2010 in the second half in City's U.S. Tour, and conceded one goal in a 2–1 defeat. After the return of Joe Hart from a loan spell, Taylor once again found himself third-choice goalkeeper.[4] He fell further down the pecking order, with Costel Pantilimon starting in front of him in a League Cup tie against former club Arsenal on 29 November 2011, which City won 1–0. After winning the 2011–12 Premier League title as Manchester City's third choice goalkeeper, he was released by City for a second time on 1 June 2012, alongside other goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen.[29]

Reading

[edit]

Reading announced on 13 July 2012 that Taylor was training with them and would play a part in their first team friendly with AFC Wimbledon the next day.[30] On 20 August 2012, Reading manager Brian McDermott announced that they had signed Taylor on a one-year contract.[31] Injuries to both Adam Federici and Alex McCarthy saw Taylor make his Reading debut on 2 March in a 3–1 defeat to Everton in the Premier League.[32] Taylor played against his former club Arsenal on 30 March 2013 in a 4–1 loss at the Emirates Stadium. Taylor signed a new one-year deal with Reading, keeping him at the club till June 2014, on 2 August 2013.[33]

On 18 November 2013, Taylor joined fellow Championship side Yeovil Town on an initial one-month loan deal.[34] Taylor's loan with Yeovil was cut short without making a competitive appearance after just two days due to "personal reasons".[35]

Taylor's spell at Reading found him as a backup goalkeeper to regular goalkeepers McCarthy and Federici. He left the club at the end of the 2013–14 season upon the expiry of his contract.[36]

Leeds United

[edit]

Taylor signed a one-year contract with Leeds United on 3 July 2014.[37] Taylor revealed that he was hoping to challenge for the number 1 spot, after revealing that Leeds were also looking to sign another goalkeeper.[38] On 8 July, Leeds signed a new number 1 goalkeeper in Marco Silvestri from Chievo Verona.[39] On 1 August, Taylor was assigned the Leeds number 13 shirt for the 2014–15 season.[40]

Taylor made his Leeds United debut on 12 August 2014, starting the League Cup match against Accrington Stanley.[41] Taylor started for Leeds on 27 August in the 2–1 defeat against Bradford City in the League Cup.[42]

Taylor made his league debut in the game against Charlton Athletic on 18 April 2015 in a 2–1 loss, with Taylor giving away a penalty.[43]

On 13 May 2015, upon the expiry of his contract, Leeds announced that they would not be renewing Taylor's contract at the club.[44] Taylor, who had played only 9 games between 2012 and 2015, considered retirement: "You go round thinking things will happen, that surely you will get games, and it becomes very demoralising. I was fed up."[4] He turned down the chance to join clubs in League One and League Two as he felt that even if he played more matches, it would be an admission that he was not good enough to play in the Premier League: "People will say I am wrong, but I wanted to play at the highest level I thought I could play at. I felt I was good enough to be in the Premier League."[4]

Southampton

[edit]

On 26 August 2016, after a year without a club, Taylor joined Southampton on a one-year contract.[45][46] Taylor joined knowing he would be third-choice behind Fraser Forster and Alex McCarthy: "nobody promised me anything. I know my role."[4] On 13 July 2017, Southampton announced that Taylor's contract had been extended for another year.[47] On 30 June 2018, Taylor left Southampton after his contract expired, without having made a first-team appearance.[48]

In an interview with the New York Times in December 2017, Taylor talked about his career and the frustrations he had at barely playing and becoming known for being a third-choice keeper: "There is definitely a perception of me... [as a man who] loves going round clubs, earning money for doing nothing."[4] He dismissed suggestions that he "sits around doing nothing, turning up for training, having a jolly, messing about" and had become wealthy after spending so long in the Premier League, saying that when his playing career ends "I will have to work. People assume I have made serious money. I really haven't."[4] He said that "every coach I have had, every goalkeeper I have worked with, has said I should have played 200 or 300 Premier League games. I look back at it and think the same."[4]

International career

[edit]

Taylor played for the England U20 team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship alongside Ashley Cole, Peter Crouch and Andrew Johnson. He was capped three times for the England U21 team.[citation needed]

Career statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 1999–2000[49] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2000–01[50] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 2 0
2001–02[51] Premier League 10 0 1 0 2 0 2[a] 0 15 0
2002–03[52] Premier League 8 0 2 0 1 0 2[a] 0 13 0
2003–04[53] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 18 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 30 0
Bristol Rovers (loan) 1999–2000[49] Second Division 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Crystal Palace (loan) 2000–01[50] First Division 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Peterborough United (loan) 2000–01[50] Second Division 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Leicester City (loan) 2004–05[54] Championship 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Aston Villa 2005–06[55] Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2006–07[56] Premier League 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
2007–08[57] Premier League 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 0
2008–09[58] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[b] 0 2 0
Total 12 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 17 0
Cardiff City (loan) 2008–09[58] Championship 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Manchester City 2009–10[59] Premier League 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2010–11[60] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12[61] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Reading 2012–13[62] Premier League 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2013–14[63] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Leeds United 2014–15[64] Championship 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0
Southampton 2016–17[65] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017–18[66] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career totals 75 0 4 0 9 0 7 0 95 0

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearances in 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup

Honours

[edit]

Arsenal

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Stuart Taylor". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  3. ^ "First team: Stuart Taylor". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rory Smith (13 December 2017). "This Premier League Player's Position? Left Out". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  5. ^ "stuarttaylor_gka". Instagram. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Stuart Taylor". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Arsenal 1–2 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 1 November 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Stuart Taylor: Profile". Reading FC.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Leicester snap up keeper on loan". BBC Sport. 18 November 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Barthez errors gift Arsenal win". BBC Sport. 25 November 2001. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Taylor's time at last". BBC Sport. 22 November 2001. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Henry sparks Arsenal party". BBC Sport. 11 May 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (12 May 2002). "Henry enters party spirit". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Taylor out for season". BBC Sport. 29 March 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  15. ^ "Stuart Taylor". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Arsenal retain FA Cup". BBC Sport. 17 May 2003. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Parlour gives Gunners Wembley win". BBC Sport. 1 August 1999. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Slick Arsenal win Shield". BBC Sport. 11 August 2002. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Arsenal keeper Taylor joins Villa". BBC Sport. 27 June 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  20. ^ "Aston Villa 1–4 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 20 October 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  21. ^ Phillips, Terry (14 March 2009). "New Bluebirds goalkeeper Taylor: I almost joined Leeds". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  22. ^ "Cardiff sign Villa keeper Taylor". BBC Sport. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  23. ^ "Bristol City 1–1 Cardiff". BBC Sport. 15 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  24. ^ "McCormack hailed as Cardiff hero". BBC Sport. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
  25. ^ "Cardiff City get tough after play-off flop". WalesOnline. Media Wales. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  26. ^ "Taylor Set To Depart". Aston Villa F.C. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009.
  27. ^ "Stuart Taylor nets new deal". Manchester City F.C. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  28. ^ "Manchester City re-sign keeper Stuart Taylor, days after releasing him". The Guardian. 10 July 2010.
  29. ^ "FREE TRANSFER LIST 2011/12" (PDF). Premier League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2012.
  30. ^ "Taylor to play part in Wimbledon game". Reading Football Club. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  31. ^ "Taylor Signs, Mikkel loaned". Reading Football CluB. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  32. ^ "Report: Tough Toffees win". Reading F.C. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  33. ^ "Taylor pens new deal". Reading F.C. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  34. ^ "Stuart Taylor: Yeovil Town sign Reading goalkeeper on loan". BBC Sport. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  35. ^ "Stuart Taylor: Reading goalkeeper leaves Yeovil after two days". BBC Sport. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  36. ^ "Jobi, Mikele & Kaspars to move on". Reading F.C.
  37. ^ "Leeds United sign Stuart Taylor". ITV. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  38. ^ "Taylor looking to be involved". Leeds United F.C. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  39. ^ "Leeds United complete Silvestri and Bianchi signings". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  40. ^ "Squad numbers released". Leeds United F.C. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  41. ^ "Leeds V Accrington". Leeds United F.C. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  42. ^ "United edged out at Bradford". Sky Sports. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  43. ^ Wobschall, Leon (18 April 2015). "Charlton 2 Leeds United 1: Redfearn silence over 'injured' six". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  44. ^ "Austin Released by Leeds United". Leeds United F.C. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  45. ^ "Cedric Soares: Southampton defender signs new deal until 2020". BBC Sport. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Taylor joins Saints on one-year deal". Southampton F.C. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  47. ^ "Taylor signs new deal". Southampton F.C. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  48. ^ "Taylor to depart Saints". Southampton F.C. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  49. ^ a b "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  50. ^ a b c "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  51. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  52. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  53. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  54. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  55. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  56. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  57. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  58. ^ a b "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  59. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  60. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  61. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  62. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  63. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  64. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  65. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  66. ^ "Games played by Stuart Taylor in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  67. ^ "Stuart Taylor: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
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