Les Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Leslie Taylor is an English
former footballer who captained Watford
in the 1984 FA Cup Final. He played as a hard-working central-midfielder. Graham Taylor
, his Watford manager, described him as "sniffer and a ratter".
Taylor started his career at Oxford United
, signing professional terms in December 1974. He moved to Watford
in November 1980 for £
100,000 plus Keith Cassells
. He was part of the Watford side that achieved promotion to Division One in the 1981–82
season, winning the Player of the Season award that year.
In the 1983–84
season Watford reached the final of the FA Cup
. Watford's captain, Wilf Rostron
was sent off in a league fixture against Luton Town
preceding the final and incurred a suspension. Therefore it was Taylor that led Watford out at Wembley
. Watford would go on to lose 2–0 to Everton
.
Taylor moved on loan to Reading in October 1986 and signed for them permanently in December that year for £20,000. For the same fee he moved to Colchester United
in January 1989. He played for the Essex
club until retirement in 1990.
Taylor returned to Oxford in 1992. He became United's under-16 coach and is still with the club, now working as Youth Development Officer.
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...
former footballer who captained Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the 1984 FA Cup Final. He played as a hard-working central-midfielder. Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor (football manager)
Graham Taylor OBE is a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He is best known as the manager of the England national football team, as well as being manager of Watford, a club he took from the Fourth Division to the First in the space of five years, then from bottom of the...
, his Watford manager, described him as "sniffer and a ratter".
Taylor started his career at Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, signing professional terms in December 1974. He moved to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in November 1980 for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
100,000 plus Keith Cassells
Keith Cassells
-External links:*...
. He was part of the Watford side that achieved promotion to Division One in the 1981–82
1981-82 in English football
The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
season, winning the Player of the Season award that year.
In the 1983–84
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
season Watford reached the final of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. Watford's captain, Wilf Rostron
Wilf Rostron
John Wilfred Rostron, often known as Wilf Rostron , is an English former footballer who spent ten years at Watford as well playing for Arsenal, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Brentford...
was sent off in a league fixture against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
preceding the final and incurred a suspension. Therefore it was Taylor that led Watford out at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Watford would go on to lose 2–0 to 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...
.
Taylor moved on loan to Reading in October 1986 and signed for them permanently in December that year for £20,000. For the same fee he moved to Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in January 1989. He played for the Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
club until retirement in 1990.
Taylor returned to Oxford in 1992. He became United's under-16 coach and is still with the club, now working as Youth Development Officer.