Mark Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Mark Richard Taylor (more commonly known as Mark Taylor; born November 20, 1964 in Hartlepool
) is an English
former professional footballer. He played as a striker
.
Taylor began his career with his hometown club, Hartlepool United
, in 1984. Over two years, he made 47 league appearances for Pools and scored four goals.
After a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra
in 1985–86, Taylor signed for Sam Ellis
's Blackpool
in 1986. He made his debut at Doncaster Rovers
on September 14, 1986, in the fourth league game of the 1986–87
season. Over the course of the season, Taylor made 40 league appearances and scored fourteen goals in a strike partnership with Paul Stewart.
In his second season at Blackpool, 1987–88
, Taylor made 41 league appearances and scored 21 goals, finishing as the club's top scorer in the wake of Stewart's departure to Manchester City
at the end of the previous season.
Taylor suffered an injury in December of the 1988–89
season that put him out of action for the rest of that campaign and the whole of the next.
He started the 1990–91
season on the bench, but he returned to the starting line-up on November 10, 1990, in a 4–2 victory over Aldershot
at Bloomfield Road
. Taylor scored the Seasiders' second goal. His season stopped again shortly thereafter, however, when he missed seven games (the first two under new manager Billy Ayre
, who succeeded Graham Carr
). He returned in mid-January 1991 and helped the team to a fifth-placed finish in Division Four
and qualification for the play-offs. Taylor played in both legs of the semi-final against Scunthorpe United
, as well as in the final against Torquay United
. It wasn't to be for Blackpool, as the Gulls were victorious in the deciding penalty shoot-out.
In 1991–92
, Taylor made only two starts (scoring a goal in each) in Billy Ayre's first full season in charge, before being loaned out to Cardiff City
in the New Year. At Ninian Park
, Taylor scored three goals in six appearances. In his absence, Blackpool made the play-offs once more, and this time won promotion after another penalty shoot-out.
At the end of the 1991–92 season, Taylor was sold to another Welsh
club, Wrexham
, where he finished his career.
After football he graduated from the University of Salford
in Physiotherapy and forged a career in the area. He has worked as a physiotherapist at his old club, Blackpool, as well as at Blackburn Rovers
and Bolton Wanderers
, the latter of whom he spent seven years with before joining Newcastle United
. He remains in the F.A. Premier League as a member of Fulham's
medical staff.
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
) is an English
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 professional footballer. He played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Taylor began his career with his hometown club, Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, in 1984. Over two years, he made 47 league appearances for Pools and scored four goals.
After a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in 1985–86, Taylor signed for Sam Ellis
Sam Ellis
Samuel "Sam" Ellis is an English football coach and former player. He left his post as assistant manager of on December 30, 2010.-Career:...
's Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1986. He made his debut at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
on September 14, 1986, in the fourth league game of the 1986–87
Blackpool F.C. season 1986-87
The 1986-87 season was Blackpool F.C.s 80th season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Three, then the third tier of English league football, finishing ninth....
season. Over the course of the season, Taylor made 40 league appearances and scored fourteen goals in a strike partnership with Paul Stewart.
In his second season at Blackpool, 1987–88
Blackpool F.C. season 1987-88
The 1987-88 season was Blackpool F.C.s 81st season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Three, then the third tier of English league football, finishing tenth....
, Taylor made 41 league appearances and scored 21 goals, finishing as the club's top scorer in the wake of Stewart's departure to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
at the end of the previous season.
Taylor suffered an injury in December of the 1988–89
Blackpool F.C. season 1988-89
The 1988-89 season was Blackpool F.C.s 82nd season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Three, then the third tier of English league football, finishing nineteenth....
season that put him out of action for the rest of that campaign and the whole of the next.
He started the 1990–91
Blackpool F.C. season 1990-91
The 1990-91 season was Blackpool F.C.s 84th season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Four, then the fourth tier of English football...
season on the bench, but he returned to the starting line-up on November 10, 1990, in a 4–2 victory over Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
. Taylor scored the Seasiders
Billy Ayre
William "Billy" Ayre was an English footballer who played for three different clubs in a sixteen-year professional career, making over three hundred League appearances in the process. After retiring from the playing side of the game, he became a manager, and took the helm at five different clubs...
, who succeeded Graham Carr
Graham Carr
William Graham Carr is an English former professional footballer and football club manager. He is currently Head Scout at Newcastle United.-Club career:...
). He returned in mid-January 1991 and helped the team to a fifth-placed finish in Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
and qualification for the play-offs. Taylor played in both legs of the semi-final against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, as well as in the final against Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
. It wasn't to be for Blackpool, as the Gulls were victorious in the deciding penalty shoot-out.
In 1991–92
Blackpool F.C. season 1991-92
The 1991-92 season was Blackpool F.C.s 85th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Four, then the fourth tier of English football...
, Taylor made only two starts (scoring a goal in each) in Billy Ayre's first full season in charge, before being loaned out to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in the New Year. At Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, Taylor scored three goals in six appearances. In his absence, Blackpool made the play-offs once more, and this time won promotion after another penalty shoot-out.
At the end of the 1991–92 season, Taylor was sold to another Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
club, Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, where he finished his career.
After football he graduated from the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
in Physiotherapy and forged a career in the area. He has worked as a physiotherapist at his old club, Blackpool, as well as at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, the latter of whom he spent seven years with before joining Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. He remains in the F.A. Premier League as a member of Fulham's
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
medical staff.