Neil Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Neil John Taylor is a Welsh
professional footballer who plays in defence and left side of midfield for Swansea City
. He has also played for Wales at senior level as well as several youth levels.
, but left the club at the age of 15. He instead moved to Wrexham at the age of 16 progressing through the youth system at the club, signing a professional contract in July 2007. He broke into the first-team at Wrexham during the 2007–08 season when he made 27 league and cup appearances. He signed an extension to his contract in March 2008, keeping him at Wrexham until 2010.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, Taylor joined Football League Championship
side Swansea City
on a free transfer. A fee of £150,000 plus 10% of any future profit was agreed between the two clubs just before entering a professional footballers compensation committee tribunal on 30 September 2010. He made his Swans league debut coming on as a sub for Albert Serrán
in the defeat at Norwich City
. Taylor had played 15 league games, due to injuries and suspensions, before spraining his ankle against Reading on 1 January 2011. Taylor made his return more than a month later on February 19 against Doncaster Rovers the same week where both he and captain Garry Monk became fathers.
Taylor made his debut for the Wales national football team
on 23 May 2010 against Croatia at the Gradski Stadion Osijek.
On 12 May 2011, in the Npower Football League Championship play off semi final first leg against Nottingham Forest, Taylor was sent off after 53 seconds for a high challenge on Forest's Lewis McGugan
. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.
On 7 June 2011, Swansea confirmed Newcastle United had made a bid for the player. Swansea rejected the offer, understood to be of around £1 million and Taylor signed a four year deal with Swansea
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
professional footballer who plays in defence and left side of midfield for Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. He has also played for Wales at senior level as well as several youth levels.
Career
Taylor began his career at Manchester CityManchester 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...
, but left the club at the age of 15. He instead moved to Wrexham at the age of 16 progressing through the youth system at the club, signing a professional contract in July 2007. He broke into the first-team at Wrexham during the 2007–08 season when he made 27 league and cup appearances. He signed an extension to his contract in March 2008, keeping him at Wrexham until 2010.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, Taylor joined Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on a free transfer. A fee of £150,000 plus 10% of any future profit was agreed between the two clubs just before entering a professional footballers compensation committee tribunal on 30 September 2010. He made his Swans league debut coming on as a sub for Albert Serrán
Albert Serrán
Albert Serrán Polo is a Spanish footballer who plays for AEK Larnaca F.C. in Cyprus, as a defender.-Football career:...
in the defeat at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. Taylor had played 15 league games, due to injuries and suspensions, before spraining his ankle against Reading on 1 January 2011. Taylor made his return more than a month later on February 19 against Doncaster Rovers the same week where both he and captain Garry Monk became fathers.
Taylor made his debut for the Wales national football team
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 23 May 2010 against Croatia at the Gradski Stadion Osijek.
On 12 May 2011, in the Npower Football League Championship play off semi final first leg against Nottingham Forest, Taylor was sent off after 53 seconds for a high challenge on Forest's Lewis McGugan
Lewis McGugan
Lewis Shay McGugan is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Championship side Nottingham Forest...
. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.
On 7 June 2011, Swansea confirmed Newcastle United had made a bid for the player. Swansea rejected the offer, understood to be of around £1 million and Taylor signed a four year deal with Swansea
Career statistics
| Club | Season | Division | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | |||
| Wrexham | 2007–08 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool... |
League Two Football League Two Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system.... |
26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | Conference National Conference National Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| 2009–10 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| Subtotal | 75 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 85 | 3 | ||
| Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
2010–11 | Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| Total | 110 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 123 | 3 | ||