Rob Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert James "Rob" Taylor (born 16 January 1985) is an English
footballer who plays for League Two
side Port Vale
. He plays on the left flank and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.
A former non-league player with Solihull Borough
, Redditch United
, Evesham United
, and Nuneaton Borough, his career in the Football League
began later than most, as he chose to put his education before his football. He signed with Port Vale in August 2008, and after establishing himself in the first team in 2008–09, he played more than forty games in both the 2009–10 and 2010–11 campaigns.
with Solihull Borough
in 2004–05
and Evesham United
in 2005–06
. He was relegated in both seasons. He then played in the Conference North
for Redditch United
in 2006–07 and Nuneaton Borough in 2007–08, where he was a consistently good performer in the division.
Despite several trials at league
clubs he chose to put his education first and complete a degree at the University of Worcester
. After a successful trial with Port Vale
, where he scored in a reserve outing, manager Lee Sinnott
signed him up on a two year deal in readiness for the 2008–09 season
. He scored on his Vale debut in a 3–1 victory against Luton Town
. When Sinnott's replacement Dean Glover
took charge of the club, Taylor found himself out of contention and when Glover himself was removed Taylor stated his ambitions to earn himself a first team place under fresh management.
During the start of the 2009–10
season, under new manager Micky Adams
, Taylor found himself in the first team and a fan favourite. He played in the League Cup
"Sheffield double
" defeats of both Championship
sides, also scoring past Wednesday
. In the following league game against Hereford United
he scored a superb goal, that would later win him the club's Goal of the Season award. In August he set himself a target of ten goals for the season. Under Adams, Taylor was utilized in an attacking role, rather than his original role as left-back/left midfielder.
He was transfer listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams
saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat. On 28 December 2009 he scored his sixth of the season at Grimsby Town
's Blundell Park
, before getting his second bookable offence, earning him the first sending off of his professional career. To his surprise and delight, his good form earned him a contract extension in January 2010 that tied him to the "Vale" until the summer of 2012. Adams said that he gave Taylor the contract to avoid other clubs making attempts to tempt him away from Vale Park
.
Taylor found himself in the treatment room after tearing his hamstring in only his second start of the 2010–11
campaign. After recovering earlier than expected he aimed to regain his first team place. On 8 January he scored a brace past Championship side Burnley
in Vale's 4–2 FA Cup
defeat at Turf Moor
. These would be two of only three goals that season, though he ended the campaign with 41 appearances to his name.
He started the 2011–12
season on the bench. After he scored in his first start of the season, a Football League Trophy
tie with Tranmere Rovers
, he cemented his first team place with a brace against Bradford City
in the league.
from the University of Worcester
. He is a Manchester United
supporter.
|2008–09
||Port Vale
||League Two
||20||3||0||0||1||0||22||3
|-
|2009–10
||Port Vale
||League Two
||38||8||2||0||3||1||44||10
|-
|2010–11
||Port Vale
||League Two
||36||1||3||2||1||0||41||3
|-
|2011–12
||Port Vale
||League Two
||16||2||2||0||0||0||19||3
|-
110||14||7||2||5||1||126||19
110||14||7||2||5||1||126||19
Notes:
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who plays for 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....
side Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He plays on the left flank and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.
A former non-league player with Solihull Borough
Solihull Borough F.C.
Solihull Borough F.C. was an English football club from Solihull. In 2007 the club merged with Moor Green to form a new club, Solihull Moors.-History:...
, Redditch United
Redditch United F.C.
Redditch United F.C. is an English football club based in Redditch, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at the Valley.-Birmingham Combination:...
, Evesham United
Evesham United F.C.
Evesham United F.C. are an English football club based in Evesham, Worcestershire. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2008-2009 season. In 2005, they entered the Southern League Premier Division for the first time in their history but were relegated after...
, and Nuneaton Borough, his career in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
began later than most, as he chose to put his education before his football. He signed with Port Vale in August 2008, and after establishing himself in the first team in 2008–09, he played more than forty games in both the 2009–10 and 2010–11 campaigns.
Playing career
Taylor started off playing in the Southern LeagueSouthern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
with Solihull Borough
Solihull Borough F.C.
Solihull Borough F.C. was an English football club from Solihull. In 2007 the club merged with Moor Green to form a new club, Solihull Moors.-History:...
in 2004–05
2004–05 Southern Football League
The 2004–05 season was the 101st in the history of the Southern League.- League table :-Play-offs:...
and Evesham United
Evesham United F.C.
Evesham United F.C. are an English football club based in Evesham, Worcestershire. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2008-2009 season. In 2005, they entered the Southern League Premier Division for the first time in their history but were relegated after...
in 2005–06
2005–06 Southern Football League
The 2005-06 season was the 102nd in the history of the Southern League, which is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales.- League table :...
. He was relegated in both seasons. He then played in the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
for Redditch United
Redditch United F.C.
Redditch United F.C. is an English football club based in Redditch, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at the Valley.-Birmingham Combination:...
in 2006–07 and Nuneaton Borough in 2007–08, where he was a consistently good performer in the division.
Despite several trials at league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
clubs he chose to put his education first and complete a degree at the University of Worcester
University of Worcester
The University of Worcester is a British university, based in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. It was granted university status in September 2005.-History:...
. After a successful trial with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, where he scored in a reserve outing, manager Lee Sinnott
Lee Sinnott
Lee Sinnott is an English former professional footballer turned football manager, who is in charge at Conference North side Altrincham....
signed him up on a two year deal in readiness for the 2008–09 season
2008–09 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-seventh season of football in the Football League, and first season in League Two, following their relegation from League One. After a poor start to the season manager Lee Sinnott was sacked in September, and was replaced by Dean Glover. Despite a brief...
. He scored on his Vale debut in a 3–1 victory 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...
. When Sinnott's replacement Dean Glover
Dean Glover
Dean Victor Glover is an English former footballer and football manager. A cultured and stylish defender, he had the ball control skills of a midfielder. He played 457 league games in a seventeen year career in the Football League.He started his career at Aston Villa in 1980, before he moved on to...
took charge of the club, Taylor found himself out of contention and when Glover himself was removed Taylor stated his ambitions to earn himself a first team place under fresh management.
During the start of the 2009–10
2009–10 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-eighth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in League Two. Micky Adams received plaudits for his first full season in charge. He took a squad of players that had previously been near the bottom of the division and made...
season, under new manager Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
, Taylor found himself in the first team and a fan favourite. He played in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
"Sheffield double
Steel City derby
The Steel City Derby is a local derby that takes place between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, the two professional football league teams based in the city of Sheffield, England...
" defeats of both 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...
sides, also scoring past Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. In the following league game against Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
he scored a superb goal, that would later win him the club's Goal of the Season award. In August he set himself a target of ten goals for the season. Under Adams, Taylor was utilized in an attacking role, rather than his original role as left-back/left midfielder.
He was transfer listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat. On 28 December 2009 he scored his sixth of the season at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
's Blundell Park
Blundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...
, before getting his second bookable offence, earning him the first sending off of his professional career. To his surprise and delight, his good form earned him a contract extension in January 2010 that tied him to the "Vale" until the summer of 2012. Adams said that he gave Taylor the contract to avoid other clubs making attempts to tempt him away from Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
.
Taylor found himself in the treatment room after tearing his hamstring in only his second start of the 2010–11
2010–11 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Port Vale's ninety-ninth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League Two. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield...
campaign. After recovering earlier than expected he aimed to regain his first team place. On 8 January he scored a brace past Championship side Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in Vale's 4–2 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...
defeat at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
. These would be two of only three goals that season, though he ended the campaign with 41 appearances to his name.
He started the 2011–12
2011–12 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Port Vale's one-hundredth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League Two. It marked the start of Micky Adams' second spell in charge of the club, and despite fan unrest with the board, Vale fans and players were hopeful of promotion come...
season on the bench. After he scored in his first start of the season, a Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
tie with Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, he cemented his first team place with a brace against Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in the league.
Style of play
An attacking left-sided player, he is known for his pace and ability to beat defenders.Personal life
Taylor holds a degree in Sports scienceSports science
Sport science is a discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance...
from the University of Worcester
University of Worcester
The University of Worcester is a British university, based in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. It was granted university status in September 2005.-History:...
. He is a Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
supporter.
Statistics
|-|2008–09
2008–09 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-seventh season of football in the Football League, and first season in League Two, following their relegation from League One. After a poor start to the season manager Lee Sinnott was sacked in September, and was replaced by Dean Glover. Despite a brief...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||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....
||20||3||0||0||1||0||22||3
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-eighth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in League Two. Micky Adams received plaudits for his first full season in charge. He took a squad of players that had previously been near the bottom of the division and made...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||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....
||38||8||2||0||3||1||44||10
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Port Vale's ninety-ninth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League Two. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||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....
||36||1||3||2||1||0||41||3
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Port Vale's one-hundredth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League Two. It marked the start of Micky Adams' second spell in charge of the club, and despite fan unrest with the board, Vale fans and players were hopeful of promotion come...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||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....
||16||2||2||0||0||0||19||3
|-
110||14||7||2||5||1||126||19
110||14||7||2||5||1||126||19
Notes:
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
results included in totals. - Statistics pre-Port Vale unavailable.
External links
- Profile at the official Port Vale site