Steven Taylor (footballer)

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For other people named Steven Taylor, see Steven Taylor (disambiguation).
Steven Taylor
Personal information
Full name Steven Vincent Taylor
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Newcastle United
Number 27
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:41, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

Steven Vincent Taylor (born January 23, 1986 in Greenwich, London) is an English footballer, currently playing for Premier League club Newcastle United. He is a central defender who can also play at right back and is sometimes utilised as a left back.

Club career

Early career

Taylor had started playing football as a striker. In 1995, following injury-absence of defensive players, Taylor was forced to play as a centre-half, and following successful performances, was told that he would not be moving back to centre-forward.

Taylor moved to Wycombe Wanderers in December 2003 for a month-long loan deal in order to get first team experience. He made his league debut in Wycombe colours, in a 1–1 away draw against Notts County on December 13. He played a total of six games for the club in the loan period that lasted until January 11, 2004. He was a very popular player at Wycombe, having a large influence despite his youth and limited number of appearances.

2004-05

On March 25, Taylor finally made his debut for Newcastle, also his European debut. It came in the UEFA Cup 3–0 win against RCD Mallorca, when he replaced Andy O'Brien. The full debut, which was also the Premier League debut, followed soon, on March 28, against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. Taylor wears the number 27 shirt at Newcastle in recognition of Philippe Albert, a former Newcastle player, who also wore 27.

The start of the 2004–05 season was disappointing, as Taylor picked up an injury, and could not play for a long time. He eventually came back to play 22 games for the club, thus salvaging his season. He was also involved in a bizarre incident in a home game against Aston Villa in which he saved a Darius Vassell effort with his hand. Taylor grabbed his ribs in agony as he tried to con the referee into believing it had hit his torso. Not falling for it, he was sent off and the penalty was converted, however this was largely overshadowed by the Bowyer Dyer fight which happened in the same game. Because his dive has inconsequential (the game was beyond Newcastle as Dyer and Bowyer had been sent off), he achieved cult/comical status with Newcastle fans and many neutrals.

2005-06

Taylor suffered a serious shoulder injury training for the England Under 21's, of which he further aggravated against Liverpool on Boxing Day 2005. This injury kept him out for the rest of the season, with the defending being left to Titus Bramble, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Peter Ramage and Craig Moore. He did, however, make a substitute appearance in Alan Shearer's testimonial match on May 11. During the 2005 season, youth graduates Taylor and Ramage became fan favourites, due to the frequent mistakes and errors of the now departed pair, Bramble and Boumsong.

2006-07

Considered Taylor's breakthrough season, his first senior goal for the club came against Celta de Vigo on November 23, 2006 in the UEFA Cup. It turned out to be the winner in a 2–1 victory for Newcastle. He then scored his first Premiership goal for Newcastle in a 3-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers on 9 December, 2006, and began to play more regularly, making 12 starts for Newcastle in defence.

In the match versus Birmingham City, in the FA Cup on January 7, he was voted Man of the Match after grabbing Newcastle's equaliser, clearing off the line and giving an all round great performance. Taylor played in the replay against Birmingham on January 17, although he was sent off after fouling DJ Campbell.

Taylor's second league goal, the winner in Newcastle's 2-1 away win on Saturday 7 April, at Sheffield United. His powerful header proved to be the goal that helped Sheffield United be relegated. Taylor was called up the full England squad at the end of the season but did not come off the bench. He also made a senior appearance for the England B team.

2007-08

Taylor started the season in and out of the team under new manager, Sam Allardyce. Held responsible for the 3–1 defeat to Manchester City, he lost his place to new defenders David Rozehnal and Caçapa, before winning it back and forming a partnership with Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye in central defence after Allardyce's sacking and the appointment of Kevin Keegan. After an impressive season in which Taylor played 31 Premier League games, he signed a new three year contract worth £35,000 a week.[1]

International career

In November 2001, Taylor, playing in the England Under-16 team at the Walkers International Tournament, was adjudged Player of the Tournament. Following this, in July 2002, he signed his professional contract with Newcastle. That season he also made his debut for the club Reserve team. In March 2003, the England Under-17 team qualified for the European Championships, and in the match against Slovakia, Taylor scored his first two goals for England. He also played in 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Following a good showing at the Under-20 World Championship at Dubai, Taylor made his England under-21 debut on February 17, in a 3-2 win over the Netherlands.

In June 2005 Taylor represented England Under-20 at the Toulon International Tournament, where England finished in third place. On September 6, 2005, he scored his first under-21 goal, against the German side. He also scored two goals against the Poland Under-21s in October 2005.

Taylor played a key role for England under-21s as they progressed to the semi-finals of the U21 Euro 2007. He missed the first match but played the other two group games and the semi-final where, after picking up an ankle injury just minutes before, he was unable to stop the Netherlands' late equaliser. After playing through extra-time with the injury, he was called upon to take part in the penalty shootout, and converted his spot-kick, although England exited the tournament after losing the shootout 13-12.

References

  1. ^ "New Magpies deal for Taylor". Sky Sports. 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-07-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links


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