Andrew Derek Taylor (born 1 August 1986) is an English former professional footballer who last played for Bolton Wanderers. He has previously played for Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, Bradford City, Watford and Wigan Athletic.
Contents
Club career
Born in Hartlepool, County Durham, Taylor began his football career at Middlesbrough's youth academy, first joining at age nine. He eventually progressed through the youth ranks as schoolboy, trainee and senior professional before signing his first professional terms upon turning seventeen. Taylor started out as a left midfielder in the successful 2004 FA Youth Cup campaign with the likes of David Wheater and Adam Johnson. On 12 March 2005, he signed his first professional contract with the club.
Middlesbrough
Taylor was named as a substitute in several UEFA Cup games during the 2004–05 season but did not leave the bench. However, he was plagued with ankle injury that affected most of the 2004–05 season.
With only Franck Queudrue able to play at left-back, Steve McClaren brought Taylor back from Bradford City the following 2005–06 season, where he had impressed on loan. Taylor made his Middlesbrough debut, starting a match and playing 61 minutes before being substituted, in a 7–0 loss against Arsenal on 14 January 2006. A month later on 23 February 2006. He made his UEFA Cup debut against VfB Stuttgart in the second round of the Round of 32, in a 1–0 loss, but saw the club through to the next round on away goal. Since making his debut for the club, he found himself in and out of the starting line–up for the rest of the 2005–06 season. During the 2005–06 season, Boro reached the FA Cup semi-final and the 2006 UEFA Cup Final. Taylor played in several Premier League matches and the FA Cup semi-final to save Queudrue for the UEFA Cup tie with Sevilla. His impressive form meant he was unlucky to miss out on a starting place against Sevilla. At the end of the 2005–06 season, he made twenty appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2006–07 season, newly appointed Manager Gareth Southgate revealed the club was in talks with Taylor over a new contract. However, the arrival of Julio Arca for the 2006–07 season in replacement of the Fulham-bound Queudrue saw Taylor lose his place. After Arca's injury during the first game of the season against Reading, Taylor made his first appearance of the 2006–07 season, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against Chelsea. Taylor started in the next seven matches before being dropped from the squad for the next two matches. However, he returned to the starting line–up against West Ham United on 11 November 2006, helping the side keep a clean sheet, in a 1–0 win. Since returning, Taylor deputised in the left back position and continued to do even Arca returned from injury, which he eventually moved to playing in the central midfielder position and eventually made it his own after impressing Manager Gareth Southgate, as well as, stuck a partnership with fellow Boro academy graduate Stewart Downing on the left wing. His first team run ins earned him praise from Colin Cooper, saying: "He's better than me at the same age." Despite suffering from injuries later the 2006–07 season, Taylor made forty–one appearances in all competitions.
At the start of the 2007–08 season, Taylor continued to establish himself in the starting eleven, playing in the left–back position. He then set up the club's first goal of the game for Wheater, in a 2–0 win against Birmingham City on 1 September 2007. Since the start of the 2007–08 season, Taylor started in every match for the side until he suffered a foot injury during a 0–0 draw against Bolton Wanderers on 11 November 2007 and was sidelined for four months. While on the sidelines, Taylor signed a one-year extension to his contract in January 2008, which would see him remain at the club until June 2011. On 15 March 2008, he made his return from injury against Arsenal, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute, in a 1–1 draw. Taylor then started in a follow–up match, in a 1–0 win against Derby County. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he made twenty–one appearances in all competitions.
Cardiff City
On 1 July 2011, Taylor agreed terms with Cardiff City, signing a three-year deal with the Welsh club. Upon joining the club, he said: "Signing for Cardiff City is the right football decision for me. I am from the north east, but, looking in at Cardiff City before I signed, it was clear this is a massive club with a big fan base." Taylor was also given a number three shirt ahead of the 2011–12 season. In doing so, Taylor took a pay cut to join Cardiff City.
Taylor made his debut for Cardiff City, starting the whole game, in 1–0 win over West Ham United on the opening day of the season. He then scored his first goal for Cardiff on 27 August, in a 1–1 draw with Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Since making his debut for Cardiff City, Taylor immediately became the club's first-choice left-back for the next seven matches. However, he suffered a hamstring injury that saw him miss three matches. On 15 October 2011, Taylor returned to the starting line–up against Ipswich Town, in a 2–2 draw. He then set up two goals in the next two matches against Peterborough United and Barnsley. Taylor continued to regain his first team place in the left–back position for the next eight matches before missing one match at the beginning of December. He then made his return to the first team on 10 December 2011, in a 1–1 draw against Millwall. Taylor continued to regain his first team place in the left–back position for the rest of the season. Manager Malky Mackay praised his performance, calling him a "good professional". Taylor played in all eight games in the club's League Cup push, and represented City in the Wembley Final against Liverpool. Cardiff were beaten by the Premier League side after a penalty shootout, the game finishing 2–2 after extra time as Cardiff won many plaudits for their performance against an established Premier League side. However, the club's form in the league dipped following the cup final, and they ultimately finished the season in sixth position. West Ham United, who went on to win promotion, beat City home and away in their Play-off semi-final meetings. At the end of the 2011–12 season, he went on to make fifty–two appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
At the start of the 2012–13 season, Taylor continued to regain his first team place in the left–back position. He signed a two-year contract extension on 16 November 2012, tying him to the club until 2016. Taylor started in every match since the start of the 2012–13 season until he suffered a calf injury and was substituted in the 26th minute, in a 1–0 win against Middlesbrough on 17 November 2012. After being sidelined throughout November, Taylor made his return to the starting line–up, helping Cardiff City keep a clean sheet, in a 1–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday on 1 December 2012. He then started for the next five matches before missing one match, due to illness. Taylor returned to the starting line–up, helping Cardiff City keep a clean sheet, in a 0–0 draw against Ipswich Town on 12 January 2013. He then set up three goals in three matches between 5 March 2013 and 16 March 2013 against Derby County, Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday. However, in the last game of the season against Hull City, Taylor was sent–off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time, as they drew 2–2. Despite this, he made forty-three league appearances in his second season in Wales, the third-highest total of any Cardiff player, and was an integral part of the side that won the 2012–13 Championship title, achieving promotion to the Premier League.
Wigan Athletic
On 3 June 2014, Taylor signed for Wigan Athletic on a three-year deal.
Taylor made his Wigan Athletic debut in the opening game of the season, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Reading. Since making his debut, he quickly established himself in the starting eleven, playing in the left–back position. Taylor played an important role against Blackpool on 23 August 2014 when he set up the only goal for Oriol Riera in a 1–0 victory at the DW Stadium. This was followed up by scoring his first goal for the club, in a 4–0 win against Birmingham City on 30 August 2014. On 22 November 2014, he made his return to the starting line–up, in a 1–1 draw against Middlesbrough. Taylor regained his first team place in the left–back for the next three months before losing his first team place to Gaëtan Bong for the rest of the season. However, Wigan's relegation from the Championship was confirmed on 28 April 2015. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Taylor made twenty–seven appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
On 5 August 2015, Taylor signed on loan to Reading for a season-long loan deal. Upon joining the club, he was given a number three shirt.
Taylor made his Reading debut, starting the whole game and playing 120 minutes, in a 1–0 win against Colchester United in the first leg of the League Cup. A week later on 19 August 2015, he made his league debut for the club, starting the match and playing 76 minutes before being substituted, in a 1–1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday. However, Taylor found himself out of the starting line–up, as he found himself on the substitute bench, as well as, his own injury concern. After a month away from the first team, Taylor made his first appearance for the side, starting the whole game, in a 1–0 win against Rotherham United. From that moment on, he spent the rest of the season, competing with Jordan Obita over the left–back position. Along the way, Taylor also faced being on the sidelines, due to injuries. After spending away from the first team for a month, he started in a match against Huddersfield Town on 8 March 2016, setting up the club's only goal of the game, in a 3–1. At the end of the 2015–16 season, Taylor made twenty–three appearances in all competitions and returned to his parent club shortly after.
Bolton Wanderers
On 10 August 2016, Taylor signed on loan for Bolton Wanderers.
He made his Bolton Wanderers debut three days later away at AFC Wimbledon as an 85th-minute substitute, replacing Liam Trotter. In the first two months to the season, Taylor found himself in a competition with Dean Moxey, which saw him placed on the substitute bench. But in early–October, he won his place in the first team and established himself in the starting eleven, playing in the left–back position. He then helped the club keep four consecutive clean sheets between 8 October 2016 and 24 October 2016. A month later, Taylor helped Bolton Wanderers keep another four consecutive clean sheets between 19 November 2016 and 12 December 2016. This lasted until he suffered a groin injury while warming up prior to a match against Milton Keynes Dons on 4 February 2017. After missing one match, Taylor made his return to the starting line–up in the left–midfield position against Walsall on 11 February 2017 and helped the club win 4–1. His return was short–lived when he suffered a hamstring injury during a match against Rochdale and was substituted at half time on 14 February 2017. After being sidelined for a week, Taylor made his return to the starting line–up, playing in the left–back position, in a 1–1 draw against Bristol Rovers on 28 February 2017. Following this, he began to play in the left–midfield position for the next six matches. However, Taylor suffered a calf injury during a 2–0 win against Shrewsbury Town on 25 March 2017 and the injury saw him miss four matches. But he made his return to the starting line–up against Bury on 18 April 2017, playing in the left–midfield position, in a 0–0 draw. In the last game of the season against Peterborough United, Taylor helped Bolton Wanderers end the season on a high note with a 3–0 win which was enough to seal promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt as runners up. At the end of the 2016–17 season, he went on to make forty appearances in all competitions. Following this, Taylor returned to his parent club.
On 25 May 2017, Taylor signed for Bolton Wanderers on a permanent basis, signing a two-year deal after being released by Wigan Athletic. Taylor's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the opening game of the season, in a 3–2 loss against Leeds United. He started in the next four matches, playing once in the left–back position and three times in the left–midfield position. However, Taylor suffered a calf injury that kept him out for weeks. He then made his return from injury, starting a match in the centre–back position against West Ham United on 19 September 2017 in the third round of the League Cup, losing 3–0. However, Taylor suffered a back injury during a 1–1 draw against Fulham on 28 October 2017 and was sidelined for a month as a result. On 23 December 2017, he returned to the starting line–up, in a 2–0 win against Cardiff City. However, his return was short–lived when Taylor suffered an injury during a 2–0 loss against his former club, Middlesbrough on 26 December 2017. Upon returning to the first team from injury, he lost his first team place to Antonee Robinson and was placed on the substitute bench. Taylor had to wait for two months to make his first team return, playing in the left–midfield position, in a 2–0 win against Sunderland on 20 February 2018. Following this, he and Robinson competed in the left–back position for the rest of the 2017–18 season. At times, Taylor appeared in the starting line–up, where he captained the side on two occasions, which were against Leeds United and Birmingham City on 30 March 2018 and 3 April 2018 respectively. At the end of the 2017–18 season, Taylor made twenty–one appearances in all competitions. He was also named the season's PFA Community Champion.
Post Playing career
Following his retirement from professional football, Taylor joined Sunderland as a first team coach, under the management of Phil Parkinson. He took temporary charge of Sunderland after Parkinson's sacking on 29 November 2020, ahead of a league game against Burton Albion. After the appointment of Lee Johnson, Taylor continued to remain in the club's backroom staff under the new management. However, he left Sunderland to join Leeds United as the new loan manager.
International career
Having previously played for the Under-16 level, Taylor has been in the youth setup since the Under-17 level, and played at the 2003 UEFA U17 Championships with U21 teammates Mark Noble, Steven Taylor and James Milner.
With England qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates that year, Taylor was again selected in the squad and played one out of the three group games as England were eliminated in last place.
In October 2004, Taylor was called up to the England U19 for the first time and made his debut in 1–1 draw against Czech Republic U19. He was a part of England's Under-19 at the 2005 European Championships, in which they finished runners-up to France.
In February 2006, Taylor was called up to the England U21 squad for the first time and made his debut for the U21 side, coming on a 65th-minute substitute, in a 2–1 win against Norway U21. He made his first start for the U21 side a year later on 6 February 2007, in a 2–2 draw against Spain U21. Between 7 September 2007 and 16 October 2007, Taylor started and helped the U21 side keep four clean sheets. Two years later in the summer of 2009, he was called up for the 2009 UEFA U21 Championship in Sweden and finished runners-up to Germany.
Personal life
Taylor said that football was his lifetime ambition growing up and said in the same interview that his childhood hero was Paul Gascoigne and Paul Ince. While progressing through the Middlesbrough's academy, he spent three years at college, studying BTEC National Diploma in Sports Science and passed the course. His father, Kevin, worked for the under-15 coach at Middlesbrough. Taylor is married to his wife, Jay, and together, they have two children Mason and Preston.
On 20 May 2010, Taylor was arrested by police for being drunk and disorderly at a popular nightspot outside Loons bar in the town's Lucan Street and fined £80. After announcing his retirement from professional football, Taylor returned to living in native North-east. He previously studied his masters in sport directorship at the University of Salford and stayed there for a year, with his next plan once his football career is over.
Business interests
In August 2009 it was announced that the footballer would be involved in a new business venture called Platinum Players. The website based service is aimed to connect footballers and other celebrities with companies and trades people whose reputability and trustworthiness has been validated. The site is available by invitation-only, and went live on 1 September 2009.
Career statistics
As of match played 5 May 2019
Honours
Cardiff City
Football League Championship: 2012–13
Football League Cup runner-up: 2011–12
Bolton Wanderers
EFL League One runner-up: 2016–17