A Blast from our Claret Past… Gareth Taylor

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:17 am

Any specific memories?

Favourite goals?

Key matches?

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ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:19 am

Why do I always remember him scoring a hat trick in a 7-4 home defeat against Watford?

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:19 am

Bloody hell he could head a ball

LAM · Post by **LAM** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:19 am

As good a header of the ball as I’ve seen in my time supporting Burnley

COBBLE · Post by **COBBLE** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:21 am

Best defender in our away FA cup game at Watford. Amazing performance in a game to forget.

dandeclaret · Post by **dandeclaret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:24 am

And he's Burnley's Number 9
Singing Doo Wah Diddy....

Very good player for us. Surely can't be long until somebody digs out the prolonged 1-2 with Robbie Blake against wolves, culminating in a thundering bullet header into the top corner at the cricket field end

Fretters · Post by **Fretters** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:24 am

One of the best headers of a ball I've seen in claret and blue. A few memories:

Scoring at Crewe and the fans singing, "He's scored with his feet, Gareth Taylor, he's scored with his feet!"

Scoring a first-half hat trick against Watford and somehow ending up on the losing side. Didn't even get the match ball because (ex-Newcastle striker) Chopra scored four.

Scored the goal against Coventry when we had to win 2-0 and just fell short. A header, obvs.

Almost lost his eye during a pre-season game against Leeds and was sold to Forest when he'd recovered.

Returned with Forest soon after and scored an absolute belter - with his foot! Didn't celebrate.

I really liked him. During that period when we were top of the Championship under Stan, him and Moore were the classic 'little and large' strikeforce. Seems a good bloke, too.

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:30 am

Seemed to never score with his feet for Burnley, yet in his (I think) first game back at Turf Moor after we sold him to Forest he scored with his feet against us in a 0-3 win for them.

Good player and a very consistent source of goals.

Murger · Post by **Murger** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:35 am

Always remember the goal he scored, that Barry Knight had disallowed against Wolves (I think). What a shocker of a decision.

Enola Gay · Post by **Enola Gay** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:36 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:19 am
Why do I always remember him scoring a hat trick in a 7-4 home defeat against Watford?

Possibly because on the day he was the only one in a claret shirt who looked like a professional footballer…

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:39 am

Was his Dad a poster on the old board or was it just Steve Jones?

Tonto · Post by **Tonto** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:40 am

Not sure what season but remember him scoring at Crewe and then pointing to his foot ,we were opposite that big stand they have there ,early 2000s maybe

Red Fox Rocks Socks · Post by **Red Fox Rocks Socks** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:40 am

My memories are whoever was doing the commentary at the time screaming ‘TAYLLLOOORRRRRR’ every time it went near him

ClaretInLeeds · Post by **ClaretInLeeds** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:41 am

He was that good that I named my son after him!

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:43 am

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:39 am
Was his Dad a poster on the old board or was it just Steve Jones?

Had the username “Morgan” if I recall

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:52 am

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:39 am
Was his Dad a poster on the old board or was it just Steve Jones?

Yes - he caused some issues at Man City I believe. I think he sadly passed away.

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:58 am

He was a great header of the ball as has been pointed out but I also associate him with constantly, and frustratingly, being penalised by refs when challenging for high balls . Maybe I’m wrong but that’s my recollection.

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:00 pm

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:58 am
He was a great header of the ball as has been pointed out but I also associate him with constantly, and frustratingly, being penalised by refs when challenging for high balls . Maybe I’m wrong but that’s my recollection.

I recall that as well

Seemed like every time he jumped for the ball with an opponent close by he’d get the decision against him

ClaretsPadiham · Post by **ClaretsPadiham** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:08 pm

Seem to remember him a scoring against Sheff Utd at Turf Moor in a 2-0 win ? Around 2001ish.

Paul Cook had a shot that took a crazy deflection and went over the keepers head think it was Simon Treacy ?

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:18 pm

I remember the finger in the eye incident. It was Michael Duberry of Leeds United in the pre-season friendly. We won 4-2

The stooping header in the early minutes against Grimsby (Danny Coyne in goal on a cold Friday evening in the ITV digital season of 2001/2002

Also remember his towering header away at Sheff Wed on opening day…we won 0-2

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:19 pm

2 goals that stand out in my memory - the aforementioned header against Wolves at the Turf and a header away at Coventry when we won 2-0, the same game as the indirect free kick in the penalty box where Super Glen scored.

bf2k · Post by **bf2k** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:12 pm

jdrobbo wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 12:18 pm
...
Also remember his towering header away at Sheff Wed on opening day…we won 0-2

Unfortunately I have memories of that game not for GT's salmon like leap but because I crashed my car racing to get home from work for kick-off

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:13 pm

dandeclaret wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:24 am
And he's Burnley's Number 9
Singing Doo Wah Diddy....

Very good player for us. Surely can't be long until somebody digs out the prolonged 1-2 with Robbie Blake against wolves, culminating in a thundering bullet header into the top corner at the cricket field end

Knew you'd be all over this

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 1:55 pm

Yes, tremendous header of the ball.
In fact for me, Sam Vokes is the only player in recent decades to come close to GT with the nut.

Very good all round player.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:45 pm

Hat-trick v Watford (4-7)

https://youtu.be/49IXda9C4Xo

JohnDearyMe · Post by **JohnDearyMe** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:53 pm

Was it Taylor who missed a penalty away at Man City fairly early on in the game during that Christmas top of the table clash?

Juan Tanamera · Post by **Juan Tanamera** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:07 pm

Crikey! Can you imagine the 'battering ram' attack we could have had if we could have paired Gareth with Andy Lochhead with Ralph Coates and Wade Elliott pinging in the crosses.
Two of the best headers of a ball I've ever seen in Clarets shirts.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:10 pm

JohnDearyMe wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:53 pm
Was it Taylor who missed a penalty away at Man City fairly early on in the game during that Christmas top of the table clash?

Wasn't that Ian Moore?

PWBFC · Post by **PWBFC** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:12 pm

JohnDearyMe wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:53 pm
Was it Taylor who missed a penalty away at Man City fairly early on in the game during that Christmas top of the table clash?

Think that was Glen Little.

Andingle · Post by **Andingle** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:17 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:52 am
Yes - he caused some issues at Man City I believe. I think he sadly passed away.

He's very much still around .

dandeclaret · Post by **dandeclaret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:20 pm

Morgan....

willsclarets · Post by **willsclarets** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:24 pm

jdrobbo wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:45 pm
Hat-trick v Watford (4-7)

https://youtu.be/49IXda9C4Xo

Some of the defending was bad but blow me down, the goalkeeping. Shambles.

timscoot · Post by **timscoot** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:28 pm

Remember doing one of Chris Gibson's charity bike rides . It may well have been the first one . 500 miles fron Exeter . Winding up the country to finish on the turf for the last game of the season against Sunderland (2004).
We had sold him to Forest before that but he very kindly turned up to meet us at one of our overnight stops at Nantwich. Bought us all beers . Gave us some autographed match worn shirts and chatted for a couple of hours. A really nice bloke .
Plus he was a very good no 9 for us

ALP · Post by **ALP** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:48 pm

A really good lad for Burnley, some of his headers were way beyond anything I have seen from a Burnley player.

I made friends with his Dad who was a poster on the old CM forum, I got on really well with Graham and travelled to quite a few away games as his guest. He once told me that he had actually clocked up over 100,000 miles following Gareth's games. He protected Gareth on the forum and ended up with a lot of hassle on it for his views. Gareth was as laid back as anyone I've ever met, he didn't want to leave either and was told he either accepted leaving or he would be in the stands and never play for Burnley again, Graham was furious at this.

Great people all ends up.

warksclaret · Post by **warksclaret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:51 pm

He was a brilliant header-him and Paul Fletcher for me were amongst the best clarets headers I have seen, though I hear Lockhead and Pointer were brilliant too, but just before my time

ALP · Post by **ALP** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:52 pm

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:43 am
Had the username “Morgan” if I recall

His Dad was ROLYAT (TAYLOR), I sadly lost contact with him, but he was a great fella.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:39 pm

Andingle wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:17 pm
He's very much still around .

Bad to get something like that wrong - it was the other dad who came on the message board, Shane Duffy's, who passed away.

ALP · Post by **ALP** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:45 pm

Andingle wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:17 pm
He's very much still around .

I'm really pleased to here that he's still around, I must look him up and make contact again, we really did get on well

shulgin · Post by **shulgin** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:34 pm

Box to box forward. Very good player with the style we had. Useful at both ends of the pitch. Gutted when he left

spt_claret · Post by **spt_claret** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:50 pm

Taylor was one of my favourite players of the Stan era. If he could have finished with his feet even just like Ade or Steve Thompson, he'd have been some player. I remember being gutted when he left for Forest.

Juan Tanamera wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:07 pm
Crikey! Can you imagine the 'battering ram' attack we could have had if we could have paired Gareth with Andy Lochhead with Ralph Coates and Wade Elliott pinging in the crosses.
Two of the best headers of a ball I've ever seen in Clarets shirts.

Not to mention Trippier at right back. Or even switched to leftback like for England with Lowts at right back with his deep crosses.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:04 pm

A few from 2002/03….

https://youtu.be/f0_61NQGXVM

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:05 pm

Sheffield United header…

https://youtu.be/2__5IAwKFVk

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:08 pm

Grimsby Town header…

https://youtu.be/vSdLRh8rNzM

helmclaret · Post by **helmclaret** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 6:29 am

Paul Cook’s delivery…

Luppy · Post by **Luppy** » Fri Aug 11, 2023 2:14 pm

What a player he was - probably the best header of a ball I saw regularly (Fletcher was a bit before my time). Vokes closest to him.

His lad Archie at Leeds looks a hell of a player - at only just gone 17