Ryan Taylor (footballer, born 1984)

Ryan Taylor

Taylor with Newcastle United in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Ryan Anthony Taylor[1]
Date of birth	19 August 1984[1]
Place of birth	Liverpool, England
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Playing position	Defender / Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Hull City
Number	5
Youth career
	Tranmere Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2002–2005	Tranmere Rovers	98	(14)
2005–2009	Wigan Athletic	56	(6)
2009–2015	Newcastle United	92	(6)
2015–	Hull City	3	(0)
National team
2005	England U21	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:02, 26 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Ryan Anthony Taylor (born 19 August 1984) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Hull City.

He began his career at Tranmere Rovers in the third tier of English football before moving to Wigan Athletic for £750,000 in 2005, where he played three-and-a-half Premier League campaigns. He spent another six-and-a-half seasons at Newcastle, winning the Championship in 2010, before his release in 2015.

Noted for his free kicks, Taylor's career has been marred by injury. He earned 4 caps for England Under-21 in 2005.

Career

Tranmere Rovers

Born in Liverpool, Merseyside,^[1] Taylor broke into the Tranmere Rovers first team as an 18-year-old under Ray Mathias, originally playing as a right winger ahead of the more experienced Sean Connelly at right back. However at the end of the season Connelly departed and Taylor reverted to his more natural right back position and over the next two seasons developed into one of the best young players to come through the youth ranks at the club. During the 2004–05 season, Taylor was pivotal in the club reaching the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs, finishing as the club's second highest scorer with 11 goals (with most goals coming from the penalty spot or set pieces). Tranmere accepted an offer from Wigan Athletic of around £750,000 plus additional clauses for Taylor in the close season and he moved to the Premier League outfit that summer.^[3]

Wigan Athletic

Taylor with Wigan in February 2007

Taylor broke his fifth metatarsal in a FA Cup match against Leeds United and then, in his first outing back, he broke his leg in a reserve clash against Newcastle United.

Taylor scored his first goal in the Premier League against Newcastle on 25 February 2007. From just outside the penalty area, Taylor let one of his specialist direct free kicks fly straight into the top corner with the returning Newcastle goalkeeper, Shay Given, left stranded after 40 minutes. Wigan went on to win the match.

In late 2007, Taylor made a resurgence into the Wigan first team, providing several excellent performances under new manager Steve Bruce, including his second Premier League goal on 26 December, with another free kick against Newcastle.

On 15 November 2008, Taylor scored yet another goal against Newcastle, a long-range shot from 20 yards. His next goal would also come against Newcastle, on Boxing Day, bringing his record to 4 goals in 4 consecutive games against Newcastle, 3 of which came from free kicks, and two consecutive goals against Newcastle on Boxing Days.

Newcastle United

Taylor playing for Newcastle United in 2012

On 2 February 2009, Taylor signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Newcastle, in a part exchange for Charles N'Zogbia. He made his debut in a 3–2away win over West Bromwich Albion in which he set up the 3rd goal, his corner being headed in by Steven Taylor.

Taylor scored his first goal for Newcastle on 22 August against Crystal Palace.^[4] He would then score his second Newcastle goal, a long-range free kick which would beat Richard Wright at his far post, over a month later against Ipswich Town in a convincing 4–0 victory on 26 September.

Taylor scored two almost identical goals in a week during successive wins at St James' Park in February 2010. Both times he came off the bench and scored from a right-wing Fabrice Pancrate cross at the far post in the 90th minute of a game. Strangely enough, both crosses were missed at the near post by forward Leon Best and slotted in by Taylor at the back post. Newcastle won promotion at the end of the season.

Due to the arrival of right back James Perch and central defender Sol Campbell in the summer, Taylor was mostly on the bench for the league fixtures. He played in all three of Newcastle's League Cup ties, scoring in two. He scored a long range goal in the second round 3–2 win over Accrington Stanley and a free kick in the 4–3 win away to Chelsea. He played in the 4–0 League Cup loss to Arsenal at St James' Park. After a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury, Taylor returned to first-team action on 26 February 2011 in a game against Bolton Wanderers, being sent off after a challenge on Johan Elmander in the 54th minute.^[5]

On 20 August 2011, he scored the winner from a free-kick in a 1–0 victory over Sunderland in the Tyne–Wear derby,^[6] and then scored a late equaliser from another free-kick in the 2–1 away win against Scunthorpe United in the second round of the League Cup five days later.^[7] He earned the nickname 'Over The Wall' for his trademark curling free kicks.

The first months of the season saw Taylor enjoying an extended run in the first team, eventually thriving after a difficult start in an unfamiliar left back role and keeping Italy international Davide Santon on the bench. Taylor scored the winning goal, a dipping volley from outside the penalty area, against Everton in November to help Newcastle match their best start to a Premier League season since the mid-1990s, going 11 games unbeaten. He dedicated his goal to his six-week-old son and also won the man of the match.^[8]

On 23 August 2012 Taylor scored from a free kick in an away Europa League game against Atromitos, but suffered a serious knee injury in the return leg a week later. Scans revealed Taylor had torn a cruciate ligament in his right knee and would be sidelined for many months, although manager Alan Pardew said he thought a quick return was possible. After returning to training towards the end of the 2012–13 season, Taylor further injured his ligaments, Pardew projecting that he would miss the entire 2013–14 season.

Taylor made his long-awaited return to the first team after 26 months out, starring in the 2-0 League Cup win at Manchester City on 29 October 2014.^[9] He described his comeback as 'a dream come true' and paid tribute to the staff and fans who helped him during his spell out.^[10] On 22 November, however, he left the field in tears after injuring his right knee again in a league match against Queens Park Rangers. Taylor returned to the pitch in February 2015, and after Newcastle avoided relegation, he and Jonás Gutiérrez were released on 29 May.^[11]

Hull City

On 27 July 2015, Taylor signed a one-year deal with Championship side Hull City on a free-transfer.^[12] Taylor made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2015–16 season in a 2–0 home win to Huddersfield Town.^[13]

Career statistics

As of 26 April 2016.

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tranmere Rovers	2002–03[14]	Second Division	25	1	2	0	2	1	3[lower-alpha 1]	1	32	3
	2003–04[15]	Second Division	30	5	7	1	2	0	0	0	39	6
	2004–05[16]	League One	43	8	1	1	2	0	5[lower-alpha 2]	1	51	10
	Total		98	14	10	2	6	1	8	2	122	19
Wigan Athletic	2005–06[17]	Premier League	11	0	1	0	4	1	—		16	1
	2006–07[18]	Premier League	16	1	0	0	0	0	—		16	1
	2007–08[19]	Premier League	17	3	2	0	0	0	—		19	3
	2008–09[20]	Premier League	12	2	0	0	0	0	—		12	2
	Total		56	6	3	0	4	1	—		63	7
Newcastle United	2008–09[20]	Premier League	10	0	—		—		—		10	0
	2009–10[21]	Championship	31	4	3	0	2	0	—		36	4
	2010–11[22]	Premier League	5	0	0	0	3	2	—		8	2
	2011–12[23]	Premier League	31	2	2	0	1	1	—		34	3
	2012–13[24]	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	2[lower-alpha 3]	1	3	1
	2014–15[25]	Premier League	14	0	0	0	1	0	—		15	0
	Total		92	6	5	0	7	3	2	1	106	10
Hull City	2015–16[26]	Championship	3	0	4	0	4	0	—		11	0
Career total			249	26	22	2	21	5	10	3	302	36

1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
2. Three appearances in Football League Trophy, two appearances and one goal in League One play-offs
3. Appearance in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Newcastle United

• Football League Championship: 2009–10^[1]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 401. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
2. "Biography". Newcastle United F.C. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
3. "Wigan complete swoop for Taylor". BBC Sport. 13 July 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
4. "Crystal Palace 0–2 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
5. "Newcastle 1–1 Bolton". BBC Sport. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
6. "Sunderland 0–1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 21 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
7. "Scunthorpe 1–2 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
8. "Newcastle 2–1 Everton" BBC Sport. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
9. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29718452
10. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29834144
11. "Newcastle United: Jonas Gutierrez and Ryan Taylor leave Tyneside". BBC Sport. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
12. "Tigers Complete Taylor And Clucas Deals". Hull City Tigers Official Club Website. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
13. "Hull 2 – 0 Huddersfield". BBC Sport (BBC). 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
14. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
15. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
16. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
17. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
18. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
19. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
20. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
21. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
22. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2011). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012. Headline Publishing Group. pp. 266–267, 609–611. ISBN 9-780755-362318.
23. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
24. Anderson, John, ed. (2013). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2013–2014. Headline Publishing Group. pp. 24–245, 817–820. ISBN 9-780755-364138.
25. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
26. "Games played by Ryan Taylor in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 August 2015.

External links

• Ryan Taylor career statistics at Soccerbase