Lyle Taylor

Lyle James Alfred Taylor (born 29 March 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest and the Montserrat national team. Prior to joining Charlton Athletic, he played for AFC Wimbledon, and became the Dons' record Football League goal scorer with 44 goals, and highest scorer during their Football League era with 55 goals in all competitions.[4]

Lyle Taylor
Taylor playing for AFC Wimbledon in 2015
Personal information
Full name Lyle James Alfred Taylor[1]
Date of birth (1990-03-29) 29 March 1990[1]
Place of birth Greenwich, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Nottingham Forest
Number 33
Youth career
Glebe[3]
Staines Town
0000–2007 Millwall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Millwall 0 (0)
2008 → Eastbourne Borough (loan) 4 (1)
2009 → Croydon Athletic (loan) ? (?)
2009–2010 Concord Rangers 37 (23)
2010–2012 AFC Bournemouth 29 (0)
2011 → Lewes (loan) 6 (2)
2011 → Woking (loan) 5 (1)
2012 → Hereford United (loan) 8 (2)
2012–2013 Falkirk 34 (24)
2013–2014 Sheffield United 20 (2)
2014 → Partick Thistle (loan) 20 (7)
2014–2015 Scunthorpe United 18 (3)
2015 → Partick Thistle (loan) 15 (3)
2015–2018 AFC Wimbledon 131 (44)
2018–2020 Charlton Athletic 63 (32)
2020– Nottingham Forest 25 (4)
National team‡
2015– Montserrat 6 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:10, 20 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:00, 16 September 2019 (UTC)

Born in Greenwich, Taylor started his professional career with Millwall before spells with Concord Rangers, AFC Bournemouth, Falkirk, Sheffield United Swindon and Scunthorpe United. He has also spent time on loan at Eastbourne Borough, Croydon Athletic, Lewes, Hereford United, Woking and two loan spells at Partick Thistle.

Club career

Millwall

Taylor was spotted by Millwall whilst playing for Staines Town youth academy, and progressed from the Millwall U18's to the reserve team. In October 2008 he signed a one-month loan deal at Conference National side Eastbourne Borough in order to gain first team experience.[5] In November 2008 his loan was extended by another month.[6] Although he played five games, he had only scored one goal, against Stevenage Borough.[7][8] Eastbourne Borough coach Nick Greenwood decided to end the loan deal, stating Taylor was not ready for Conference starts, as he was still learning his trade.[9]

Concord Rangers and AFC Bournemouth

Taylor's contract at Millwall expired on 1 July 2009, after which he signed for Concord Rangers. After scoring 34 goals in his first season for Rangers, Taylor was offered a trial with AFC Bournemouth,[10] and subsequently agreed a two-year deal with the south-coast club.[11] He made his Football League debut the following day, in a 3–3 draw against Notts County. However, Taylor struggled to hold down a regular first-team place and appeared to be surplus to requirements.

On 31 January 2011, Taylor signed a one-month loan deal with Isthmian League side Lewes,[12] a deal which was extended the following month.[13] On 7 February 2011, Taylor scored on his Lewes debut, in a 2–2 draw against Boreham Wood.[14] Despite his initial success, in March 2011, Taylor refused to extend his stay at Lewes any further, describing it as a "big risk".[15] Despite public support from assistant manager Steve Fletcher who insisted he had a future at the club,[16] Taylor failed to break into the Bournemouth team. Taylor then joined Woking at the end of March, agreeing a loan deal until the end of the season.[17]

At the start of the 2011–12 season, and following promising performances in pre-season,[18] Taylor scored a brace against Dagenham & Redbridge in the first round of the League Cup. Still unable to force his way into the Bournemouth first–team, in February 2012 Taylor was allowed to leave on loan once more, agreeing a one-month deal with Hereford United.[19] He scored twice in eight appearances for Hereford before returning to his parent club at the end of his loan spell.[20] Taylor was released by Bournemouth at the end of the season having netted just two cup goals in the two years he was at the club.[21]

Falkirk

In July 2012, Taylor signed for Scottish side Falkirk,[22] scoring twice on his competitive debut in the Scottish Challenge Cup, in a 3–0 win over Stirling Albion. Taylor also scored on his league debut in a 3–1 defeat against Partick Thistle on 11 August 2012.[23] After a successful season, Taylor attracted interest from elsewhere, with Falkirk accepting an offer from English League One side Rotherham United, only for Taylor to reject the move as he could not agree personal terms with the club.[24]

Sheffield United

Following the collapse of Taylor's proposed move to Rotherham United, Falkirk accepted another offer, this time from Sheffield United and Taylor duly signed a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[25] Taylor made his debut for the Blades in the opening fixture of the following season, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 home victory over Notts County.[26] Unable to hold down a regular place in the side Taylor did not score for his new employers until mid-October when he netted a brace against Coventry City.[27]

Partick Thistle (loan)
Taylor playing for Partick Thistle in 2014

With the arrival of new manager Nigel Clough at United however, Taylor continued to find his first team chances limited and was eventually allowed to join Scottish Premiership side Partick Thistle on loan until the end of the season.[28][29] Having made his debut for Partick in a 1–0 away loss to Celtic, Taylor netted his first goal for the Jags in his second game a 2–0 away win against Hearts a few days later.[30] Taylor played 20 games for Partick in total that season, scoring seven goals, before returning to England in the summer.[31]

Scunthorpe United

With first-team opportunities apparently limited at Sheffield United, Taylor joined Scunthorpe United for an undisclosed fee on 30 June 2014.[32] Taylor made his United debut on 9 August 2014, in a 3–1 defeat against Swindon Town.[33] He made his home debut on 16 August, in a 0–4 defeat against Preston North End.[34] He scored his first goal for the club on 16 September 2014, in a 2–1 win against Coventry City.[35] He scored his second goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Port Vale on 21 October.[36] He played 12 times for United in the league that season, scoring three goals as they finished 16th.

Partick Thistle (second loan spell)

On 2 February 2015, Taylor returned to Partick Thistle for a second loan spell.[37] He scored in his first game back at the club, on 7 February 2015, in a 2–1 defeat against Inverness CT in the Scottish Cup.[38] He scored his first league goal in a 3–1 home defeat against Ross County.[39] Taylor then scored twice in a 2–0 home win over Motherwell on 11 April 2015.[40]

AFC Wimbledon

On 14 July 2015, 25-year-old Taylor signed with AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed sum. On 1 September, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 loss to Plymouth Argyle in the Football League Trophy.[41] Taylor scored his first league goal in a 2–0 win over Barnet on 3 October 2015[42] and scored a double in a 4–3 away win at Accrington.[43] He continued to score freely as the Dons finished 7th in League Two, ensuring a spot in the play-offs. He played in both semi-final legs of the 3–2 aggregate win against Accrington Stanley, scoring the equaliser in extra-time in the second leg which sent the Dons to Wembley.[44] He scored the opening goal in AFC Wimbledon's 2–0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the 2015–16 League Two play-off final, plundering 23 goals and seven assists in all competitions in his first season for the club, as the Dons gained promotion to League One.

On 30 August 2016, Taylor signed an extended deal with the club.[45] Taylor notched 14 goals and six assists in all competitions in his second season for the club as AFC Wimbledon finished safely in 15th in its debut season in League One in 2016–17.

Taylor followed this up in the 2017–18 season by reaching Jack Midson's Football League goals record for the club, 38, when scoring vs Gillingham in a 2–2 draw on 30 December 2017,[46] and broke the record when scoring a brace vs Plymouth in a 4–2 loss on 13 February 2018.[47] These goals were also his 50th and 51st for the club.[48] Taylor scored 18 goals and eight assists in all competitions in his third season for the club as AFC Wimbledon battled relegation by finishing in 18th in its second season in League One in 2017–18.

Taylor is AFC Wimbledon's record Football League goal scorer with 44 goals, and the Dons highest scorer during their Football League era with 55 goals in all competitions.[4]

Charlton Athletic

Taylor signed for AFC Wimbledon's League One rivals Charlton Athletic on 27 June 2018 on a contract of undisclosed length.[49]

In April 2019, Taylor was the victim of racist abuse on Twitter from an apparent Bradford City fan following the clubs' recent match. Bradford City said they would investigate the matter.[50]

On 1 June 2020, Charlton manager Lee Bowyer confirmed Taylor's refusal to play for the club ahead of the resumption of the 2019–20 EFL Championship season, following the suspension of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[51]

"We have 15 out of contract - we've got six loans and nine of our own contracted players out [...] Lyle has said that he's not going to play because of risk of injury. He is going to get a life-changing move."

—Lee Bowyer, in an interview with Talksport.[51]

On 2 July 2020, it was confirmed that Taylor had left Charlton after his contract expired.[52]

Nottingham Forest

Taylor signed for Nottingham Forest on 15 August 2020 on a contract of undisclosed length.[53] Taylor made his first Forest start in a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town on 25 September 2020.[54] He scored his first goal for Forest in a 1-1 draw with rivals Derby County on 23 October 2020.[55]

International career

In March 2015, Taylor was called up to play for the Montserrat national team to play in their qualification ties for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Taylor is eligible to represent the Caribbean nation through his grandparents. He made his full International debut against Curaçao on 27 March 2015, and scored his first international goal in the same game.[56][57]

International goals
Scores and results list the Montserrat's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.27 March 2015Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao Curaçao
1–1
1–2
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Personal life

Born in Greenwich, Taylor has also worked as a model and appeared in TV advertisements for the Champions League.[58]

In October 2018 he dyed his hair pink and wore pink boots, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.[59]

Taylor's brother, Joey, also plays for Montserrat.[60]

Taylor is the son of a white mother and black father, and prefers to be referred to as "mixed race" rather than the modern "dual heritage".[61] In January 2021, Taylor spoke about him ceasing taking the knee to Black Lives Matter, claiming he did not like the organisation's politics, although he insisted that he supported the message of racial equality.[62]

Career statistics
As of 23 January 2021[63]
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Millwall 2007–08 League One 0000000000
2008–09 0000000000
Eastbourne Borough (loan) 2008–09 Conference Premier 4110—0051
Croydon Athletic (loan) 2008–09 Isthmian League Division One South ????—????
Concord Rangers 2009–10[64] Isthmian League Division One North 372342—8[lower-alpha 1]94934
AFC Bournemouth 2010–11 League One 110100010130
2011–12 180002210212
AFC Bournemouth total 29 0 1 0 2 2 2 0 34 2
Lewes (loan) 2010–11[65] Conference South 62———62
Woking (loan) 2010–11[66] Conference South 51——2[lower-alpha 2]071
Hereford United (loan) 2011–12 League Two 82———82
Falkirk 2012–13 Scottish First Division 34244221224229
Sheffield United 2013–14 League One 202201020252
Partick Thistle (loan) 2013–14 Scottish Premiership 207———207
2014–15 15311——164
Partick Thistle total 35 10 1 1 — — 36 11
Scunthorpe United 2014–15 League Two 183511010254
AFC Wimbledon 2015–16 League Two 42201010434823
2016–17 League One 43105211115014
2017–18 46143310215218
AFC Wimbledon total 1314495317515055
Charlton Athletic 2018–19 League One 412113003[lower-alpha 3]14525
2019–20 Championship 22110000—2211
Charlton Athletic total 63321300316736
Nottingham Forest 2020–21 Championship 2542110—285
Career total 41514830151042717482184
  1. 3 appearances & 5 goals in FA Trophy; 2 appearances & 3 goals in Essex Senior Cup; 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup; 2 appearances & 1 goal in Isthmian League Division One North play-offs
  2. Appearances in Conference South play-offs
  3. Three appearances in the League One play-offs

Honours

AFC Wimbledon

Charlton Athletic

Individual

References
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  2. "Lyle Taylor Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  3. McMillan, Rocky (24 July 2013). "Former Glebe Player transferred to Sheffield United – Glebe Football Club". Pitchero.com. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  4. "Games played by Lyle Taylor in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
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