Peter Taylor

[Uncle Leo]

Finally (!) getting round to reading the Sunday papers whilst keeping an eye on the cricket. Bliss.

Anyway, there was an interview with Peter Taylor in the Sunday Times, in which the following sentence caught my eye:

"...Taylor who, in 1973, had been plucked from Southend's reserves by then Palace manager Malcolm Allison..."

The notion of Taylor being a reserve player for us surprised me. I was always under the impression that he was a fantastic player for SUFC. Can anyone who was following us in the early 70s clear this one up?

 

[Napster]

from Robin's excellent database:

From the 1972 Club handbook
Peter was born at Rochford and is known to everyone at Roots Hall as 'Spud'. Played football for his school teams and represented South East Essex while still at school. Was signed on schoolboy forms by Crystal Palace who did not recognise his potential. Has also had trials with Tottenham Hotspur who also missed out on his potential. He played for Rochford Athletic before joining Canvey Island. Signed apprentice professional forms for Southend just 24 hours before his 17th birthday. Three weeks later he was in Southend's first team. Now a full professional. His ambition is to play for his local team, Southend United, in one of the higher divisions. Was also leading goal scorer for the reserves last season.

Hobbies: tennis, cricket and golf.

59 starts from Jan 71 to Oct 73

 

[OlvisIII]

My old man reckons he was tremendous for the Blues. When he left he was hot property after playing well over fifty times for the Blues.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Er, shouldn't this be in Ex-Shrimpers ? ? ?

 

[Norwichsufc]

Saw him many times. Fantastic player for us

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (glasgowsufc @ Aug. 04 2006,12:03)]Er, shouldn't this be in Ex-Shrimpers ? ? ?

Good point well made. But I'm keeping it here for the moment until I get a few more answers

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (Norwichsufc @ Aug. 04 2006,12:03)]Saw him many times. Fantastic player for us

So I presume it was wrong to suggest he was a reserve player for us when palace bought him?

 

[South Bank Hank]

So the mods DO understand then that moving threads from the main forum really does mean confining them to history?

 

[chrisguthrie]

The best left footed right winger we ever had!

 

[Leeboy]

moved !

 

[wiltshire_blues]

Definately not a reserve player when I used to watch him prior to his move to Palace.  He wore No. 11 shirt and that was pre fixed squad number days.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Aug. 04 2006,12:12)]moved !

Git

 

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Uxbridge Shrimper @ Aug. 04 2006,11:52)]Finally (!) getting round to reading the Sunday papers whilst keeping an eye on the cricket. Bliss.

Anyway, there was an interview with Peter Taylor in the Sunday Times, in which the following sentence caught my eye:

"...Taylor who, in 1973, had been plucked from Southend's reserves by then Palace manager Malcolm Allison..."

The notion of Taylor being a reserve player for us surprised me. I was always under the impression that he was a fantastic player for SUFC. Can anyone who was following us in the early 70s clear this one up?

I remember Spud coming through very well, as a few of us including your Dad & Uncle had played against him in local junior & schools football. So we always watched his progress with great interest, and when he signed pro at SUFC we thought there was hope for all of us.

However I guess we lacked the determination of Spud to succeed, and probably the ability to

 it has to be said. Also he worked bloody hard to progress and make his way in the game. Soon after signing pro he made his SUFC debut. I think it is fair to say he was in and out of the side, and never fully established himself as his record suggests.

Malcolm Allison obviously saw something in him, and a fee of 120k at the time was a huge sum for us and we snapped their hands off. Big Mal predicted he was a bargain and would soon be playing for England which within a couple of years proved correct. IIRC he scored on his England debut against Wales but only won about 5 caps.

 

[Soton Blue]

Mind you he wasn't much good in goal. I remember seeing him take over from Bellotti after the keeper was injured against Cambridge United in 1971. We were leading 1-0 and the 5 foot 5 inch frame of Spud Taylor looked tiny in the Blues goal. Cambridge realised this and quickly put two past him before Arthur Rowley realised the stupidity of his decision and put Alex Smith in to replace him. I believe that Spud's ineptitude in goal actually cost us the 4th Division title that year - and we call him a local hero?