ROVERS GREATS – STUART TAYLOR
BY GERRY PREWETT
If ever a player was to earn a distinction of being a giant/great/legend of Bristol Rovers’ history there could be no more appropriate custodian than Stuart Taylor both literally and figuratively.
At 6 foot 5 inches Taylor towered above other players of his generation, where 6 foot was regarded as tall. The irony was that he had started his career as a winger but his height made it obvious that his physical attributes were more suitable as a centre half (as they were known at the time).
Making his debut in an uneventful mid-week 0-0 draw at Workington on 26th April 1966 the amiable Bristolian soon became a fixture in the centre of Rovers’ defence. He kept his place for the remaining three games of a disappointing season that saw Rovers anchored to mid table.
After his second game (a 1-0 victory at Reading) Robin Perry noted in his match report, ‘… a centre half who is good enough in the air to dominate his own penalty area, Taylor overcoming an uncertain start, was seldom troubled by Sylvester, his teenage care and in the moments of second half pressure when Reading hammered centre after centre high into the penalty area he commanded his ground in a manner no other Rovers’ player is equipped to equal.. Remarkable when you consider this match was 11 days after Taylor’s 19th birthday.
The final game of that season saw Champions Hull City visit Eastville, noted for their lethal forward line lead by the twin strike threats of Ken Wagstaff and Chris Chilton. Robin Perry wrote; ‘Taylor’s positional inexperience was revealed sharply at times but his strength in the air was an asset to the defence and the young centre-half always strove to make good use of his clearances’
It was the opening game of the 1968/69 season that Rovers’ fans were amazed to see Taylor joined by 6 foot 2 inch Larry Lloyd. They were soon dubbed the twin towers and looked to be ‘the future of Bristol Rovers’. By the seasons’ end Lloyd (a year younger than Taylor) was off to a very successful career with Liverpool. Many of the Eastville faithful thought that Liverpool had taken the wrong player but were relieved to see Taylor remaining a pillar of Rovers’ defence.
That pillar went on to pull on a Rovers’ shirt 620 times and came very close to surpassing Ray Warren’s remarkable run of 264 consecutive appearances but he was sent off at Rochdale in December 1972 a few games short of the target and served a one match ban.
Never shy of pushing forward for corners he scored 34 goals in those 620 games. The first of those goals came in an FA Cup replay game at Eastville in January 1968 against Bristol City. After a 27th minute corner was recycled back into the City area, Taylor lashed the bouncing ball into the back of the Muller Road End net.
Asked of his personal highlights in his long and distinguished career he opted for the Watney Cup victory over Sheffield United and the 1973/74 promotion campaign, including the infamous 8-2 away victory over Brian Clough’s Brighton and Hove Albion team. He commented; ‘That was the best Rovers side I played in. There were some very good individual players and as a team we were very hard to beat.’
After leaving Rovers he turned down the opportunity of a one year contract at Chelsea to manage Bath City. When the Romans’ Directors decided to make the role part time Taylor left and reverted to the trade of his apprenticeship, a plumber. Moving from preventing leaky defences to preventing leaky pipes.
In later life he succumbed to dementia and passed away at the age of 72 on 10th October 2019. On 5th March 2021, Taylor became the second player to be added to the Bristol Rovers Hall of Fame, joining record goalscorer Geoff Bradford.
Stuart was awarded a testimonial match by Rovers and they played against Ipswich Town on 8th November 1977 at Eastville, when a crowd of 4,670 saw a goalless draw.
Stuart was the 386th player to represent Rovers in league football and the Supporters Club would very much like to present his legacy cap and certificate, to commemorate his debut, to a family member so if anyone has any contacts with Stuart’s family, please ask them to contact secretary@bristolroverssc.co.uk
His cap has been sponsored by Eric Pegram, a Supporters Club member and we would very much like to present Eric with a certificate to say thank you for his sponsorship.
