Ever sat next to James Bond, you know, 007, the man with the Golden Gun? No! well, we haven’t either, but we went one better than that yesterday as the DaleTrust sponsored the MATCH BALL for the Rotherham game, our guest joining us was no other than Dale legend and former player Steve Taylor, the man with the Golden Boot !! But more on that later as also we saw another golden boot in operation yesterday.
As is usual each season, the Trust sponsors the match ball a couple of times and drawn from the hat at random, are Trust members to be our guest on the day. Joining Scott our membership secretary and myself was George Dickinson and son Rob, Richard and Maureen Clegg and Janet Grant and her sister Kath Campbell.
Below, our Trust Guests, Former Player Steve Taylor, The Trusts Scot Goulding receiving the plaque from John Smallwood for being match ball sponsors.
All had different memorable memories of Steve in his heyday, except Rob that is who was a probably a tad young at the time and who would have missed most of Steve’s 157 goals that he scored in 441 league games in a 15-year career in the Football League. Dale’s official site www.rochdaleafc.co.uk interviewed Steve last year for the web site and he gave a fascinating interview and an insight into his life, you can read that HERE
But here is the Golden Boot Story.
Steve Taylor’s ultimate fame for us Daleys came in the Mid 80’s when he did what no other player since TRUE Dale Legend Reg Jenkins did, he scored more goals in a season than any other player, other than Reg himself. That 1985/86 season was for those of us who saw it, pure magic, with 25 goals in the league, 6 more in cups gave him the 31 goals which were enough to win the top scorer of the league award, the Adidas Golden Boot.
And below, a classic image of Steve, This photo was taken from the year before the United game.
As is usual on these occasions prior to the guests dining the all the sponsors including the Trust are introduced by Martin Cullshaw to the other guests followed the Star turn, who as mentioned above was Steve Taylor. Steve took part in a short but fascinating and amusing Q and A session sharing some memories from his two Dale sessions and from other clubs he played for, oh and he played at Wembley in a “cup” final, but we will let you work out which that was!
But it was during the meal where Steve gave some real fascinating extras which the Q and A did not cover and made fellow Guest George Dickinson very happy because he regaled us with the storey of when he played against Manchester United. It was humbling to hear him talk about the Manchester United game in 1986 and the famous players (look it up HERE and see just who was in that united team) and how it was postponed from a Saturday to a Tuesday because the undersoil heating had packed up, it wasn’t working on Tuesday either but the game eventually went ahead on Thursday, and our Guest George Dickinson, well he was at the game and brought along the original match program which Steve Signed for him, you can see them both with the program below. As an aside, when one of our guests asked Steve if he was still in sport, he replied ” Well I play golf a bit, to keep fit” and what’s your handicap one asked, ” er, well, it’s One” stunned silence, for non-golfers a handicap of one is pretty good going (an understatement I think)
But having the man with the Golden Boot with us for the game must have brought us luck, I think all thought it was going to be a very tough day to get something out off an in-form Rotherham team, but it turned out to be probably our best game and performance of the season and saw our present resident star player, Ian Henderson scored two memorable goals (very similar to Steve’s style) and when joined with Matty Lunds goal brought a very welcome 3.1 win against the Rotherham who’s large visiting fan contingent went home with a result they did not expect!
So from the Trust, a big thank you to George and Rob, Richard and Maureen and Janet and sister Kath for joining us for a lovely time on the day and to a special top bloke Steve Taylor, for whom nothing was too much and he signed happily autographs for all, his final comment was “I have had a great time I hope I can come again” of course you can Steve, but bring the “boot” next time as well.
Finally, the Trust has to thank the club and particular Francis Fielding who organised the day so professionally as always and to all the Rochdale staff who made us all very welcome……….especially the magic 11 and subs who played their socks off !
For those that are interested, I have included Steve Taylors career stats below (courtesy of Wikipedia HERE)
Steven Jeffrey Taylor (born 18 October 1955) is an English former footballer. A forward, he scored 157 goals in 441 league games in a 15-year career in the Football League.
He began his career at Bolton Wanderers, turning professional in October 1973. He was loaned out to Port Vale in October 1975, before signing with Oldham Athletic in October 1977 for £38,000. He transferred to Luton Town in January 1979 for a £75,000 fee, before moving on to Mansfield Town for the same fee a few months later. He signed with Burnley in 1980, and helped the “Clarets” to the Third Division title in 1981–82. He switched to Wigan Athletic in 1983, before spending a brief spell with Stockport County the following year. He was signed by Rochdale in November 1984, and had a prolific two-year spell at the club, before he was bought by Preston North End for £20,000. He quickly returned to Burnley, and featured in the 1988 Football League Trophy final. He returned to Rochdale for the 1988–89 campaign, before he retired from professional football. He later had an unsuccessful time as manager of Northern Premier League club Mossley in 1993.
Playing career
Taylor was an apprentice with Bolton Wanderers, and turned professional in October 1973,[2] with the “Trotters” lying in the Second Division under the stewardship of Jimmy Armfield. He joined Roy Sproson‘s Port Vale on loan in October 1975.[1] It took until 1 November for him to earn his Third Division debut for the “Valiants”; a 1–0 win over Rotherham United at Vale Park.[1] Seven days later he scored a brace past Sheffield Wednesday in a 3–0 victory at Hillsborough Stadium.[1] Upon his return to Burnden Park, he helped new boss Ian Greaves to take Wanderers to a fourth-place finish in 1975–76 – they were just one point off Bristol City and West Bromwich Albion, who were both promoted. Bolton again finished fourth in 1976–77, lying just one point behind promoted Nottingham Forest.
In October 1977, Taylor signed for his hometown club Oldham Athletic for a fee of £38,000.[2] He finished as the club’s top scorer in 1977–78 with 21 goals; the “Latics” enjoyed a good season under Jimmy Frizzell, and finished eighth in the Second Division. Taylor then left Boundary Park and moved to Luton Town in January 1979 for a £75,000 fee.[2] The “Hatters” finished two places and two points above the Second Division relegation zone in 1978–79, and Taylor only hit one goal in 20 league games at Kenilworth Road. David Pleat sold Taylor on to Mansfield Town, again for £75,000. He could not prevent Mick Jones‘s “Stags” from occupying the one of the Third Division relegation places in 1979–80, and did not stay on for long at Field Mill.
Taylor then was signed by Brian Miller‘s Burnley. He scored a hat-trick past Millwall in a 5–0 win at Turf Moor on 27 September 1980, and finished as the club’s top scorer in 1980–81 with 17 goals in 47 games. He then hit 14 goals in 31 appearances in 1981–82, as the club finished as champions of the Third Division. He scored a hat-trick past Sheffield Wednesday in a 4–1 win on 1 January 1983, and another hat-trick past Charlton Athletic in a 7–1 home win on 26 February. He hit a total of 15 goals in 41 appearances in 1982–83, though this was not enough to save the club from relegation.
He joined Third Division rivals Wigan Athletic for the 1983–84 season, and finished as the club’s top scorer with 10 goals. Harry McNally did not keep Taylor on at Springfield Park, and he instead started the 1984–85 campaign in the Fourth Division with Eric Webster‘s Stockport County. His stay at Edgeley Park was brief, and Taylor joined up with Vic Halom at Rochdale in November 1984, and scored 14 goals in 33 games in 1984–85.[3] He then finished as the Fourth Division’s joint-top scorer (with Southend United‘s Richard Cadette) in 1985–86 with 25 league goals.[3] Seven goals in 13 games at the start of the 1986–87 season saw him snapped up by John McGrath at Preston North End for £20,000.[3] The “Lilywhites” went on to win promotion out of the Fourth Division, but Taylor only featured in five league games at Deepdale. He remained in the Fourth Division and returned to Burnley after former boss Brian Miller was re-appointed as manager. He hit six goals in 54 games in 1987–88, and featured in the 1988 Football League Trophy final at Wembley, which ended in a 2–0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made four appearances in 1988–89, before returning to Spotland.[3] He hit four goals in 17 league appearances in his second spell for “Dale”, and left the Football League in summer 1989.[3]
Managerial career
After over four years out of the game, Taylor was appointed manager of Northern Premier League Division One side Mossley in August 1993.[2] He left after just one win in 13 games. While manager of Mossley he played four times, scoring once.[2] The club went on to finish the 1993–94 season in 17th place.
Statistics
Source:[4]
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Bolton Wanderers | 1974–75 | Second Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1975–76 | Second Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1976–77 | Second Division | 31 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 42 | 20 | |
| 1977–78 | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 55 | 20 | ||
| Port Vale (loan) | 1975–76 | Third Division | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Oldham Athletic | 1977–78 | Second Division | 32 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 21 |
| 1978–79 | Second Division | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 7 | |
| Total | 47 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 57 | 28 | ||
| Luton Town | 1978–79 | Second Division | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Mansfield Town | 1979–80 | Third Division | 37 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 48 | 10 |
| Burnley | 1980–81 | Third Division | 38 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 47 | 17 |
| 1981–82 | Third Division | 22 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 12 | |
| 1982–83 | Second Division | 26 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 40 | 15 | |
| Total | 86 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 118 | 44 | ||
| Wigan Athletic | 1983–84 | Third Division | 30 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 10 |
| Stockport County | 1983–84 | Fourth Division | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| 1984–85 | Fourth Division | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 5 | |
| Total | 26 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 11 | ||
| Rochdale | 1984–85 | Fourth Division | 30 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 14 |
| 1985–86 | Fourth Division | 45 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 31 | |
| 1986–87 | Fourth Division | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 7 | |
| Total | 84 | 42 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 99 | 52 | ||
| Preston North End | 1986–87 | Fourth Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Burnley | 1987–88 | Fourth Division | 42 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 54 | 6 |
| 1988–89 | Fourth Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 58 | 6 | ||
| Rochdale | 1988–89 | Fourth Division | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 |
| Career total | 441 | 157 | 29 | 15 | 79 | 18 | 549 | 190 | ||
Honours
- Burnley
- Football League Third Division champion: 1981–82
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 1988
- Preston North End
- Football League Fourth Division runner-up: 1986–87