Peter Taylor

Nottingham Forest

Peter Taylor was born on 2 July 1928, one of eight children in the Meadows, Nottingham to Tom and Jenny Taylor, an engineer and housewife, respectively. He met his future wife, Lily Thorpe, at the age of 14, who persuaded him to play for her father's team, local non-League side Christchurch. He later moved on to play for Mapperley Methodists before he was spotted by Nottingham Forest and signed to their youth team, the Forest Colts. He made his first-team debut for the club as an amateur in a wartime fixture against local rivals Notts County at Meadow Lane in 1944, at the age of 16.

Coventry City

He signed with Coventry City on his 17th birthday, though was initially only a part-time player as his father insisted that he also complete an apprenticeship in bricklaying. Under the stewardship of Harry Storer, Coventry finished seventh in the Second Division in 1950–51, and Taylor made his debut in the Football League on the final day of the season, breaking Alf Wood's run of 261 consecutive first-team appearances. The Birmingham Sports Argus described how "if Peter's role [back-up goalkeeper to Wood] has denied him the glamour of a glorious achievement in action, he has his share of personal glamour. He's a tall, fair-haired good looker and so comely that he was described as the film star of Highfield Road. Is single too." Taylor did not stay single for long, however, and married Lily Thorpe in June 1951. Coventry were relegated in 1951–52,…

Burton Albion

In October 1962, Taylor was offered the manager's job at Burton Albion after impressing chairman Trevor Grantham with his knowledge and theories on the game. In summer 1963 he oversaw a complete overhaul of the playing staff, only retaining four players, and completely rebuilt the squad. He signed strikers Richie Barker and Stan Round, who would score a combined 308 goals for the club, and remain the club's two highest goalscorers (as of 2021). He survived calls for his resignation after a defeat to Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup and went on to create one of the most successful sides in Burton's history, beating Weymouth to win the Southern League Cup in 1964. In 1965, he walked out on a newly signed £34-a-week three-year contract at Burton to become Clough's assistant manager at Hartlepools United on wages of £24 a week. He later admitted the decision, which he took against the advice of his friends and family, was "against all logic". His successor, Alex Tait, led Burton to promotion out of the Southern League Division One in 1965–66.

Hartlepool United

Before their arrival, Hartlepool had been forced to apply for re-election to the Football League five times in the previous six years. Taylor stated that the squad were all free transfer signings and some of the players struggled with "drink, debt or abandoned wives". The two gradually turned around the club's fortunes. They started by painting Victoria Park. Taylor had little chance to…

Playing statistics

Managerial statistics

Taylor enjoyed a successful playing career as a winger. He began his youth career with Canvey Island, and had trials at Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace before signing as a junior with Southend United in 1971. Southend gained promotion to the Third Division in 1972 and Taylor's part in their success brought him to the attention of Crystal Palace manager, Malcolm Allison, who signed him on 11 October 1973 for £110,000. Palace were relegated to the third tier at the end of that season, but Taylor was named Player of the Year and remained at the club for two further seasons, becoming player of the year again in 1976. The 1975–76 season was a high point in Taylor's career as Palace reached the FA Cup semi-final, Taylor scoring two goals in the fifth round in a 3–2 away win at Chelsea and he also made four appearances for the full England team, scoring twice. However, Palace's season tailed off after the semi-final and they did not achieve promotion to the second tier. At the end of the season Allison resigned and was replaced by Terry Venables, and on 30 September 1976 Taylor was allowed to depart for top-flight Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £400,000. Taylor scored on his debut in a 4–2 defeat at The Hawthorns to West Bromwich Albion. He had a mixed career at Spurs; the club suffered relegation in 1977 but was promoted in 1978. Taylor did not make another England appearance and in 1980 moved on to Leyton Orient, having made 123 appearances for Tottenham during which he…

Early management

Taylor became player manager at non-league club Dartford. In his four seasons the club finished 4th, 2nd (on goal difference), 2nd and 3rd in the Southern League Premier Division. Reached two FA Trophy semi finals, won the Southern League Cup twice and beaten finalists on a further occasion plus two Kent Senior Cup wins. During this period attendances rose from 400 to around 1,000 and each season he was there Dartford scored more than 100 goals. Taylor's first managerial role in the Football League was at Southend United. He spent two years between 1993 and 1995 as manager but quit at the end of the 1994–95 season after failing to get them beyond the middle of the Division One table. Taylor took on the job as manager of Conference club Dover Athletic in 1995–96 season and guided the club to 20th, enough to stave off the threat of relegation as only two clubs were relegated that season.

England U-21

He agreed and signed a two-year contract at Dover in May 1996 but was to leave the club only two months later after being asked by then England boss Glenn Hoddle to manage the England under-21 side. His record (for competitive matches) was eleven wins, three draws and one defeat from fifteen games. In this time, England finished ninth in 1998 European Championship and qualified for the 2000 finals comfortably, winning every match without conceding a goal. But with three matches to play, Taylor was replaced in a controversial manner by Howard…

International

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Taylor goal.

Managerial

As of match played 23 October 2025

Burton Albion

Southern League Cup: 1964 Derby County (with Clough)

Football League Second Division: 1968–69 Football League First Division: 1971–72 Nottingham Forest (with Clough)

Football League Second Division third-place promotion: 1976–77 Anglo-Scottish Cup: 1976–77 Football League First Division: 1977–78 League Cup: 1978, 1979 FA Charity Shield: 1978 European Cup: 1979, 1980 European Super Cup: 1979

Legacy

Clough paid tribute to Taylor when he was awarded the freedom of the city of Nottingham in March 1993, saying that "I have only one regret today, and that is that me mate isn't here with me". Taylor was portrayed by Timothy Spall in The Damned United, a film released in 2009 based on Clough's ill-fated spell at Leeds United. In August 2010, Derby County unveiled a statue of Clough and Taylor at Pride Park Stadium. In September 2015, Nottingham Forest announced that the Main Stand at the City Ground would be renamed the Peter Taylor Stand as part of the club's 150th anniversary celebrations.

As a player

Southend United

Football League Fourth Division runner-up: 1971–72 Individual

Crystal Palace Player of the Season: 1973–74, 1975–76

As a manager

Gillingham

Football League Second Division play-offs: 2000 Brighton & Hove Albion

Football League Second Division: 2001–02 Hull City

Football League Third Division promotion: 2003–04 Football League One promotion: 2004–05 Wycombe Wanderers

Football League Two promotion: 2008–09 Bahrain

Pan Arab Games Gold Medal: 2011 GCC Games Gold Medal: 2011 Individual

Premier League Manager of the Month: September 2000 Football League One Manager of the Month: December 2004 Football League Two Manager of the Month: November 2008