ERNIE TAYLOR

Full Name: Ernest Taylor

Born: 02 September 1925

Came from: Newcastle United   Went to: Newcastle United

First game: 20 October 1945   Last game: 03 November 1945

Appearances: 2 (2/0)   Goals: 0

Although the Second World War was at an end, the Football League divided its competition into regional sections for the 1945-46 season because of the exceptional conditions at that time, with so many players still serving in the Armed Forces or employed on essential war work. Argyle played in the Football League South that season, against first-class opposition such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Aston Villa and Wolves. It proved impossible for the Pilgrims to field a regular side; 72 players made an appearance and performances inevitably suffered. From week to week the club called on Armed Services players who were stationed in the area, guest players from other League clubs and local amateurs to supplement its registered playing staff.

Taylor was one of 27 in the guest category. At just 5' 4" he was a diminutive young Newcastle United protégé when he guested for Argyle as Able Seaman Taylor, who had played for the Portsmouth Navy side that defeated Devonport in an inter-port game a few days before his Argyle debut. Few could have imagined the career he would go on to have.

The Sunderland-born inside-forward signed on at St James' Park from Hylton Colliery in 1942, although was actually a naval submariner at the time rather than a colliery worker. Returning to St James Park when the full League programme resumed, he spent four years at the club, appearing 107 times and scoring 19 goals. After playing in Newcastle United's FA Cup Final win over Blackpool in 1951, in which his back-heel set up one of Jackie Milburn's two goals, it is reported that Stanley Matthews told his manager, Joe Smith, that he would like to see the opposition's inside-right play for Blackpool.

In October that year, Taylor duly signed for Blackpool and went on to form a well-established right-sided partnership with Matthews, making 217 appearances and scoring 53 times. Having played for Blackpool in the famous 1953 'Matthews' FA Cup Final win over Bolton Wanderers, in November that year Walter Winterbottom decided to try Blackpool's right-sided link-play for England, and Matthews and Taylor lined up against Hungary at Wembley. However, England lost 3-6 and it turned out to be his only appearance for the Three Lions.

In February 1958, shortly after the Munich Air Disaster, he signed for Manchester United and helped the club to that season's FA Cup Final, a 2-0 defeat by Bolton Wanderers. After 30 games and three goals for United, including a penalty in the home leg of the European Cup semi-final against AC Milan, he moved to his home-town Sunderland for £6,000 in December 1958, where he played 71 times, scoring 11 goals in a three-year stay.

After leaving Roker Park, Taylor wound down his career with spells at Altrincham and then Derry in Ireland before a brief spell managing and coaching New Zealand side New Brighton, whilst also playing for Auckland club East Coast Bays. Managing and playing in New Zealand was his last involvement in football before he later returned to the UK and retired.