381 Jack Taylor

Biography

Jack Taylor signed for Hull City in July 1947. An experienced full back, he was an important part of Major Frank Buckley’s squad rebuilding exercise – Taylor’s brother Frank was Buckley’s assistant manager. Taylor had spells in and out of Buckley’s first team, but when the Major was replaced by Raich Carter in April 1948 Jack became a more regular choice.

In 1948/49 Jack missed the opening nine league fixtures, which were all won by City, but was then practically an ever present for the remainder of the season as City swept to promotion out of the Division Three North and enjoyed a Cup run that only ended in quarter final defeat to Manchester United. Taylor was used more sparingly by Carter in 1949/50 and departed the club in May 1950.

Born in Barnsley and christened John, Jack Taylor played as a youngster for local side Worsborough Bridge before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers as an apprentice in 1931. In 1934 Jack was awarded his first professional contract by Wolves, who were managed by future City boss Major Frank Buckley, making his first team debut in February 1936. After two years in the first team, Taylor transferred to Norwich City in the 1938 close season and played full seasons either side of World War Two hostilities for the Canaries. He played occasional games for Barnsley and Watford during the war.

In Summer of 1950 Taylor left Boothferry Park and headed south to take up a player-manager role at Southern League side Weymouth. His success at the Terras attracted the attention of Queens Park Rangers who appointed him their first team manager in June 1952, immediately after their relegation to Division Three South. He managed the Rs for seven seasons and turned them into a steady-away mid-table team in the third tier before being succeeded by legendary QPR manager Alec Stock. Taylor switched to First Division side Leeds United in 1959, promptly appointing his brother Frank as coach. But he took over a ramshackle and ill-disciplined club that was relegated in his first season. After a second season of decline in the Second Division, Taylor eventually resigned in March 1961 to be replaced by ex-Tiger and another legendary manager Don Revie. This ended Taylor’s involvement in football and he saw out his days in his native Barnsley, where he died in February 1978.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 15 February 1914, Barnsley
Hull City First Game: 23 August 1947, Lincoln City A (Division Three North), 33 years, 189 days old
Hull City Final Game: 29 April 1950, Sheffield United A (Division Three North), 36 years, 73 days old

Clubs

Worsborough Bridge, Wolverhampton Wanderers (1931-1938), Norwich City (1938-1939, 1946-1947), Hull City (1947-1950), Weymouth (1950-1952)

Hull City Record

Career: 86 apps, 0 goals

Jack Taylor
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1947/4820030------
1948/4932070------
1949/5020040------

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