| Alan Taylor 13:51 - Jul 5 with 6016 views | Huddersdale1 |
I watched the Big Match Revisited on ITV Hub this morning, which took in games from 5 February 1977. The main match was Arsenal v West Ham. Ended 3-2 to the Hammers, which included two goals from ex Dale forward Alan Taylor. He, of course, also got a brace in the 74/5(?) final v Fulham. Funny thing is, I actually went to that Arsenal/West Ham match as I was staying down in London for a few days with a fellow Dale fan, I contacted him this morning and both of us can remember the game and the result, but had forgotten that Taylor had scored. We had previously seen him play in that disastrous season when we won only two games. Quite a step up for Taylor, but he seemed to make the transition to the top flight with ease. |  | | |  |
| Alan Taylor on 12:23 - Jul 8 with 1337 views | D_Alien |
| Alan Taylor on 20:39 - Jul 7 by pioneer |
I dont think your memory is failing....in 73-4 the only league goal he scored was that penalty 200 miles away from Spotland. There were no coaches to that game so I didnt get to it. His first goal at home in a league match was the first game of the following season. So it was a very long time!
I have vague recollections of similar emotions about him......given his youthfulness, and he looked about 5 years younger than he was....the phrase ‘he couldnt score in a brothel’ seemed to fit his early record vey well. How he turned it around in his second season though. And the players he had around him were not that different. The reports of home games often mentioned the main stand (which was the only seated area at the ground and held about 500) was packed with first division managers and scouts watching him and goalkeeper Mike Poole. At one game the report has a photo showing reps from 17 division 1 (ie premiership) clubs. Given our attendences slumped below 1000 for some games that season its a shame they werent paying! |
It's possible i may have got the "home" penalty conflated with someone else, but glad you've re-inforced my overall impression. I stopped going mid-season, partly due to finances (the 3-day week affected family income, like many others, and i was reliant at that point on parental support as a sixth-former). Dale's form put the final nail in the attendance coffin. The following season i was 200 miles away at uni when Taylor's goalscoring started to take off
I was pretty amazed by his exploits at West Ham, although he was quick and i think they deployed him as an out-an-out striker. Is your impression that he played in a more withdrawn role for Dale? The player i'd compare him with in the current squad is Rathbone - although i'd say Ollie was more talented! |  |
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| Alan Taylor on 13:31 - Jul 8 with 1302 views | pioneer |
| Alan Taylor on 12:23 - Jul 8 by D_Alien |
It's possible i may have got the "home" penalty conflated with someone else, but glad you've re-inforced my overall impression. I stopped going mid-season, partly due to finances (the 3-day week affected family income, like many others, and i was reliant at that point on parental support as a sixth-former). Dale's form put the final nail in the attendance coffin. The following season i was 200 miles away at uni when Taylor's goalscoring started to take off
I was pretty amazed by his exploits at West Ham, although he was quick and i think they deployed him as an out-an-out striker. Is your impression that he played in a more withdrawn role for Dale? The player i'd compare him with in the current squad is Rathbone - although i'd say Ollie was more talented! |
My memory could be easily coloured by stats but ithink he was pushed up field more in his second season. He was so skinny, he was easily knocked off the ball in his first year.
Iremember it really drove home to me what little I knew about football because like you I saw nothing in him in the 73-4 season yet those at the club, including the much criticised (by me) Walter Joyce obviously saw his potential and the year to year improvement was incredible.
Not sure I can think of another Dale player whose performances have improved so much one year from another. And all we got was 40 grand plus Malcolm Darling! He had repaid West Ham several times over within 6 months and went on to play in the Cup winners cup final the year after.
To think in mid 1973 he was working as a car mechanic playing part time for Morecambe and two years later he was the star player in the cup final. He was still knockingin goals on a frequent basis for Burnley 10 years later before he crossed to the dark side (a team that no longer exists) and you could say like many others that spelled the end for Alan. | | | |
| Alan Taylor on 13:39 - Jul 8 with 1293 views | EllDale |
I thought that Malcolm Darling came from Norwich as part of the Dave Cross deal?
I remember Alan Taylor signing; whether or not it was coincidence or not but Dale reserves were playing Morecambe reserves that weekday night and I went to Spotland because a couple of lads I knew from school were playing for us.
I'm sure Taylor came down on the coach with them, signed for Rochdale and then went back with them! | | | |
| Alan Taylor on 13:44 - Jul 8 with 1292 views | TVOS1907 |
| Alan Taylor on 13:31 - Jul 8 by pioneer |
My memory could be easily coloured by stats but ithink he was pushed up field more in his second season. He was so skinny, he was easily knocked off the ball in his first year.
Iremember it really drove home to me what little I knew about football because like you I saw nothing in him in the 73-4 season yet those at the club, including the much criticised (by me) Walter Joyce obviously saw his potential and the year to year improvement was incredible.
Not sure I can think of another Dale player whose performances have improved so much one year from another. And all we got was 40 grand plus Malcolm Darling! He had repaid West Ham several times over within 6 months and went on to play in the Cup winners cup final the year after.
To think in mid 1973 he was working as a car mechanic playing part time for Morecambe and two years later he was the star player in the cup final. He was still knockingin goals on a frequent basis for Burnley 10 years later before he crossed to the dark side (a team that no longer exists) and you could say like many others that spelled the end for Alan. |
Malcolm Darling was involved in David Cross's transfer to Norwich.
Ironically, both Cross and Taylor played for both Norwich and West Ham. |  |
| When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf? |
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| Alan Taylor on 20:56 - Jul 8 with 1220 views | pioneer |
| Alan Taylor on 13:44 - Jul 8 by TVOS1907 |
Malcolm Darling was involved in David Cross's transfer to Norwich.
Ironically, both Cross and Taylor played for both Norwich and West Ham. |
Yep, theold memory playing tricks again. | | | |
| Alan Taylor on 05:43 - Jul 9 with 1164 views | DiddyDave |
| Alan Taylor on 20:56 - Jul 8 by pioneer |
Yep, theold memory playing tricks again. |
I thought Malcolm Darling came from Blackburn? Yes,Dave Cross was the other Dale player who made a meteoric rise from obscurity in the Reserves to the Dale first team in a season. I knew a bloke from Langley who played for Heywood Boys then onto City A and B who told me Cross couldn`t make the Heywood team,so obviously a late developer. | | | |
| Alan Taylor on 07:31 - Jul 9 with 1149 views | Huddersdale1 |
| Alan Taylor on 05:43 - Jul 9 by DiddyDave |
I thought Malcolm Darling came from Blackburn? Yes,Dave Cross was the other Dale player who made a meteoric rise from obscurity in the Reserves to the Dale first team in a season. I knew a bloke from Langley who played for Heywood Boys then onto City A and B who told me Cross couldn`t make the Heywood team,so obviously a late developer. |
He did play for Blackburn at the start of his career, but came to us from Norwich as part of the Dave Cross deal. | | | |
| Alan Taylor on 09:00 - Jul 9 with 1128 views | mingthemerciless |
| Alan Taylor on 05:43 - Jul 9 by DiddyDave |
I thought Malcolm Darling came from Blackburn? Yes,Dave Cross was the other Dale player who made a meteoric rise from obscurity in the Reserves to the Dale first team in a season. I knew a bloke from Langley who played for Heywood Boys then onto City A and B who told me Cross couldn`t make the Heywood team,so obviously a late developer. |
Cross was very raw when he first came into the ' Dale team. We all used to say he would never make it as a pro. Then almost overnight he started to look a real player who could hold his own in men's football. I think from what I know of him he was incredibly hard working and a very focussed player as a young man. | | | |
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| Alan Taylor on 11:33 - Jul 9 with 1099 views | D_Alien |
| Alan Taylor on 09:00 - Jul 9 by mingthemerciless |
Cross was very raw when he first came into the ' Dale team. We all used to say he would never make it as a pro. Then almost overnight he started to look a real player who could hold his own in men's football. I think from what I know of him he was incredibly hard working and a very focussed player as a young man. |
He must've been focused, because there's plenty of young lads would've been disheartened by the catcalls and jeers from sections of the Dale 'support' who didn't rate him. It was clear he had something but as you say, very raw to begin with
And he shut the boo-boys up soon enough | |
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| Alan Taylor on 12:18 - Jul 9 with 1070 views | EllDale |
I think Cross got a bit of stick to start with because he came in to replace Tony Buck when the latter was injured.
Wasn't really like for like, one of the best strikers we've ever had being replaced by a gawky, inexperienced youngster. | | | |
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