Meet the Player: Tom Taylor (Bromsgrove Sporting and Ynys Môn)
Tom Taylor is well known on Ynys Môn for his footballing heroics, having been part of last year’s Inter-Island Games gold medal-winning Anglesey squad.
However, the big defender plays his club football in the Southern League these days for Bromsgrove Sporting.
He played all of his youth years in Shropshire and was at Shrewsbury Town for a spell.
Most of his adult career has been spent playing in North Wales for teams such as Porthmadog. Caernarfon Town, Pentraeth, Glantraeth, Holyhead Hotspur and Llangefni Town.
The 29-year-old was formerly a striker and netted a massive 58 goals for Pentraeth in 2012/13.
Injuries, however, forced him to convert into a defender and it has proved a fantastic switch.
Tom has been an outstanding player for so many years despite having to cope with Type 1 Diabetes.
Full Name
Thomas Scott Taylor
Date of Birth
February 6, 1991
Current club
Bromsgrove Sporting (Southern Football League Premier Central)
Teams you have previously played for
Porthmadog. Caernarfon Town, Shawbury United, Pentraeth, Glantraeth, Holyhead Hotspur, Llangefni Town
Position
Converted to a defender since knee operations
Most memorable game played in
Has to be two for me – in the same season. May 2019 – Southern League Division One Central Play-Off Final. The game had everything and we beat Corby Town 4-3 in extra time. June 2019 – Inter-Island Games Final. Ynys Môn 2 Guernsey 1, winning gold on Anglesey
Biggest highlight of football career so far
Had so many highlights but playing for Wales (in Uefa Regions Cup for North Wales Coast) and getting a cap is up there (even if I am English 😂)
Best goal scored
Years ago I played a game for Rich Owen and we were winning 1-0 for most of the game, then the other team scored to make it 1-1 with 2 minutes left. From the kick off I ran with the ball the length of the pitch won a penalty and scored.
Strengths to your game
It’s hard to say about yourself but I’d say apart from always having sweets for the lads I’d like the think of myself as reliable.
Best team-mate you have played alongside
Played alongside so many good players.
Stu Ellis (Shropshire area) was a brilliant player – leader. Jay Gibbs another great player. Recently….Nathan Hayward and Leon Broadhurst. Would have been Glynn Coney, technically the best I’ve ever seen he was just so lazy.
Hardest opponent faced
Stu Ellis. I was only 17 at the time but he was a different class to everyone else.
Biggest influence in football
Has to be Jason Garbett. Was my manager at Dawley Wanderers (Telford area team) through all my early years and was brilliant for the lads; won so many trophies. I keep in touch regular with most of the team today years on
Funniest team-mate
There’s been a few but Darren Jones (Chicken) was brilliant, he was constantly making people laugh the one season I played with him. The bus journeys back were something else. Andrew Mason thinks he’s funny but his dad jokes are terrible.
Favourite away ground
I liked playing at Nantporth.
Personal football ambitions
Try and help Bromsgrove get back to where they should be. I’m really enjoying my time here
RANDOM QUESTIONS
Best country visited
Thailand and Mexico were the best places for me (so far)
Favourite chocolate bar
Tough choice but Star Bar. I actually know some one who’s favourite is a Bounty 😂 (Ryan Bright) enough said there
Best after-match venue
Place called The Venue in Hills Lane, Telford. The 610’s there are the best drink ever
Best film seen
Very tough question. I have a few but I’m going to say Gladiator
Current favourite song
Babylon – David Gray
Favourite TV show
Ray Donovan
TV show you dislike most
The soaps
Best quality as a person
I’ll always try to help others
Worst fault
Being diabetic. Affects me quite a lot, have good days and bad
Best live show/concert seen
The Killers
How has Covid-19 affected your football? At what stage are you now?
Covid has had a big effect for me. We were third in the table with a chance of getting promoted or play-offs and we had just strengthened and had key players back from injury, but it wasn’t meant to be.
We have been back in for a few weeks now and played quite a few friendlies. The season starts in two weeks time for us so looking forward to getting going now.