Lyle Taylor

Lyle James Alfred Taylor (born 29 March 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Nottingham Forest and for the Montserrat national team. Born in Greenwich, England, he internationally represents Montserrat.

Prior to joining the football club of Nottingham Forest, he played for AFC Wimbledon, and became the Dons' record Football League goal scorer with 44 goals, and highest scorer during their Football League era with 55 goals in all competitions.

Taylor started his senior club career with Millwall before spells with Concord Rangers, AFC Bournemouth, Falkirk, Sheffield United, and Scunthorpe United. He has also spent time on loan at Eastbourne Borough, Croydon Athletic, Lewes, Hereford United, Woking, two spells at Partick Thistle, and Birmingham City.

Club career

Millwall

Taylor was spotted by Millwall whilst playing for Staines Town youth academy, and progressed from the Millwall U18's to the reserve team. In October 2008 he signed a one-month loan deal at Conference National side Eastbourne Borough in order to gain first team experience. In November 2008 his loan was extended by another month. Although he played five games, he had only scored one goal, against Stevenage Borough. Eastbourne Borough coach Nick Greenwood decided to end the loan deal, stating Taylor was not ready for Conference starts, as he was still learning his trade.

Concord Rangers and AFC Bournemouth

Taylor's contract at Millwall expired on 1 July 2009, after which he signed for Concord Rangers. After scoring 34 goals in his first season for Rangers, Taylor was offered a trial with AFC Bournemouth, and subsequently agreed a two-year deal with the south-coast club. He made his Football League debut the following day, in a 3–3 draw against Notts County. However, Taylor struggled to hold down a regular first-team place and appeared to be surplus to requirements.

On 31 January 2011, Taylor signed a one-month loan deal with Isthmian League side Lewes, a deal which was extended the following month. On 7 February 2011, Taylor scored on his Lewes debut, in a 2–2 draw against Boreham Wood. Despite his initial success, in March 2011, Taylor refused to extend his stay at Lewes any further, describing it as a "big risk". Despite public support from assistant manager Steve Fletcher who insisted he had a future at the club, Taylor failed to break into the Bournemouth team. Taylor then joined Woking at the end of March, agreeing a loan deal until the end of the season.

At the start of the 2011–12 season, and following promising performances in pre-season, Taylor scored a brace against Dagenham & Redbridge in the first round of the League Cup. Still unable to force his way into the Bournemouth first–team, in February 2012 Taylor was allowed to leave on loan once more, agreeing a one-month deal with Hereford United. He scored twice in eight appearances for Hereford before returning to his parent club at the end of his loan spell. Taylor was released by Bournemouth at the end of the season having netted just two cup goals in the two years he was at the club.

Falkirk

In July 2012, Taylor signed for Scottish side Falkirk, scoring twice on his competitive debut in the Scottish Challenge Cup, in a 3–0 win over Stirling Albion. Taylor also scored on his league debut in a 3–1 defeat against Partick Thistle on 11 August 2012. After a successful season, Taylor attracted interest from elsewhere, with Falkirk accepting an offer from English League One side Rotherham United, only for Taylor to reject the move as he could not agree personal terms with the club.

Sheffield United

Following the collapse of Taylor's proposed move to Rotherham United, Falkirk accepted another offer, this time from Sheffield United and Taylor duly signed a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Taylor made his debut for the Blades in the opening fixture of the following season, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 home victory over Notts County. Unable to hold down a regular place in the side Taylor did not score for his new employers until mid-October when he netted a brace against Coventry City.

With the arrival of new manager Nigel Clough at United however, Taylor continued to find his first team chances limited and was eventually allowed to join Scottish Premiership side Partick Thistle on loan until the end of the season. Having made his debut for Partick in a 1–0 away loss to Celtic, Taylor netted his first goal for the Jags in his second game a 2–0 away win against Hearts a few days later. Taylor played 20 games for Partick in total that season, scoring seven goals, before returning to England in the summer.

Scunthorpe United

With first-team opportunities apparently limited at Sheffield United, Taylor joined Scunthorpe United for an undisclosed fee on 30 June 2014. Taylor made his United debut on 9 August 2014, in a 3–1 defeat against Swindon Town. He made his home debut on 16 August, in a 0–4 defeat against Preston North End. He scored his first goal for the club on 16 September 2014, in a 2–1 win against Coventry City. He scored his second goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Port Vale on 21 October. He played 12 times for United in the league that season, scoring three goals as they finished 16th.

On 2 February 2015, Taylor returned to Partick Thistle for a second loan spell. He scored in his first game back at the club, on 7 February 2015, in a 2–1 defeat against Inverness CT in the Scottish Cup

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