Sam Taylor

Samuel James T. Taylor (17 September 1893 – 1973) was an English professional footballer, who played at inside forward for various clubs in the 1920s, including Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton.

Football career Taylor was born in Sheffield and, as a youth, played for various works teams in the area, including Atlas & Norfolk Works and Silverwood Colliery. During the First World War, he played as a guest for Rotherham County and Bradford Park Avenue.

In May 1919, he signed for Huddersfield Town of the Football League Second Division. This made Taylor the top scorer in the Second Division for 1919–20. Taylor also held the record for the highest number of goals scored in one season by a Huddersfield player (later equalled by George Brown) until this was beaten by Jordan Rhodes in April 2012.

Taylor also scored six goals in Huddersfield's run to the 1921 FA Cup final, during which they defeated First Division sides Newcastle United and Liverpool. In the final, they met another First Division side, Aston Villa; Villa's "form and pedigree" were too much for Huddersfield, who despite dogged defending, was beaten in extra time by a header from Billy Kirton.

Taylor was unable to reproduce his form in the First Division, managing only four goals in 1920–21, and he returned to the Second Division when he was transferred to Sheffield Wednesday in January 1921. He made his debut for Wednesday on 15 January 1921 away to Port Vale and remained in Sheffield for four full seasons until May 1925, making a total of 128 appearances, scoring 39 goals.

Taylor spent the 1925–26 season in the Midland League with Mansfield Town before returning to the Second Division with Southampton in June 1926. Described as "a thoughtful and intelligent inside-forward", At the end of the season, he was released