Andrew Taylor (born 14 March 1986) is an English former footballer who played as a defender. He is currently the Assistant Manager at Barrow.
Early life Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, Taylor attended St Paul's RC Primary and St Bede's RC High School in Blackburn and is a product of Blackburn Rovers Youth Academy. Having represented England at both under-19 and under-20 level. Taylor then turned professional in 2004 and Taylor signed a new three-year deal with Blackburn Rovers in September 2005.
Club career
Blackburn Rovers Whilst at Blackburn, Taylor has had loan spells at Queens Park Rangers, Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town (from 31 January 2007 to 5 April 2007) and Tranmere Rovers.
Tranmere Rovers Tranmere decided to make his loan move permanent, signing him on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee in the January 2008 transfer window. Taylor made 30 league appearances in total for Tranmere during the 2007–08 season, scoring a single goal, a half volley against Crewe on New Year's Day 2008. His only goal of the 2008–09 season came at home to Colchester, he curled in a long range free kick.
Sheffield United Taylor was transferred to Sheffield United in July 2009 for an undisclosed fee. He made his full debut for The Blades came in the opening game of the season in August 2009; a 0–0 draw with Middlesbrough. After an initial run of games Taylor sustained an injury on Boxing Day 2010 which eventually kept him sidelined for fourteen months. On his return to fitness, he was unable to break back into the side and made only four more appearances for United during the 2011–12 season and was subsequently released by The Blades in May 2012 when his contract expired.
Walsall After being released by Sheffield United, Taylor signed for Walsall on non-contract terms on 28 August. He played against Queens Park Rangers and had an excellent debut for the Saddlers. After the match, Taylor told the club's official website that he is happy to join Walsall, insisting he wanted to play regularly . Having made twenty-two appearances for the club, Taylor signed a new 18-month contract at the club.
On 12 October 2013 he scored a memorable free-kick in the sixth minute of injury time in a 1–1 game away to Colchester. The goal proved especially lucrative for a family in the Swedish city of Malmö who won 10.103.752 SEK (approximately £929,793) on the national football betting called Stryktipset.
Blackpool He was released by Blackpool at the end of the 2017–18 season.
International career Taylor has represented England at international level being capped by both the England under-19 under-20 teams respectively.
Coaching career In July 2020, Taylor became a coach at AFC Fylde following his retirement. In September 2022, following the resignation of James Rowe, Taylor was appointed interim manager.
Taylor left his role at AFC Fylde in January 2024 in order to pursue a career in youth development.
On 12 January 2024, he agreed to become the new the head coach of the Bolton Wanderers B Team.TAYLOR APPOINTED NEW B TEAM HEAD COACH, Bolton Wanderers FC, 12 January 2024 On 22 January 2025, after manager Ian Evatt left the club by mutual consent; Taylor, Andrew Tutte, and Julian Darby were named as joint caretaker managers.Bolton Wanderers name interim trio for Huddersfield game Their first game in charge was a 1–0 away win against Huddersfield Town, which brought an end to Huddersfield 16 match unbeaten run.BBC Sport: Managerless Bolton ended Huddersfield's unbeaten League One run at 16 games as Aaron Collins' second-half goal earned the visitors a win at the John Smith's Stadium. They took charge of one more match, a 3–1 home win against Northampton Town,Bolton 3-1 Northampton | League One Highlights before Steven Schumacher was hired as Evatt's replacement on 30 January.Bolton Wanderers appoint Steven Schumacher as the new boss They returned to their youth/B team roles with a 100% winning record as caretakers. Taylor's Bolton B team won the 2025 Lancashire Senior Cup final, with Bolton B beating Burnley's reserves.Bolton Wanderers B beat Burnley to lift LFA Senior Cup
On 18 May 2026, it was announced that Taylor had left Bolton by mutual consent and later that day he became the new assistant manager at Barrow.https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2026/may/18/murray-bolsters-backroom-staff/, Murray bolsters backroom staff, Barrow AFC, 18 May 2026
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsQueens Park Rangers (loan)2005–06Championship3000000030Blackpool (loan)2005–06League One3000000030Crewe Alexandra (loan)2006–07League One4000101Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy060Huddersfield Town (loan)2006–07League One8000000080Tranmere Rovers (loan)2007–08League One101300000131Loans from Blackburn:Total281301010331Tranmere Rovers2007–08League One2010000002012008–09League One391401040481Total592401040682Sheffield United2009–10Championship2603010003002010–11Championship900010001002011–12League One4000001Appearance in League One play-offs050Total390302010450Walsall2012–13League One3400000103502013–14League One3312010103712014–15League One3912020504812015–16League One34230002One appearance in Football League Trophy and one in League One play-offs0392Total14047030901594Blackpool2016–17League Two38250002Appearances in League Two play-offs04522017–18League One7010104Appearance in EFL Trophy0130Total452601060582Oldham Athletic2018–19League Two150100030190AFC Fylde2019–20National League131200000151Career total339102608024039710
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordAFC Fylde (interim manager)29 September 202214 November 2022Bolton Wanderers (joint caretaker)22 January 202530 January 2025Total—
Honours Player Walsall Football League Trophy runner-up: 2014–15
Manager Bolton Wanderers B Lancashire Senior Cup: 2024–25
References
External links