Name: Brian Taylor
DOB: 12th February 1954
Dale debut: Doncaster Rovers – 26th December 1978
Last game: Tranmere Rovers – 16th May 1983
Also played for: Middlesborough, Doncaster Rovers
Time at Dale: Joined Dale in Dec 1978 from Doncaster Rovers having spent my early career at Middlesbrough FC.
First game for Rochdale was a 0-1 away defeat at Bradford City on Boxing Day 1978 leaving us fifteen points adrift at the bottom of the League with two points only for a win, however winning our next game
4-0 at Scunthorpe gave the team the believe that we could actually win. I remember Bob Wilson on Match of the Day saying, with a big smile on his face, that “The Dale had won their first away game in nearly two years” The next few months were tough but the lads pulled together and we won seven out of the last eight League games to move out of the bottom four and avoid re-election. The final game was Crewe Alexandra away, which we won 2-1 leading to unbelievable celebrations with Directors, players and the management staff singing and dancing about the dressing room. Manager Pete Madden deserved a medal for achieving “the great escape”
I broke my leg in the final game of the 1982 season against Northampton Town at Spotland from which I never really recovered managing a few games the next season but unfortunately not able to regain full fitness. After playing at Tranmere Rovers on 16th May 1983, in a 0-0 draw, I was released by manager Jimmy Greenhoff the next morning. I was never the quickest player so anyone with pace always caused me problems, probably why I received so many bookings!
I did come back to Spotland and worked as youth team coach for a while when Vic Halom was
manager and I also had a short spell as caretaker manager until Eddie Gray was appointed.
What are you doing since leaving Dale?: After working at Burnley for a number of years within their Academy and a short spell at Bury before moving to Halifax, I now spend my time trying to play golf and entertain the grandkids, both of which are a damn site harder than playing football!!!!