Stuart Taylor

Stuart James Taylor (born 28 November 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Manager Arsène Wenger substituted Wright in the 85th minute of play for Taylor who thus earned a medal with this cap.

During his time at Arsenal he was tipped to become David Seaman's successor.

After a brief spell as a teenager with Wimbledon, Taylor joined Arsenal in 1997 as a youth player.

He made his Arsenal debut in a League Cup game against Ipswich Town in November 2000.

While at Arsenal he was loaned out to Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Peterborough United and Leicester City.

Taylor began his career with Arsenal, winning the 2001–02 Premier League and 2002–03 FA Cup and representing England at under-16, under-18, under-20 and under-21 level.

His league debut for Arsenal came in a 3–1 win against Manchester United in November 2001.

He went on to make ten League appearances in Arsenal's 2001–02 Premier League-winning season, thus qualifying him for a winners' medal.

This feat was achieved in the final match against Everton, with the title already won.

Richard Wright started the game with Taylor upon nine appearances.

He was spoken of as a future replacement for Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman but after other goalkeepers were signed, he struggled to get playing time after 2003 and he joined Aston Villa in 2005.

Initially second-choice behind Thomas Sørensen, Taylor was again supplanted by other keepers and pushed down the pecking order.

However, although he saw off competition from Alex Manninger and Wright, the signings of Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia in 2003 and 2004 respectively saw him struggle for playing time.

Taylor also missed the whole of the 2003–04 season due to a persistent shoulder problem.

After the signing of Almunia, Taylor thus became the club's third-choice goalkeeper and Wenger told Taylor that he would understand if he chose to leave.

During his stay at Highbury Taylor won a league title, an FA Cup as well as two Charity Shields.

Altogether he made 30 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal.

In June 2005 Taylor moved to Aston Villa, signing on a four-year deal.

He became Villa's second-choice goalkeeper, behind Thomas Sørensen.

Taylor recalls being told that he would play if Sørensen was injured or in poor form, but those chances "never materialised. I kept being told I would play this game or that game, and I never did. You get your hopes up, and it's hard to take. Football is a cruel game. People tell you what they think you want to hear."

During the 2005–06 season he made just two appearances for the club.

He saved Wayne Rooney's penalty in a match against Manchester United on 20 October 2007 during a match in which first-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson was sent off.

When Sørensen left, Villa signed Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan at the start of the 2008–09 season.

Friedel became the first choice goalkeeper with Guzan second choice and Taylor slipping down to third.

This despite generally putting in good performances, when called upon.

Taylor's final appearance for Villa was the game against Odense BK in the 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

In a bid to find first team football, Taylor began to search for a short-term loan deal at a Football League side, entering into talks with League One club Leeds United.

He left Aston Villa in 2009, having played only 12 league matches in four seasons.

He then joined Manchester City, before spells at Reading, Leeds United and Southampton.

Taylor spent most of his career as a third-choice goalkeeper, only making 95 career appearances.

He currently runs his own goalkeeping academy.

Taylor was born in Romford, London.

However, on 13 March 2009, a last minute offer from Cardiff City prompted Taylor to instead opt for the Championship side on a one-month loan deal, becoming the third goalkeeper to sign on loan at the club during the season, after Tom Heaton and Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

He made his debut for the side two days later in a 1–1 draw with Bristol City.

Taylor continued as first choice for Cardiff throughout his first month at the club, despite the return of Tom Heaton from injury, and his loan deal was extended to the end of the season.

However, following a 6–0 defeat to Preston North End, Taylor was dropped from the side for the final three games of the season.

At the end of the campaign, he returned to Villa Park.

Taylor signed for Manchester City on a free transfer on 23 June 2009, following the expiration of his contract at Villa.

He officially became a Manchester City player on 1 July 2009.