Product Code Database
Lyle James Alfred Taylor (born 29 March 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Chelmsford City. Born in England, he represents the Montserrat national team.
Prior to joining Nottingham Forest, he played for Charlton Athletic and AFC Wimbledon. During his time with the Dons, he became their record Football League goalscorer with 44 goals (since surpassed by Joe Pigott).
Taylor started his senior club career at 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.
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.
With the arrival of new manager Nigel Clough at United, 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 Thistle 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 Thistle in total that season, scoring seven goals, before returning to England in the summer.
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. He scored his first league goal in a 3–1 home defeat against Ross County. Taylor then scored twice in a 2–0 home win over Motherwell on 11 April 2015.
On 30 August 2016, Taylor signed an extended deal with the club. Taylor notched 14 goals and six assists in all competitions in his second season for the club as AFC Wimbledon finished safely in 15th in its debut season in League One in 2016–17.
Taylor scored his 50th goal for the club against Plymouth on 13 February 2018, netting a brace in a 4–2 loss. He scored 18 goals and eight assists in all competitions in his third season for the club as AFC Wimbledon battled relegation by finishing in 18th in its second season in League One in 2017–18.
Taylor became AFC Wimbledon's record Football League goalscorer with 44 goals (since overtaken by Joe Pigott), and remains the Dons highest scorer during their Football League era with 55 goals in all competitions.
During his time at AFC Wimbledon, Taylor was given the nickname "The Montserratian Lionel Messi" by author and AFC Wimbledon fan John Green, on Dear Hank & John, the weekly podcast he co-hosts.
In April 2019, Taylor was the victim of racist abuse on Twitter from an apparent Bradford City fan following the clubs' recent match. Bradford City said they would investigate the matter.
On 1 June 2020, Charlton manager Lee Bowyer confirmed Taylor had refused to sign short term extension with the club to see out the rest of the 2019–20 EFL Championship season, he also refused to see out his existing contract for the next three matches for Charlton Athletic. Following the suspension of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, as he did not want to risk injury. On 2 July 2020, it was confirmed that Taylor had left Charlton after his contract expired.
Taylor was released by Forest following their 2022–23 season, in which he made no appearances.
On 1 May 2024, the club announced the player would be released at the end of his contract.
Taylor has also worked as a model and appeared in TV advertisements for the Champions League.
Known for his charity work, Taylor often dyes his hair pink and wears pink boots during the month of October to raise awareness and money for Cancer Research UK. As of 2024, Taylor has raised £78,000 for the charity.
Taylor has refused to follow the EFL initiative to take the knee before football matches. In an interview, Taylor described Black Lives Matter as a 'Marxist group' that 'are using racial unrest to push their own political agenda'.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
| Millwall | 2007–08 | League One | 0 |
| 2008–09 | 0 | ||
| Eastbourne Borough (loan) | 2008–09 | Conference Premier | 1 |
| Croydon Athletic (loan) | 2008–09 | Isthmian League Div. One South | 0 |
| Concord Rangers | 2009–10 | Isthmian League Div. One North | 34 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2010–11 | League One | 0 |
| 2011–12 | 2 | ||
| Lewes (loan) | 2010–11 | Conference South | 2 |
| Woking (loan) | 2010–11 | Conference South | 1 |
| Hereford United (loan) | 2011–12 | League Two | 2 |
| Falkirk | 2012–13 | Scottish First Division | 29 |
| Sheffield United | 2013–14 | League One | 2 |
| Partick Thistle (loan) | 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 7 |
| Scunthorpe United | 2014–15 | League One | 4 |
| Partick Thistle (loan) | 2014–15 | Scottish Premiership | 4 |
| AFC Wimbledon | 2015–16 | League Two | 23 |
| 2016–17 | League One | 14 | |
| 2017–18 | 18 | ||
| Charlton Athletic | 2018–19 | League One | 25 |
| 2019–20 | EFL Championship | 11 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 2020–21 | Championship | 5 |
| 2021–22 | 3 | ||
| 2022–23 | 0 | ||
| Birmingham City (loan) | 2021–22 | Championship | 5 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2023–24 | League One | 0 |
| Cambridge United | 2023–24 | League One | 3 |
| Colchester United | 2024–25 | League Two | 13 |
| Chelmsford City | 2025–26 | National League South | 8 |
| + Appearances and goals by national team and year | |
| Montserrat | 1 |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 6 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | |
| 1 | |
| + List of international goals scored by Lyle Taylor |
| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2–1 |
| 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2–1 |
| 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification |
| 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 3–2 |
| 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 3–2 |
| 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League B |
Charlton Athletic
Nottingham Forest
Individual
|
|
