Matt Taylor (footballer, born 1990)

Matt 'Matty' Taylor (born 30 March 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Bristol Rovers.

Early career

Taylor's football career started at Oxford United where he made seven substitute appearances in two seasons before moving on to Southern League South & West Division side North Leigh. In two seasons at Eynsham Park, he scored 80 goals. In September 2011 he had a trial with Cheltenham Town but went on to sign for Forest Green Rovers, having rejected a move to Newport County.

Forest Green Rovers

His first goals for the Nailsworth club came in a 4–1 win over Alfreton Town as Taylor netted a hat-trick. He went on to score a further seven goals as Forest Green finished 10th in the Conference National.

His second season at the club saw him score 11 times in league and cup competitions, earning himself a contract extension to summer 2014. His third season saw him struggle for form and he was loaned out to fellow Conference side Chester in January 2014 until the end of the season. Having scored six times in seven games, he was recalled by his parent club, but failed to score again in his remaining 12 appearances.

Bristol Rovers

In June 2014, Taylor signed for recently relegated Conference side Bristol Rovers, reportedly rejecting offers from former sides Oxford United and Chester as well as Mansfield Town and Kidderminster Harriers. His Bristol Rovers career got off to a difficult start as he scored just three times in his first 18 games. He finished the season with 20 goals, including one in each of the play-off semi-final games against Forest Green Rovers. He played the full 120 minutes of the play-off Final and scored Rovers' second penalty of the shoot-out as Rovers secured an immediate return to the Football League.

Taylor scored his first Football League goal in a 3–1 win against Barnet FC. A successful start to his season resulted in Taylor scoring eight goals in all competitions before mid November, including two goals vs Carlisle United. After an unstoppable run, Taylor achieved 14 goals in all competitions before Christmas, including hat-tricks in the 3–0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers and 4–1 win against Hartlepool United. On the final day of the season, Bristol Rovers achieved promotion to League One by scoring a dramatic winner in the 92nd minute. Lee Brown scored the decisive goal after Taylor himself hit the post. Taylor finished the season with 27 goals and five assists, outscoring every player in the Football League.

Taylor proceeded to score on his League One debut against Scunthorpe United in a 3–1 loss.

On 18 October 2016, Taylor scored a second-half hat-trick to earn a point for the Rovers against Milton Keynes Dons in a 3–3 draw.