Gordon Taylor (footballer)

Gordon Alexander Taylor OBE (born 28 December 1944) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He became chief executive of the English footballers' trades union, the Professional Footballers Association. He is reputed to be the highest paid union official in the world. "Ils font le foot anglais" (They make English football), France Football, 28 September 2007:

Taylor was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. He played over 250 games for Bolton Wanderers and scored more than 50 goals before being transferred to Birmingham City in 1970. He joined Blackburn Rovers in 1976 and spent the 1977 close season playing in the North American Soccer League for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He returned to play for Blackburn and finally Bury before retiring in 1980 to work full-time for the PFA.

Taylor has a degree in economics and is a member of FIFA's football committee.He is an alumnus of Manchester Metropolitan University.

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.

His mobile phone messages were allegedly hacked by a private investigator employed by the News of the World newspaper. The Guardian reported that News International (the owner of News of the World) paid Taylor...
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