Steven Taylor (footballer)

Steven Vincent Taylor (born 23 January 1986) is an English footballer, currently playing for Premier League club Newcastle United. He is a versatile central defender who sometimes plays at right back or, on rare occasions, at left back. An England international since the U-16 level, he was the captain of the U-21's.

Club career

Early career

Taylor was born in London to a family of Geordies and moved back to the North East weeks later, He was raised in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside and went to middle school with future Newcastle Academy teammate Peter Ramage.

Newcastle United

The striker-turned-centre back then joined the Newcastle United youth academy after being scouted at Cramlington Juniors, where he played alongside Ramage, and Wallsend Boys Club. He played a key part in helping the U-17's win the old Premier Academy League U-17 title for the 2001–02 season. After finishing his GCSEs, Taylor capped a fine season by joining the academy on a first-year scholarship and signed professional terms when he turned seventeen. The following season, he was sent on a month-long loan to Wycombe Wanderers and made his league debut in the old Division 3 against Notts County in December 2003.

First team

Upon returning to Newcastle in the latter half of the season, the teenager was mostly shifting back and forth between the first team and reserves. On 25 March 2004...
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