Taylor was born in Kirkby Stephen, which was then in Westmorland, in 1937.[1] He represented the county at youth level,[3] and played in the Westmorland League for his hometown club, from where, just after his 16th birthday, he was invited to join First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers.[4] By 1954, he was back home and playing for Northern League club Penrith.[5]
Taylor turned professional with Second Division Middlesbrough in January 1956.[1][6] He made his first-team debut in November 1957, deputising for Lindy Delapenha away to Notts County, and scored on his second appearance five months later, in a 3–2 defeat at Sheffield United, but played only infrequently thereafter,[7][8] Billy Day being preferred when his National Service commitments allowed.[9][10]
Having played just once for Middlesbrough's first team in the 1959–60 season, Taylor moved on to Fourth Division club Aldershot.[8] According to a profile on an Aldershot F.C. historical website, he was "a talented player who was able to shoot with both feet and was the provider of accurate crosses from dead ball [and] tight marking situations."[6] He was a regular for Aldershot for just over two seasons, with 13 goals from 78 league appearances.[1] He submitted a transfer request,[6] and in September 1962 signed for fellow fourth-tier club Darlington, for whom he scored once in 18 league matches.[1]
On the recommendation of Brian Clough, Southern League club Burton Albion signed Taylor from Darlington – he had played alongside both Clough and Burton's manager, Peter Taylor, at Middlesbrough – but it was not a successful move.[11] After leaving football, Taylor ran a building firm in his native Kirkby Stephen.[6]
