Stuart Taylor RIP

[aghast]

Very sorry to hear about this. ST was a loyal servant to the club and a great player at his level.

For those of us fortunate enough to have watched Rovers in that great 1969-1974 period, Stuart was one of the key players of that era and will never be forgotten.

[warehamgas]

Sad news. A true great of the game, the epitome of BRFC for well over 50 years. Played in the first match I saw and if he ever had a bad game I didn’t see it. Condolences to his family at this sad time. RIP Stuart.
UTG!

[Okebournegas]

Very sad news , sleep easy big guy.

[BRFPA]

One of the saddest moments of our existence came this morning as we were informed of the passing of our record appearance holder Mr. Stuart Taylor, a true gentleman off the pitch and a gentle giant on it.

Our tribute is available HERE and also reprinted below.   



A Tribute to Stuart Taylor 

Many players are described legends by football supporters, but the truth is that only the very few are deserving of that accolade; one such player was Stuart Taylor

Today Bristol Rovers Former Players Association (BRFPA) is in mourning following the death of the former Rovers central defender and skipper.

Stuart, who was 72, remains Rovers record appearance holder with 546 league games to his name, passed away today after a long illness.





Born on 18th April 1947, he began his football journey as an amateur with Bristol City and then played for Abbotonians and Hanham Athletic for whom he appeared just ten times before signing Rovers.

He signed his first professional contract in December 1965 and played the first of those 546 league games for The Gas on 26th April 1966, a goalless draw away at Workington.

A Watney Cup winner with Rovers in 1972, he was an ever present in the promotion winning side of 1973/74 and went on to captain the side in the Second Division.

Stuart was reliable, dependable, and fully committed to the Rovers cause and he was also very consistent at the heart of Rovers’ defence. He had to be to have played League Football for the club in fifteen consecutive seasons. It seems likely, in the current climate, that his record number of appearances will stand for all time.

Of his total appearances 275 came at our former home, Eastville, and he also appeared in 38 cup ties for Rovers.

He scored 28 league goals, but the first time he found the back of the net was in an FA Cup replay against Bristol City at Eastville in January 1968, though Rovers lost 2-1 that day.


Always my favourite Stuart Taylor photo and almost an iconic image as he challenges Paul Mariner in a game against Plymouth Argyle at Eastville. Photo Credit - Alan Marshall.

Bristol City had an offer of £40,000 for his services turned down in August 1979 and Chelsea also submitted a bid, but he joined Bath City as player/manager in May 1980 and missed just three games as the Romans finished sixth in the Conference in 1980/81.

He also enjoyed a brief stint as Commercial Manager back at Rovers and continued to play locally for Taylor Brothers, as well as becoming their reserve team manager. He also managed Cabot Access Towers and was player and reserve team manager for Cadbury Heath.

He managed The Crown Public House in Old Market for three years from 1979 and worked in Coalpit Heath before resuming the plumbing work he had trained for when he was a young man and acting as a freelance market consultant for a coach drivers’ publishing company based in Yate. He was also mine host at the Beaufort Hunt public house in Downend.

He continued to follow the fortunes of the club for whom he played for so many seasons. As someone who saw him play for Rovers, it was a privilege to get to know him when I began working for the club and to chat with him, albeit briefly, in the Guinness Suite on matchdays when he enjoyed a pre-match drink with many of those supporters who had followed his career from the Eastville terraces.

A true gentleman off the pitch and a gentle giant on it, Stuart will be missed, not only by his close family and friends, but by his wider football family, particularly those at Bristol Rovers.

Everyone at BRFPA sends their condolences to Stuart’s nearest and dearest.


By Keith Brookman

[clockendgas]

Sad news, that season of 73/74 got me hooked on rovers,stuart Taylor as important that season as smash and grab,a true gas legend, rest in peace big man.

[lpgas]

He was my hero when I started watching Rovers. A true gentleman on and off the pitch. My condolences to his family and his friends

[pirate]

Very sad news. 627 appearances for Bristol Rovers...A true Rogers legend. Thoughts and condolences to his friends and family. RIP Stuart.

[markczgas]

Sad news. One of my first memories was watching the giant bean-pole on the pitch.
I also interviewed him for the matchday programme many years later - he had very vivid memories of games.

[gasandrew]

An absolute gentle giant that wore the Rovers colours with pride.So sad that he was taken from us so early.Knew him quite well in his earlier years with the gas .RIP Stuart and condolences to all of his family

[yetigas]

Such sad news. Up there with the all time greats of BRFC. Condolences to Stuarts friends and family. RIP.

[BRFPA]

To give people an idea of the longevity of his dedication to Rovers, Stuart’s debut saw him in the same side as Ray Mabbutt, whereas his final appearance saw him yoked in central defence with Ray’s son, Gary Mabbutt.

In 15 seasons Stuart never made even one solitary appearance as a substitute; not because subs didn’t exist but because he was too busy being on the pitch the majority of the time.


A previous article, I Am a Rock by Martin Bull, also recounts his story up to his fight against an aggressive case of Lewy Body Dementia with frontal lobe damage that could well have been caused or exacerbated by years of heading heavy balls.

brfpa.org.uk/2017/05/20/i-am-a-rock-the-stuart-taylor-story/

[pirate]

[Rod1883]

Very sad news, thoughts go to his family and close friends.
RIP

[lympstonegas]

RIP Stuart and condolence to your family
Grew up watching him and believe Larry Lloyd would have never have got his move to Liverpool if not through his learning from big Stuart

[oldgas]

This sort of sad news makes you aware of your own mortality.

Stuart had broken into the team when I was a youn teenager and didn't seem that much older. I think he had the distinction of being the tallest player in the league and I remember an Evening Post story, probably written by Robin Perry, about how Stuart built his own bed to accommodate his lengthy frame because traditional beds were too cramped.

I think he may have trained as a carpenter so was able to do this.

Compare this to the modern footballer who would probably get the bed tailor made at great expense and have it trimmed in leather or similar at huge expense. You could more easily relate to footballers in those days.

Rest in peace Stuart, I hope God has reserved you an extra large space to accommodate your bed.

[jaydan]

One of our all time greats. Would be the first name on the best ever Rovers team I've seen- from mid sixties onwards.

[strangler]

My old man had knew the big man as far as I'm aware.
Can anyone confirm stuart Taylor worked in a builders/ plumbers merchant before his football career took off.
Maybe in st George /soundwell
RIP big fella

[bluegas]

Oct 10, 2019 18:34:52 GMT strangler said:

My old man had knew the big man as far as I'm aware.
Can anyone confirm stuart Taylor worked in a builders/ plumbers merchant before his football career took off.
Maybe in st George /soundwell
RIP big fella

I believe that's right, and I think he still did so during his playing days.

[stuart1974]

Very sad news, I was named after him.

My brother met him in a pub a while back and mentioned that to him, apparantly pleased by that thinking I was still at school until my brother pointed out I was actually married with kids.

[oldtoteender]

Rest in peace Stuart.... Condolences to the family.