MEN'S LEAGUE	32	53	59	66	70	71	75	96	99	00	02	06	14	19	20	21	22	MEN'S WORLD CLUB	01	07	23
MEN'S CHALLENGE CUPS	56	61	66	72	76	96	97	01	04	06	07	08	21					WOMEN'S MATCHES	21	22	23	24	21

MEN 1873-1895
MEN 1895-2024
WOMEN 2018-2024

Willie Taylor
OVERALL STATISTICS
BIRTH	AGE	SIGNED ON	FROM
8-10-1860	N/A	Date unknown.	Unknown.
DEBUT		LAST MATCH	LEFT
13-3-1880 v Widnes		Widnes True Blues	1882-
CAREER			APPEARANCES (SUBS)
1880-1882			5 (0)
TRIES	GOALS	DGOALS	PTS
0	0	0	0

Biography of Willie Taylor
HERITAGE NO : William Edward Taylor LATE TACKLE TRAGEDY Willie Taylor was born in October 1860 in St. Helens. He first lived with his father, Henry Helsby Taylor a glass cutter and mother Ann Taylor at 58, Westfield Street, St. Helens. Later after the family lived at 24, Westfield Street, where William was described as a clerk. Willie made his debut for Saints on the 13th of March, 1880 against Widnes It was the first match that the former Eccleston Rangers lads were completing the season’s fixtures for the Originals. The contest was marred by almost riotous invasions of the pitch by the local spectators. He could play both in the forwards and in the three-quarters. Willie played further matches for the Club against St. Helens Recs, Sutton and Lancaster. Soon after, William made the sporting move across town to play in the colours of St. Helens Recs. Alex Service takes up the sad tale. More competitive nature of the `cup ties` could bring out the more unsavoury aspects of the game that were not always welcomed by the Recs` Committee and the Board of Directors at Pilkington Brothers. Relations with the Widnes club were somewhat soured after a particularly rough `A` team game at Boundary Road on 12 November 1887. William Taylor, the Recs` threequarter, caught the ball close to his own line and punted it back downfield. Unfortunately, Taylor had become the victim of a `late` challenge after he had put boot to ball, with disastrous circumstances. The 27 year old ledger clerk, of Croppers Hill, St.Helens died on the night after the game from `severe concussion of the brain.` At the inquest, a spectator witness, William Carlow, reported that although Taylor had fallen on his back after the initial challenge, he got up and rubbed the back of his head. He kept playing for about eight minutes before he collapsed and later became unconscious. The incident had seemed so trivial at the time that none of the players could be sure who had been the perpetrator. William`s funeral took place at the town cemetery at Windleshaw Abbey, with the Recreation Club sending a `handsome cross` and ₤100 for Mr.Taylor`s father. The incident seemed to have implications for the Recs` club, with the Pilkington Directors requesting the cessation of fixtures with Widnes. The Minutes of the Plate (Cowley Hill) Board of 17 November 1887 explained that `as they are a notably rough club and Warrington and Runcorn won`t play them, that we don`t wish our men to play them again.` The Directors were always uneasy about competitive football and the ramifications were significant some years later, when the club decided not to join the new Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. Professionalism was at the heart of the `split` at this time although the Recs were involved in payments to their players, or `expenses` for `off` or away games before this time. Players were entitled to one shilling for First or Second Team matches and sixpence for the Third Team. These sums were quite substantial, given the wages of the time!

Biography of Willie Taylor

HERITAGE NO :

William Edward Taylor

LATE TACKLE TRAGEDY

Willie Taylor was born in October 1860 in St. Helens. He first lived with his father, Henry Helsby Taylor a glass cutter and mother Ann Taylor at 58, Westfield Street, St. Helens. Later after the family lived at 24, Westfield Street, where William was described as a clerk.

Willie made his debut for Saints on the 13th of March, 1880 against Widnes It was the first match that the former Eccleston Rangers lads were completing the season’s fixtures for the Originals. The contest was marred by almost riotous invasions of the pitch by the local spectators. He could play both in the forwards and in the three-quarters. Willie played further matches for the Club against St. Helens Recs, Sutton and Lancaster. Soon after, William made the sporting move across town to play in the colours of St. Helens Recs.

Alex Service takes up the sad tale.

More competitive nature of the `cup ties` could bring out the more unsavoury aspects of the game that were not always welcomed by the Recs` Committee and the Board of Directors at Pilkington Brothers. Relations with the Widnes club were somewhat soured after a particularly rough `A` team game at Boundary Road on 12 November 1887. William Taylor, the Recs` threequarter, caught the ball close to his own line and punted it back downfield. Unfortunately, Taylor had become the victim of a `late` challenge after he had put boot to ball, with disastrous circumstances. The 27 year old ledger clerk, of Croppers Hill, St.Helens died on the night after the game from `severe concussion of the brain.` At the inquest, a spectator witness, William Carlow, reported that although Taylor had fallen on his back after the initial challenge, he got up and rubbed the back of his head. He kept playing for about eight minutes before he collapsed and later became unconscious. The incident had seemed so trivial at the time that none of the players could be sure who had been the perpetrator. William`s funeral took place at the town cemetery at Windleshaw Abbey, with the Recreation Club sending a `handsome cross` and ₤100 for Mr.Taylor`s father.

The incident seemed to have implications for the Recs` club, with the Pilkington Directors requesting the cessation of fixtures with Widnes. The Minutes of the Plate (Cowley Hill) Board of 17 November 1887 explained that `as they are a notably rough club and Warrington and Runcorn won`t play them, that we don`t wish our men to play them again.` The Directors were always uneasy about competitive football and the ramifications were significant some years later, when the club decided not to join the new Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895. Professionalism was at the heart of the `split` at this time although the Recs were involved in payments to their players, or `expenses` for `off` or away games before this time. Players were entitled to one shilling for First or Second Team matches and sixpence for the Third Team. These sums were quite substantial, given the wages of the time!

Date	Match		Pos	Opponents	Comp	Venue
13th Mar 1880	1	N/K	5	Widnes*	FR	H	VIEW
27th Mar 1880	2	N/K	5	Widnes*	FR	A	VIEW
9th Oct 1880	3	N/K	6	St Helens Recs*	FR	H	VIEW
29th Oct 1881	4	N/K	11	Widnes True Blues*	FR	H	VIEW
25th Feb 1882	5	N/K	8	Widnes True Blues*	FR	H	VIEW

*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.

WINS : \| LOSSES : \| DRAWS :

THIS PAGE LINK : http://saints.org.uk/saints/preplayer.php?num=73082

Willie Taylor

OVERALL STATISTICS

Biography of Willie Taylor