Gordon Taylor, OBE, BSc (Econ), Hon DArt, Hon MA, FRSA
Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association
Clubs:Bolton Wanderers 1960-70
Birmingham City 1970-76
Blackburn Rovers 1976-78
Vancouver Whitecaps, NASL 1977
Bury 1978-80
Over 500 League games
Over 50 goals scored
Born Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire 28th December 1944. Educated at Ashton-under-Lyne Grammar School; Bolton Technical College; part-time University of London external degree. Married 27th July 1968 to Catharine Margaret. Two sons, Simon Mark, born 1970 and Jonathan Peter, born 1973.
England schoolboy trialist and originally an inside forward before establishing himself as a winger with Bolton in the Sixties, playing over 250 games for them, mainly in Division 2. Voted Player of the Season 1967/68. Signed for Birmingham in December 1970 and linked up with young stars Trevor Francis and Bob Latchford to eventually win promotion to Division 1 in 1972 (the season he joined the PFA Management Committee when Terry Venables and Bobby Charlton were also on the Committee). After losing to a Bobby Moore-led Fulham at Maine Road in the 1975 FA Cup Semi-Final Replay, he returned to Lancashire to help Blackburn Rovers avoid relegation to Division 3 in 1976. Played in the North American Soccer League in the summer of 1977 with Vancouver Whitecaps beating New York Cosmos of Pele and Beckenbauer 5-3. Returned to Blackburn Rovers before joining Bury in 1978 at which time he was appointed Chairman of the PFA succeeding Derek Dougan. Retired from playing in 1980.
Member of PFA Management Committee 1971-80 and Chairman from 1978-80.
Joined PFA full-time in 1980. Appointed Secretary/Chief Executive in 1981.
Fully qualified FA Coach.
Awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List 2008 for services to sport
London University External BSc (Econ) 1969
Honorary MA from Loughborough University in 1986 for services to football
Honorary Doctor of Arts, De Montfort University, Leicester 1998
Appointed President of FIFPro, the International Association of Football Players’ Unions, in 1994. Retired in 2005 and now Honorary President.
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2.
Member of the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee of England and Wales.
Represents the PFA on the Professional Players Federation along with representatives of other sports, e.g. the Golfers Association, the Cricketers Association, the Rugby League Players Association, the Jockeys Association.
Secretary of the Footballers Further Education & Vocational Training Society Limited.
Chair – Blackburn & Darwen Citizens Advice Bureau.
Recreations – theatre, music, reading, watching football, horse racing.