Rod Taylor (footballer)

Rod Taylor
Personal information
Full name	Rodney Victor Taylor
Date of birth	9 September 1943
Place of birth	Corfe Mullen, England
Date of death	16 April 2018 (aged 74)
Place of death	Poole, England
Position(s)	Wing half
Senior career*
Years	Team
1961–1963	Portsmouth
1963–1966	Gillingham
1966–1967	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
1967–1971	Poole Town
1971	Andover
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rodney Victor Taylor (9 September 1943 – 16 April 2018) was an English professional footballer of the 1960s. He played professionally for Portsmouth, Gillingham, and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.^[1]

Career

Taylor's career began at Portsmouth as a ground staff boy in 1958 and at the age of 17, he signed his first professional contract at Pompey, going on to play at Fratton Park for two seasons. He joined Gillingham in July 1963 and spent three years at Priestfield. In 1966, he returned to Dorset to play for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic under manager Freddie Cox, who had signed him at Gillingham. He made 30 appearances for the Cherries in the Fourth Division, before joining Poole Town in August 1967 followed by Andover in 1971.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[2]
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gillingham	1963–64	Fourth Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	1964–65	Third Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	1965–66	Third Division	9	0	1	1	1	0	11	1
	Total		11	0	1	1	1	0	13	1

Later life and legacy

To support his family after his playing career, Taylor went into partnership with fellow former Portsmouth and Bournemouth player Tony Priscott in the building trade. He died in April 2018 and, after having his brain donated and examined by the neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart in a similar way as Jeff Astle, it was proved that he was suffering from Dementia with Lewy bodies and CTE.^[3] In January 2021, Taylor's daughter, Rachel Walden, was invited to join Astle's daughter Dawn at the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).^[4]^[5] Together, they embarked on a six-month project aimed at improving neurodegenerative care for former football players and their families.^[6] Their collaborative efforts resulted in the establishment of a dedicated Brain Health Department, which was officially launched in February 2022.^[7] This department designed to provide essential support and resources for individuals affected by neurological issues related to football. It also involved the recruitment of former professional footballers David Ryan and Alex Fletcher to deliver brain health education to current EFL and WSL players whilst promoting dementia awareness alongside notable figures like John Breckin and Tony Currie.^[8]^[9] In September 2023 the Premier League and PFA announced the launch of the Football Brain Health Fund.^[10]

References

^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2015). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2015. G2 Entertainment Ltd. p. 829. ISBN 9781782811671.
^ Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Nottingham: Soccerdata. pp. 73, 74, 75. ISBN 978-1-8994-6820-1.
^ Wilson, Jeremy (6 August 2018). "Revealed: The second British footballer to die with head trauma CTE". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
^ "Jeff Astle: Former England, West Brom striker's daughter to join PFA in dementia advisory role". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
^ Wilson, Jeremy (7 January 2021). "Dawn Astle and fellow PFA critic Rachel Walden to advise players' union on help for dementia victims". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
^ https://www.thepfa.com/news/2021/1/7/dawn-astle-and-rachel-walden-to-advise-pfa-on-neurodegenerative-care-provision
^ "PFA sets up neurodegenerative care department for ex-players, with Dawn Astle as project lead". BBC Sport. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
^ "'The world would be a lonelier place without the care and selfless work of people like John.'". Rotherham Advertiser. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
^ "Successful launch of TC's Memory Lane Club". Sheffield United FC. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
^ Gardner, Jamie (6 September 2023). "Fund for footballers suffering from dementia launched by PFA and Premier League". The Independent. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

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[Hugman_2015-1] Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2015). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2015. G2 Entertainment Ltd. p. 829. ISBN 9781782811671.

[2] Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Nottingham: Soccerdata. pp. 73, 74, 75. ISBN 978-1-8994-6820-1.

[3] Wilson, Jeremy (6 August 2018). "Revealed: The second British footballer to die with head trauma CTE". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 April 2021.

[4] "Jeff Astle: Former England, West Brom striker's daughter to join PFA in dementia advisory role". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

[5] Wilson, Jeremy (7 January 2021). "Dawn Astle and fellow PFA critic Rachel Walden to advise players' union on help for dementia victims". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

[6] ttps://www.thepfa.com/news/2021/1/7/dawn-astle-and-rachel-walden-to-advise-pfa-on-neurodegenerative-care-provision

[7] "PFA sets up neurodegenerative care department for ex-players, with Dawn Astle as project lead". BBC Sport. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

[8] "'The world would be a lonelier place without the care and selfless work of people like John.'". Rotherham Advertiser. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

[9] "Successful launch of TC's Memory Lane Club". Sheffield United FC. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

[10] Gardner, Jamie (6 September 2023). "Fund for footballers suffering from dementia launched by PFA and Premier League". The Independent. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

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