Peter Parker
Global Moderator
Richard Walker
You have been sentenced to DELETION!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,920
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Post by Peter Parker on Oct 10, 2019 12:28:51 GMT
Hopefully we can get a tribute to the Big Man on Saturday
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2019 12:40:10 GMT
A literal and figurative giant of a man for BRFC.
Rest in peace top man.
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 8,109
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Post by eppinggas on Oct 10, 2019 12:58:30 GMT
RIP. Everyone who talks about Stuart Taylor uses the word "legend".
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2019 13:09:37 GMT
Legend indeed. A very sad day.
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crater
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 1,444
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Post by crater on Oct 10, 2019 13:17:29 GMT
One of the great names in our history and someone who's name alone makes you smile. More importantly a top man who will be missed but never forgotten
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Peter Parker
Global Moderator
Richard Walker
You have been sentenced to DELETION!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,920
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Post by Peter Parker on Oct 10, 2019 13:30:13 GMT
A literal and figurative giant of a man for BRFC. Rest in peace top man. Such a nice bloke.
Was sad to see him in the bars getting visibly worse over the last few years
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cornwallgas
Predictions League
Joined: February 2016
Posts: 468
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Post by cornwallgas on Oct 10, 2019 13:41:57 GMT
A truly sad day...condolences to all his friends and family. So many Eastville memories of the big man in my early Gashead years...thank you Stuart..RIP
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bloogas
Joined: July 2016
Posts: 1,090
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Post by bloogas on Oct 10, 2019 14:22:03 GMT
Very sorry to hear this. Integral part of the first Rovers team I followed. Only a year older than me. Hell, life's a bitch.
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,421
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Post by warehamgas on Oct 10, 2019 14:31:50 GMT
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!
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2019 15:06:09 GMT
A truly sad day. Condolences to all his friends and family. So many Eastville memories of the big man in my early Gashead years. Thank you Stuart. RIP This.
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BRFPA
Joined: January 2018
Posts: 34
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Post by BRFPA on Oct 10, 2019 15:07:39 GMT
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
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BRFPA
Joined: January 2018
Posts: 34
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Post by BRFPA on Oct 10, 2019 15:15:36 GMT
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.
LEGEND.
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,412
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Post by harrybuckle on Oct 10, 2019 15:16:39 GMT
A fine footballer and a humble gentleman who loved the Club he represented over 600 times. He will live long in my memory for the major contribution he made to Rovers over 15 years. I certainly can remember the goal he scored against Bristol City in that evening FA Cup replay at Eastville in 1967/68. He formed a remarkable defensive partnership with Mike Green during the 1973/1974 promotion season. always happy to chat about his career at Rovers and attend various book signings over the years Stuart was a tremendous man and will be sadly missed.
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vaughan
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 1,237
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Post by vaughan on Oct 10, 2019 16:05:28 GMT
A magnificent servant to the football club.
When I started watching Rovers, I always took comfort from his height. He looked like a massive beacon in defence.
My favourite part of his game was when Bobby Campbell took over. He would stand on the near post at corners and flick on headers for Randall to finish. It worked countless times.
Really sad day and I wonder how many of our current players will watch us after they hang up their boots.
A great loss and his appearance record will never be beaten. What more can you say than that to substantiate his contribution?
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JeffNZ
Administrator
Jimmy Morgan
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,440
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Post by JeffNZ on Oct 10, 2019 16:32:04 GMT
A very sad day.
Legend is a much overused word but Stuart was and will always be one.
I played skittles against him a couple of times, long after he finished playing and I remember still being star struck by this gentle giant.
Sincere condolences to his family.
Sleep easy big fella.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Oct 10, 2019 17:01:17 GMT
Hopefully we can get a tribute to the Big Man on Saturday
He was my landlord for a few years. Great guy and was fit as the proverbial fiddle. I trained with him a couple of times but I couldn’t take the running. The guy was so fit and such a gentleman too. I feel very saddened to hear this as he had recently lost his stepson, around a year ago and they were close. RIP big man, I shall never forget your kindness of spirit and giving me wriggle room, when money was tight
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Oct 10, 2019 17:09:06 GMT
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
Landlord/owner of the Ring O Bells circa 1990-93. Great pub. Ran it with then wife, Gwen Taylor. Had a nightclub. Taylor made, in Clifton. Always carried on the plumbing as a side business
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Oct 10, 2019 17:19:17 GMT
Oh dear. Sad to hear.
An absolute Gas legend in the true sense of what a legend actually is.
I remember seeing him at Mem recently, so he even came back to look in on us. Proper GasHead.
My overriding memory was him scoring in his last match he played for us.....a header up open end at Eastville. Then, we kicked the barriers down and jumped around in celebration on the sand, as we were sat on the rail in front of North Enclosure..
RIP Stu.
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Angas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,067
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Post by Angas on Oct 10, 2019 19:43:00 GMT
Such sad news. Sincere condolences to his family.
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Post by chelt_gas on Oct 12, 2019 11:37:59 GMT
My father must have mentioned Stuart Taylor hundreds of times over my thirty years following the gas. Although he was before my time I could sense his importance from the stories from my father’s generation.
Huge symbol for the club, for Bristol and for a generation of Gasheads. Condolences to all, thoughts are with all.
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