David William Taylor (8 April 1889 – 9 February 1946) was an English footballer who played as a full back in the Scottish League for Heart of Midlothian.
[6] The 1911 Census lists the 21-year-old Taylor living in his parents' home in the St Anthony's district of Walker and employed as an electrical storekeeper's clerk.
[10] At the end of the season, Taylor moved on to Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish First Division,[20] a club with a significant number of English players.
[22][24] An Athletic News profile of Tom McIntosh cited the "magnificent service" rendered by Taylor to Hearts as one example of the newly appointed Everton manager's "rare intelligence and judgment in signing up young and promising players".
[26] He returned to England and signed for Bristol Rovers of the Southern League in what the Western Daily Press dubbed a "sensational capture" for a club record fee, of which the player would receive a share.
When competitive football resumed, Forge Albion's player-manager Jack English assembled what the Sunderland Daily Echo's season preview dubbed a "team of all the talents", including many well-known pre-war players of whom Taylor was one, to take Darlington's place (and adopt its name) in the North-Eastern League.
[33] Having denied suggestions of retirement,[34] Taylor returned to North-Eastern League football, first with Blyth Spartans,[35] whom he captained to third place in the 1921–22 season.
[12] In February 1932, that newspaper's pseudonymous "Crofter" wrote of his sadness at the contrast between his "vivid recollection of Dave Taylor as the vigorous, enthusiastic, and calculating player, and the happy, singing companion" and "the helpless invalid of whom affliction has exacted a terrible toll".
It was played on Walker Celtic's ground in front of some 2,000 spectators, and former England international Stan Seymour performed a ceremonial kick-off.