Matthew Simon Taylor (born 27 November 1981) is an English former professional footballer, who most notably played for Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers.

[7] The fee was set averting the need for a tribunal, causing Luton manager Joe Kinnear to lament: "at least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask".

Taylor eventually won a place in the Pompey team at left back, where he was a regular in the second half of the 2003–04 season and appeared to be regaining form.

Despite failing to score a league goal in his Premiership debut season, Taylor did hit the equaliser in an FA Cup tie at Anfield on 15 February 2004, when he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate with the supporters after a forceful right-footed finish at the Kop End.

[10] The summer signing of David Unsworth from Everton meant Taylor only became a regular in the side in the second half of the season.

Portsmouth had been trailing Sunderland 1–0 in the crucial "six-pointer" but Taylor inspired a second half comeback with two goals and two assists in a 4–1 victory.

His final goal for Portsmouth was a penalty kick in August 2007, in a 3–1 win over Bolton Wanderers, the club he moved to five months later.

[citation needed] After losing his place in the Portsmouth team to Niko Kranjčar in the first half of the 2007–08 season, Taylor moved to Bolton Wanderers on 17 January 2008 for an undisclosed fee, after rejecting an offer from Sunderland.

[24] He made his competitive debut on 7 August 2011 in 1–0 home defeat to Cardiff City[25] and scored his first goal in West Ham's 4–3 win over his former club, Portsmouth, on 10 September.

[26] On 4 July 2014, newly promoted Premier League club Burnley confirmed that they had signed Taylor from West Ham United on a two-year deal, on a free transfer.

[36] Four days later, Taylor made his debut during Swindon's 3–0 home defeat against Crawley Town, replacing Amine Linganzi in the 53rd minute.

[37] On 22 September 2017, Taylor scored his first goal for Swindon in their 2–0 away victory over newly promoted Forest Green Rovers, doubling the visitors lead in the 91st minute.

[40] Taylor completed his coaching badges during his playing career and spent time working alongside Luton Town's under-15 and under-16 teams while at West Ham United.

He was their first appointee to bear the title head coach instead of manager, due to the creation of a director of football role for Micky Moore.

[50] Taylor, alongside assistant head coach Marcus Bignot, was relieved of his duties on 21 January 2024 after a poor run of seven defeats in eight games.