Ian Taylor | The Irreplaceable Entertainments Manager

24:23Ian Taylor:We can give you Guy Whittingham because they were after a striker Wednesday. So yeah, they saw it as a good deal. I didn't even worry about the money, mate. Just went there and said, just get me there. Did you manage to get up a Gasol road in that in Sheffield or with Shez and whatever? Yes. Yeah. I thought they would have done. There were a few lock-ins, mate. Again, there was a proper drinking crew there as well. bloody hell I was thinking he's football football like this so that's in the prem now they even get pissed in the prem regular to be fair I forgot to mention Des Walker as well because Des was there as well Des proper took me under his wing as well and I ended up sharing a flat with Des yeah I can't go into some of them stories I was single-ish mate I was single-ish

25:17oh Des We've had Brian on and John Gregory, so two of you are all managers.

25:24Ian Taylor:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got on well with all the managers I've had, to be fair. I've not had that many, but I think they're just like players who are honest and worked hard and I was one of those. Did you have to sit down with Doug Ellis for your contract negotiations? Yeah, yeah. Well, not, to be fair, just let me agent get on with that. But yeah, Doug, drove a hard bargain but he didn't have to we didn't have to do that much negotiating when I went there because you just want to get through that door yeah yeah yeah it was an easy decision to make did you hit the ground running yeah yeah again you know I think my debut was against Arsenal at Highbury and we drew nil-nil New Year's Day I'll never forget that day and then a few days later midweek we played Chelsea at home at Villa Park and we won 3-0 and I scored him from the whole tend it was like dream come true so if that had been your last ever game you'd have been sound with that yeah yeah because honestly mate loads of fans ask me now you know what was the most significant or the best game you've ever played in and that was the one because of the significance of it do you know what I mean I played in finals and stuff but that game just being at Villa Park that night you know under the lights all my mates there my family there because of my first game there and I score.

26:49Ian Taylor:It's like, it's nuts, absolutely nuts. Did you used to go as a kid? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. It's a funny, funny thing is, you know, I was brought up in Birmingham City area and there's always a, there's a group of, group of us. There's some blues, some villa and there were some weeks we'd go because those days you could get in at half time for free. So, yeah. Yeah, just a few minutes after half time, they'd just open the gate. So we'd just go in. And there were some weeks when I'd gone to Birmingham, some weeks when I'd go to Villa. And I just chose Villa, just chose Villa. And just used to do the same thing every week, obviously until I got playing.

27:36Ian Taylor:But then just followed them from then. And that was it really. Did Birmingham ever come in for you early doors? I had a trial. I had a trial. And you already picked by now? The trial was when I was at Moor Green. Yeah, I went there for a week. But you'd already picked Villa as your team? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I know. I know. Honestly, the career could have gone so much differently. But Terry Cooper was the manager. And I was there for a week, played a couple of friendlies. scored in a couple of friendlies. And at the end of the week, he had me in the office. He said, look, you've done really, really well.

28:23Ian Taylor:Really, really well. We'd like to sign you. You know, in the back of your mind, you're thinking, shit. How am I going to do this? At the time, I thought, all right. Yeah, it's professional football, isn't it? I'll have to consider it if the offer came in. And I never heard from him again. Never heard anything after that. Nothing at all. She says that I want to sign her and then radio silence. Yeah, yeah, nothing. It was mad. It was mad. So I just went back to Moore Green and carried on playing for them. Do you think if it was the same scenario but with Villa, do you think you'd have been on the phone ringing it?

29:02Yeah, probably. Yeah. Probably. Yeah, yeah. I think I'm turning up at the ground. I've just been outside. I've got to sign my contract. But yeah, I've never heard from them. You've gone on to do well. I bet he's looked and thought. Oh, yeah. I probably shouldn't have done that. Or he's gone, oh, shit, I was supposed to ring him. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I recognise this. I lost him on the titles.

29:29I've had a lot of problems with my CEO, but I've finally got you that contract. So I said, shit, I'm supposed to ring him. but we talked we talked loads about like the importance of like mentally psychologically getting a good start and you've you've done that at Villa did you ever get did you get nervous walking in

29:53Ian Taylor:yeah because honestly mate I thought at the time because it was Brian Little's first signing and it you know Villa's a big club so he's gone there his first signing Ian Taylor from Sheffield Wednesday only been in the game what two and a half years in the pro game two and a half years so all the Villa fans must be thinking who's this do you know what I mean nobody would have known anything about me or who it was so I'm walking in there thinking I've got to do something here do you know what I mean yeah because they're all thinking first signing what the so yeah and it was just great that I was in the team all I wanted to do was just work work my nuts off and just show them that I fancied it.

30:38Ian Taylor:But then to score on my own debut, it's like the pressure was just so off me. It was unreal. And then everybody finds out you're a Villa fan and this, that and the other. And then it just all came together. It's a good job they didn't find out. You're still waiting on a contract from Birmingham. Things might have been a bit different. It's only recently I've actually let that out of the bag. But now it's, everything's, everything's, my career's pretty much sort of, everything's kind of fell into place, which is like, it's been so good. Do you think you get a bit more leeway from the fans and stuff if you're one of their own?

31:16Yeah.

31:16Ian Taylor:Yeah, for sure. I think for shorts, but I think local lads are scapegoats, you know, when things aren't going well. Yeah. I think a lot of young lads, local lads, get it in the neck. They're the first ones. Yeah. I don't know what you think. You know, in many bands, there are even villa lads. are you talking from experience at Sundland at Sundland at Sundland it was like that a lot of the young lads who were good players they just seemed to get it get it in the neck but yeah I suppose I suppose it depends what kind of player you are I mean you know John McGinn our players at the minute can't do anything wrong because he's he's just a workhorse do you know what I mean fans love players who just work hard and give 100 % doesn't matter doesn't matter whether you're shit or not but if you're giving everything then they'll forgive you and I was one of those players Ticking every box really to be that cult hero that you're a workhorse local lad coming in from Fan Yeah, fan coming in from outside the game or lower leagues working through Yeah The kind of player everyone loves Yeah and honestly I wouldn't change it for anything because the way I came through and all that kind of stuff maybe he'd like to have done it a little bit earlier but he gave me a good grounding mate honestly he gave me a good grounding I had all my mates around me any time I even looked like getting big time they'd give me a kick in the nuts and say what the fuck do you do do you know what I mean and bring me back down to earth did it happen a few times that?

32:51yeah once or twice once or twice but you buy your own flash car now yeah yeah but they like the fact that I can get them to the front of queues and stuff yeah even like non-league non-league

33:05Ian Taylor:our non-league manager was a guy called Bob Faulkner and he's passed away now as well at Moor Green and he used to run a car dealership as well a Ford one and I'd always used to go to him and say can I can I get a car for the weekend so me and my mates can go out so this one time I've got a car off him it's like a ford escort gl the bollocks yeah yeah yeah it was at the time and um he's let me have it for the weekend so me and my mate the my mates have come and they've got we've all got in the car we always used to travel to different places up and down the country because like there were times when i didn't want to go out in birmingham because everybody see what you're doing and stuff so we We like to travel out of town.

33:55Ian Taylor:So I think this one time we were going up to, we go places like Doncaster and Hull. Just out the way places. It's where nobody knew us. Do you know what I mean? But I've got this car and I've got in the car and got to a junction. Look that way. It's not a car coming. And I've turned. Bang. within a minute of leaving the dealership I've written the car right off right off mate and I've had to ring Bob Bob you'll never guess what I've done mate all my mates are pissing themselves in the car what have you done mate what have you done and I've had to ring him up and to be fair he was good as gold he said I can't believe you've done that you owe me big time because he's had to come and sort the car out and everything and give me another car to...

34:53Will he give you another one? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Give me another one. I can't believe you've got... I know. I couldn't have another car. I'm off to all. I haven't got an all-fought night. He's still got bumper under his arm. I couldn't have another. I've not got a good record with cars, lad. But yeah, I've written the car off. I was devastated because I've done that to Bob, like, and he's had to sort the car out for me and everything. but honestly he was

35:17Ian Taylor:such a nice guy everybody he could be miserable at the best of times but to me he was a nice because he'd sort of brought me through and got me into the pro game and everything he was just dead proud of you know what he'd done for me and everything but yeah I've always been dedicated to him because like I said he's passed away now but what a guy

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38:16Legally, we can't say drinking Storm makes you smarter and more focused. But with zero sugar, 200 milligrams of caffeine, and immunity support, you're smarter and more focused for drinking Storm. Storm. Good energy in, good energy out. Energy for life. I was going to say, was it a sociable change of room? But I've just seen Mark Bosnich and Dwight York on the list. So I'm taking that as a yes.

38:39Ian Taylor:It was no holds barred. You had to look after yourself in that dressing room. And there was a lot of personalities, mate. When I first went to Villa, I mean, you had, what, Ray Houghton, Andy Towns and Gary Parker, big personalities, Steve Staunton and Bozzy, like you say. Dwight wasn't a massive personality in the dressing room, but there were some, Dean Saunders, Dane Atkinson, the big personalities and you had to look after yourself. Stronger word in. Yeah, I know, tell me about it. But it was good, you know what I mean? And the open arms, they got me in. But you still had to prove yourself, do you know what I mean?

39:23Ian Taylor:And like I said, scoring that first game at Villa Park just sort of settled me down with the squad and everything and I was accepted pretty much straight away. Was there ever any sort of fractions where people want in the mic, in the dressing room? Honestly, Dino, Jesus Christ. You can't shut him up, honestly. I imagine he brings you home mic. 100 % of the time, Dino. He does the headset. But he's good value for it. I mean, at Towner as well, Andy Townsend, them two, Ray Ohton, honestly, you couldn't shut them up. But it was brilliant for the dressing room. It was a really good dressing room to be in.

40:03And where would you have pitched yourself in that? Could you just go and take it all in?

40:08Ian Taylor:Yeah, to be fair at first, because again, I was only with some of those guys for a few months because Brian had come in and he was changing the team. He was changing the whole aspect of the team. So I think I was only with Dino for six months, daily and same. Quite a few of those guys, by the next season they'd gone. Yeah, because he, was it Matt Wright that we had on who said, did he sign about the same time as you? Alan Wright. Alan Wright, sorry. Alan Wright, yeah, yeah. Yeah, he signed just after me. So he was saying he was bringing all the transition, getting rid of all the old guard. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

40:46Done some job, mate, didn't he? Just staying up in the first season.

40:50Ian Taylor:Yeah. And then finishing fourth season after. Yeah. And winning the League Cup as well. The whole team was just transformed. He played three at the back. Big Paul McGrath was in the middle at the back, brought Gareth Southgate in. Steve Staunton played at the back as well. And he played with wing-backs, Gary Charles and Alan Wright, and me, Andy Townsend and Mark Draper in midfield, and Yorkie and Savo Milosevic up front. So were there no frictions in the dressing room knowing that that's what he was doing, like you being one of these new guards? Massive. Yeah. I think the likes of Dino. The ones with the big voices, do you know what I mean?

41:35Ian Taylor:You know what it's like. The experienced lads, they knew that the writing was on the wall. So they'd piss about in training and stuff. And, you know, it was tough for him when he first came in, Brian. But he was single-minded, knew what he wanted to do, knew what formation he wanted to play, knew what kind of players he wanted to bring in. And it's funny being, because I'm an ambassador at Villa now and we're both ambassadors. I'm an ambassador with my old manager. So he tells me a lot about how he built his, he looked to build the team and everything and what he wanted me to do in the team and whatnot.

42:09Ian Taylor:And it's really interesting when you hear it from your manager after you've finished playing. And, you know, just things like, you know, Sabo was a left-footed striker. Yorkie was a right-footed striker. He wanted left and right. Do you know what I mean? He wanted a left footer in midfield, Andy Townsend. He wanted somebody in midfield who could get up and down. Wanted a playmaker like Mark Draper. Do you know what I mean? But when you're saying this, it seems so obvious, doesn't it? Yeah, it is. It's quite simple, doesn't it? Yeah, yeah. He's got a left foot, put him on the left. He's got a right, put him on the right.

42:40Get somebody that can run. Get somebody that's good on the ball. Yeah, yeah.

42:43Ian Taylor:Good mixture in midfield. And the blend was perfect, to be fair. And like you say, we finished fourth in that first season. Got into Europe. Won a trophy as well. Goal in the final, don't you? don't skip on that yeah yeah he was alright do you want me to describe it but no honestly you couldn't have asked for a better start and it was a tough act to follow but we've not won we've not won a trophy since Villa it's nuts nuts but you know secretly I'm glad about that but no the Villa career was something else because we got to finals won trophies and And people still talk about those things now. Do you know what I mean?

43:31Ian Taylor:We got to FA Cup final with Chelsea that we should have won in 2000 because we had the team to win it. That's probably my only regret in my Villa career really is that we should have won that final really. Who was manager then? Gregory, John Gregory. You should know that because we've had him on. I know. He must have spoken about that. And it's written down. Yeah, he must have spoken about that. Just trying to keep the conversation feeling nice. Because I remember I got injured in the semi-final. You probably need to get Alan Thompson on here to describe this because he proper kicked off because he'd been playing when I got injured.

44:10Ian Taylor:And then when I got fit for the final and Grego played me in the final and Tomo kicked off and smashed his dressing room, his hotel room up because he was fuming that Grego had left him out of the team to put me in. did that cause tension personally not personally because you can't blame the player but at the same time I think the hotel manager were quite pissed off yeah yeah yeah and I think because I just started seeing my present missus then and she's told me that his missus kicked off with her so it did cause a bit of personal tension yeah yeah but I think he's got your missus in her I think he's put it in his book I think but oh he wouldn't have told us about it I've not read it.

44:55I've not read it.

44:56Ian Taylor:But yeah, he did cause a bit of tension. But I wasn't aware of that, to be fair. I was just concentrating on just getting fit for the final. But like I said, we lost. Can't be many better shaggers than Dwight. Mate, I don't know how he did it, though. He's not the best looking, is he? And he doesn't talk much. I know people in glass houses and that, but he's not the best looking, Dwight, is he? Mate, somehow he had the knack, honestly. he's he's gift of the gab but yeah there was a few times we went out together and you're like bloody hell he's done it again just beamed by York but I don't know I don't know whether you remember there was a time when him and Bozzy got caught the front page of the Sun they got caught they got caught in women's clothes and they pulled a couple of girls and went back to Dwight's I was out with him that night and And I said, tells, tells, we're going back to Dwight's.

45:54Ian Taylor:You're coming? He says, nah, nah, I'm going to go home. What a good decision. I know, tell me about it, because I'd have been on the front page of The Sun. Dressed in Mary Poppins, you know? Dressed in the garage. Dressed in the poor of heels. Because, I don't know, he had security cameras at his house, and I think the cleaner had nicked his tape. Right. And there was a tape of him and these girls at their house, and it got into The Sun newspaper, and there's pictures of them on this video in Dwight's house and they were trying on the girls clothes and everything and they were caught and I could have been there I could have been there but I said no I'm going home I think I was single-ish at the time that's alright I was single-ish at the time there were about to be big old girls for me to get the clothes on wouldn't there probably not the type that Dwight you should have back no that was yeah big Hugo was there as well and yeah Bozzy yeah we had a few few good nights out to be fair the thing is it could go things like that as well with football fans and football in general like it's something you do a bit of a crack at the end of a night there's some women clothes you chuck them on for a bit of a laugh but then in the stands they cross-dressers they're in that one picture you've done ain't you wrong-uns wrong-uns them too will they have been with Jordan at that point?

47:18do you know I can't remember I can't remember but we were thinking, how the hell has he pulled her? I can't have you seen it now. Jesus Christ. No comment. Again, people in glasses.

47:31How was Sasa Surchik? How did he come in? You say you've had Brian on? Yeah. Brian Little.

47:39Ian Taylor:Did he tell you a story about Sasa having his teeth and his nose in the middle of the season and saying, I'm going to be missing for a few weeks? He said, why? I'm going to have my nose done. So he buggered off out down to London. He's come back with a new nose. And he couldn't play for a while. How long was he out for? It was a good few weeks. A few weeks. He'd been out for a couple of months. Gaffer was fuming. Gaffer was fuming. Because we'd have knocked his teeth back through, I'll tell you that. But yeah, he couldn't believe it. I bet he was frustrated to play with. He was actually, because he was, do you know, because I think, yeah I think it was in the middle of the crossover when Brian left and when Greg Grego came in that Sasha came in I think he signed him to come in as a kind of replacement for me or a bit of an upgrade but we were different totally different types of players because he liked to dribble past people and he was really good technically to be fair but he came to Birmingham and it was like he won the lottery because all of a sudden he's coming in designer clothes do you know what I mean bought a brand new Lamborghini or whatever it was and it just all went to his head and he's off down London on nights out do you know what I mean and and he just he just went off piste yeah just weren't the same player if you know from your point of view bear in mind you've just said that you feel like he's been brought in to replace you were you half like just letting them crack on and go on go on yeah be a dick yeah dig your own grave kind of thing yeah Yeah, yeah.

49:16Which you've got to look after yourself.

49:17Ian Taylor:Yeah, just get on with my game and just carry on. Because there were times when, I mean, even the likes of Lee Hendry, he sort of came, he was a young player, came into the squad. And there was a time when he started playing instead of myself. And, you know, the team was mixed about a little bit. But I always ended up being back in the team because they needed something else. Do you know what I mean? but I still had to I had to keep my head and not be pissed off and not you know I wasn't one for going knocking on the manager's door and all that kind of stuff I just got on with it mate and just ended up getting back in the team I think with the type of player you were as well you were just like a 7 7.5 out of 10 every week and that's what managers love isn't it yeah I don't mean that in a disrespectful way I know what you're saying you know if you put you in you know exactly what you're going to get exactly yeah exactly and I always just gave 100 % you know I could be shit some weeks but as long as I was tackling tackling or elbowing someone in the face you know you got away with it really so you mentioned your first goal what other game would you put up there as your favourite game for Villa oh there was a there was a spell in like I don't know I think 99 2000 well I just couldn't stop scoring and when we when we were playing in Europe and all that kind of stuff, some great European games, I was scoring virtually every European game.

50:52Ian Taylor:The European nights at Villa Park were just something else. 97, 98. Yeah. I was always scoring against West Ham for some reason. And we played a game in the League Cup at West Ham. And it was live on Sky. And I scored a couple of goals. And I was just right at the top of my game. and I just remember one of the goals I skipped round Rio Ferdinand he'll remember this I skipped round him and just smashed it into the top corner I think Xhaka Hizlop was in goal I didn't see it at all and top corner scored a couple like I say and that was when I was like at the top of my game and I'll always remember that game because of that really Alan Ballen Brazil's commentary on Sky was that coached into you or was that just your natural thing getting forward runs getting in the bottom never coached mate never coached I always had a good engine I could get up and then get back and defend and it's something that I always just did from a from a kid from a younger age and never changed which playing partner would you say suited your style the best like who was your favourite to play with yeah took a bit of a grenade there yeah I know I love playing with drapes to be fair he's thick as two but he was he was great to play with Murs Paul Murson love playing with Murs because he he could always find me in the box the amount of goals that he made for me and he still pays me that compliment now you know saying he's most underrated player and he said me and which is a big compliment coming from him but I love playing with him I love playing with Yorkie as well because I love Was this Saturday afternoon or Saturday night?

52:48Ian Taylor:Both

52:53Ian Taylor:You're naughty but yeah because I love being able to play off centre forwards who could hold it up and you know and you could make your runs often and Yorkie people ask me who's the best player I've ever played with and I'd say Dwight York all day long I was gutted when he left because we were close to being a really good team when we had him in the team. And when he left, we just went backwards and it was hard to replace. John told us the story, John Gregory. Yeah, he'd have shot him. I know, yeah. He was fuming when he left, absolutely fuming. You couldn't blame him because Man U were the biggest team at the time and he went on to win the bleeding treble.

53:33Ian Taylor:Do you know what I mean? So you couldn't blame him, but it was frustrating for the lads who were there and because, like I said, we'd come so close. We were getting so close to being a really good team. We were only a couple of players away from being a top, top team. But then, you know, we always had our best players picked away from us. And did Villa have to sell? Yeah, do you know, it's a bit like the EZAC thing at the minute. Everyone's saying, oh, yeah, players have started to, you know, show player power. It's been happening since. Oh, it's well. It's always happening. do you know what I mean Yorkie would have gone to the manager and said I want to go do you know what I mean even though he's under contract but you know when the likes of Man U at the time calling then they're going to go aren't they and it's the same now plus you've got a new pool of birds haven't you well Manchester is up there you've done your Birmingham crew you've got your Manchester mob untouched snore untouched snore you're single not single itch when you go to a new city who did I should know this because we've had him on who did he replace Yorkie with that wasn't Balaban was it Stan Collymore so you're looking on paper you're thinking that's a good but he did buy Stan to play with Dwight to be fair because I think he wanted to try and play with three up top but it didn't quite work I remember him trying it during pre-season we went to America and stuff when he signed Stan and it didn't quite work and then and then Yorkie left and then Stan became the main striker.

55:11Ian Taylor:But Stan, honestly, so talented. But at the time, you know, it's well documented. He had his troubles and whatnot. But you didn't realise at the time what he was going through. It's only after when he's talked about it. And could you reflect back on that time after what he spoke about? Yeah, you could see that stuff just wasn't right. Yeah, Stan liked a night out as well. you can tell by the smile but I can't tell you half of them that's the villa with 1830 club weren't it but no I got on with Stan alright to be fair a lot didn't though didn't they yeah I know I know a lot didn't but I think it's probably the Brummie thing and us being local lads and I still speak to Stan now to be fair and but yeah we always got on Liam and Lee Endry probably the local lad thing you must have a few stories on Endo Lee Andrew Endo's probably yeah he missed a few flights when we were sort of away and stuff on lads trips at the end of the season but no Endo's Endo's was a great lad to be fair and another one who had his fittest man ever fittest man ever it's a straight in for him yeah for those unfit mate honestly he could drink like nobody's business and then just run like normal the next day he was a freak absolute freak how were you after a night out could you train yeah not so many to be fair some of your best training sessions were when you were pissed but yeah I could get through mate I could get through I didn't shirt training or bloody cheating training you know like Gabby who admitted that you cheated in training.

57:06At Bungalore.

57:07Ian Taylor:Eh? Yeah, yeah. At Bungalore. Yeah. And like I said, some of your best training sessions were when you did the night before. I've heard them talking about, it might have been Lee Hendry, when they were on the drink in London one time. I can't remember the end of the story or who was manager, but they got into bother because somebody had, somebody had grasped them up to the manager. It might have been Graham Taylor, actually. I don't know if you were there. There was Crouch, Hendry. It might have been me that grasped on them.

57:35no I can't remember it man yeah

57:40Ian Taylor:yeah I know yeah Crachy used to I played with Crachy for a short spell and another lad who got a rough a raw deal good player really good player just Villa I think just came a bit too early for him but yeah him and Enders and I think Gareth Barry as well who was a dark horse as well by the way yeah they liked a lot at night out in London I didn't really go out in London that much. I liked to go up north, mate. Yeah, up to London, Doncaster. Cheaper, innit? Drinks are cheaper.

58:14What point did you take that role as entertainment manager? Usually, I just usually went out with just my mates

58:22Ian Taylor:that I grew up with, but then we'd bump into all the lads in town. Do you know what I mean? And that's when we went out in town. I didn't like anybody knowing... what I was up to do you know what I mean so I tended to go out of town we all used to go to a club called Money Pennies in Birmingham and it was run by Villa lads and mate honestly when we'd won on a Saturday it was like the red carpet was hold out for you in this club it was so so good and I still speak to the lads now and the the nights out after games was just unreal in Birmingham when you'd won then you'd be treated like absolute royalty.

59:04And was that just a given? Like how much, how many other lads would be like, if you've won, you've just come off 1-0 whatever.

59:14Ian Taylor:Yeah, what we're doing tonight? Is it, what was it called? Money pennies? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Is it just like money pennies tonight, money pennies tonight? That's just a given. Yeah, a given. Is it a big group as well? Yeah, it's quite a big, yeah, because then we had all the lads from, we had like Gary Charles and Tommy Johnson, france car was one of them so they were the nottingham bunch and then i i started to go out in nottingham with them as well and and away from brum and that's that's how i ended up meeting my missus that i got now is because i used to go to to nottingham see them trips away i know so um yeah i used to join that crew and go out in nottingham and derby and up that way as well and drapes Mark Draper as well and we had such a good laugh and that that crew became the new the new bunch in the dressing room the banter in the dressing room was just unreal just so funny that was the started the era of like hammering people's clothes and that I was going to start on you in a bit I've had it all before I don't want to like water off a duck's butt as soon as you walked in mate you were getting it you're getting it it was so funny but you ask any of the lads the banter was just brilliant who's the ringleaders like I said yeah myself Franz Carr Tommy Johnson Mark Draper Gary Charles Gary Charles he was like I used to call him Dr Jekyll because when he had a drink Jesus Christ he's just a different man I think there's one in every dressing room yeah there is there is mate but the banter is so good and Ever go too far?

1:00:55At times Yeah at times but yeah because like the likes of Stan Collimo had the shortest fuse shortest fuse ever but they used to play on him all the time and they used to wind him up all the time because they knew he'd just bite straight away That's your first victim that the only one you know is going to react quickest that's how you always aim for them because you know it's going to happen Needs to be strength in numbers though if the kick's off yeah that's got a regret

1:01:30Joe from a player's point of view because John spoke about his frustration I think he's went top of the league at Christmas was it 98, 99 yeah and I think he actually said he went to Doug Ellis and said I just want was it 5 million to sign this player right he went no you're flying don't worry we're going well yeah he was obviously tail off

1:01:48Ian Taylor:yeah we were unbeaten up until Christmas and And it was when we had a team of all English players. A big thing was made of it at the time. Do you think he meant to do that? I don't know. Do you know, knowing Greg Oat, he probably did mean it because he knew what he was going to get from a team of grafters. He just wanted grafters in his team. And he loved me because I was a grafter. But we had this ridiculous team photo at the end of one of the games. I think we broke the record for unbeaten games for Villa. we played Southampton away I think we won and at the end of the game it got us all on the picture of team photo and we hardly won a game after that it jinxed us it absolutely jinxed us and we hardly won a game after that and I think we I think we just missed bloody relegation or something I know from there which was ridiculous really but yeah that's another regret in my career having that team photo I'd seriously think I was actually bobbing up and down as well

1:03:00like we'd won the bloody league or something what was Southgate like in the dressing room do you know Gareth right he's such a top top guy

1:03:13Ian Taylor:In the dressing room, he was dry as hell. Loved a laugh, loved a joke. And he's not as straight-laced as everybody thinks he... Actually, I'm glad you said that. Do you know what I mean? He's a good lad, mate. He's a good lad. Good banter in the dressing room. Him and Bozzy got on really well. That's an unlikely joke. I know which is mad, right? I'm not sure there are no videos of her, surely. You wouldn't think that, would you? I bet he once shared a bag of cocaine with me fucking size of fucking Gareth's nose. Oh, fucking hell, Gaz. You've just done me fucking 200 quid with anyone in one snow, you bastard.

1:03:57We did call him the horse to be fair. But honestly, yeah, it's a weird one. They got on really, really well and went out with each other. It's mad. But honestly, he's a top, top guy.

1:04:11Ian Taylor:and I still speak to Gav, now he's done me loads of favours sort of off the pitch and whatnot when he hasn't had to. And, you know, all the England thing with him, I was thinking, nobody knows what this guy's really like. And, and he's getting hammered and I was like, I just don't get it. From a personal point of view, top guy, mate. Top guy. His best mate's a Woody, isn't he? Yeah. Andy Woodman, who we've had on. And he's a fucking lunatic, so he must just like surrounding himself with lunatics. Yeah. because he didn't look so bad then, does he? Yeah, no, yeah. I just get the impression that he's one of them who would sit quite quiet in the dressing room and just got...

1:04:48Yeah. Dropping hand grenade and then not saying other words. Definitely. Definitely. Spot on there, mate. Spot on. And yeah, he'd only say one sentence and he'd just cut them. Yeah. Yeah, he's top guy.

1:05:03Just a quick message to say a huge thank you to O 'Neill's. They were sponsoring us for the third series. We're here at one of the flagship stores, we're going to go in and have a look and see what it's all about. All of the stuff is locally manufactured, we've got factories in Northern Republic of Ireland, it just allows for premium quality, quick delivery, all custom team kits. It's not only from the big dogs at the top, grassroots football all the way up. Like you said Chris, the quality is fantastic. O 'Neils themselves have been brilliant for us to work for, haven't they? Yeah. I mean, the lads who are we-sponsoring, me personally, from here, they absolutely buzz off it.

1:05:49You can see our kits here, yeah? Oh, aye. In saying that, I would buy that. Could you? Yeah. Not just cos it's hard, I just think it's a really nice strip. Go from... Oh! He's knocked his head off. He's knocked his head off. And don't forget the link is in the description. You can sort your own team out, sort your grassroots team out, and get one of these beauties. Link's in the description for both of them. Massive thanks to O 'Neill. Head loss. I get so many headaches every month. It could be chronic migraine, 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more. Botox, autobotulinum toxin A, prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine.

1:06:33It's not for those who have 14 or fewer headache days a month. Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Effects of Botox may spread hours to weeks after injection, causing serious symptoms. Allerge your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness can be signs of a life-threatening condition. Patients with these conditions before injection are at highest risk. Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection site pain, fatigue, and headache. Allergic reactions can include rash, welts, asthma symptoms, and dizziness. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection.

1:07:01Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions, including ALS Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. Why wait? Ask your doctor. Visit BotoxChronicMigraine.com or call 1-800-44-BOTOX to learn more. I don't know on the dates, but like you said, you didn't play, but you weren't in the same league as Birmingham for so long. Do you remember the first derby you played in?

1:07:30Ian Taylor:yeah I was in the crowd I think I was either injured or suspended and one of the one of the things I used to do is like my mates always used to go they're all big fans away end I said I'll get some tickets and I'll come in the away end with you and honestly that that one game I remember it like it was yesterday it's a Monday night live on Sky it was foggy it was it was a horrible horrible feeling night and i just remember going with my mates and it was kicking off everywhere because blues hadn't played us for ages and we were walking through this we had to park really two mile away and then we're walking through the streets my phone was going every two minutes tails tells don't walk this way go this way don't walk that way go this way we were literally having a guided tour which way to walk so we don't get beaten up and uh so we're walking i remember i went with my brother and a few other mates have you gone cap hood yeah the whole lot

1:08:41Ian Taylor:but um yeah and we've we've got there and mate it's so moody it was unreal and i've never been to a game like it yeah it was the encumming one when it when it went on to his foot oh the throwing Yeah. Oh. Yeah. We couldn't believe what we were watching. Couldn't believe what we were watching. Had he got that in his locker as well, Enkelman? Not really. I just think the game got to him. Those days going to Blues, the atmosphere was unreal. And if you couldn't handle it, you were dead. And Enkelman just couldn't handle it. And I just remember, yeah, it's 3-0, isn't it? 3-0. And they were massive underdogs as well.

1:09:23Ian Taylor:and there's no way we should have lost that game to them. I used to make a habit of that going in the away end when I wasn't playing. But that night, it's just shell-shocked. I even left my mates to go in the dressing room afterwards and went in the dressing room. Enkermans, he's just sat in the corner like that. Because there was a big debate whether he touched the ball or not, wouldn't it? And whether the throw was legal and whatnot. Did you touch it? did you touch it? I don't know. I don't know. And he was just gone. His head had gone. And he never recovered after that for a long, long time.

1:10:04Did you say anything? Were you vocal when you went to Nile? Were you just on bed?

1:10:08Ian Taylor:I was just in as much shock as everyone. I just wanted to know what happened to him. Do you know what I mean? Because we literally got bullied that night by them. And they were nowhere near us talent-wise. But they just bullied us. How did you get in the dressing room? did you have to make a phone call or did you literally just down the concourse or down the concourse yeah them days you could just up to secure they knew who you was and just let you in and I just got in the dressing room somehow but I was like did you touch it I don't know I don't know you must know you fucking touched it and he's like I just don't and he's white as a sheet honestly and and for them to beat us at that time it was just unheard of and and they've been living of it ever since.

1:10:53Ian Taylor:Yeah, and then they did it again to us at Villa Park not long after that with Dion getting sent off for headbutting Robbie Savage. Is that when he butted you? Do you know what I mean? And they just had the hex over us for a bit. Yeah, it's just horrible losing to them. I'm assuming with Enkub and you, you know, you backed off him and let him build his confidence back up. Yeah, you had to. I had to. Nobody called him polo foot or anything? No. No? I think I think I think I think maybe a few other things right but Polo about the insult Polo that's what we've got apparently there were a few people calling him Polo in training it's not your own no no I don't know if it's true that's what you're saying now mate we played against them when he was at Cardiff and he's come out he's like on the angle for a ball over the top and it stuck in my head that mistake I thought he's got a rick in him and he's going to clear it and he's he must have hit the foot before the ball and the ball's gone about three yards in front and I've got him there and just stuck him in the top corner yeah that's the only reason he remembers I know we'll cut that one but I do remember thinking he's got a rick in him this fuck but he did it again but he did it again again against Birmingham where a similar thing where he's had to come out Jeff Forsfield just bang and just rolls it into an empty net.

1:12:22Ian Taylor:And he just had this thing against Birmingham and it's like, like I said, they had the hex over us for a bit with those games. And I never played in one because I was either suspended or flipping injured. What about when you went to Derby? Did you ever play Birmingham? Yeah, no, I played Forrest because that was the big Derby. Scored in that one as well. Missed the penalty as well against Forrest, which didn't go down well at the time. But we still won the game, which was all right. It takes a bit of the edge off, doesn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that's a big game between them two. You're saying Gareth Barry were a dark horse?

1:13:01Did I say that? I'll confirm that was sad. Dark horse Gareth Barry? I thought Gareth Barry were quite sensible, Steve, from an outside perspective. It's a bit warm in here. Can you put the air gun on? we had someone he liked a night out Gareth on the quiet on the quiet

1:13:22Ian Taylor:there was a few like that I was like that to be fair yeah but just out the way yeah was there any particular players that you thought you know you used to have a bit of a in the centre of the park you thought this is going to be a good battle today a fight I wouldn't say a fight but battle wise yeah Vieira I used to love playing against because we were both big lads and used to have love having the battle with him played against Vinnie Jones that was a good battle see I can imagine the battle against Vieira being better than the one against Vinnie Jones because I think Vinnie had just like scythed your knee high yeah but his Patrick Vieira one would have been an half football I remember a welcome to football one with Vinnie Jones he clotheslined me just as I was trying to run past him just whack I was holding my neck for flipping five minutes after that but yeah him played against Jimmy Case when he was in his latter years I didn't have any vendettas against anyone no but somebody you enjoy maybe even one that you knew each other were going to have a right battle today well that's to be fair the era was because we met each other on holiday and this is quite funny because like I was with my present missus and we were I took her on a this is me being romantic I took on a surprise holiday to Mauritius, right?

1:14:50So we're on the plane and there's another couple

1:14:55Ian Taylor:who start talking to us, as you do when you go on holiday. And the one lad was from Nottingham and his wife was from London and they were going to the same place. So, you know, you pal up and like you do. The girl says, oh, I'm a massive Arsenal fan I am. You know, I've seen you play a few times. I said, oh, right, I think nothing of it. and we get to this hotel and we've gone we've gone for a bite to eat and the girls she's gone to the to the toilet and she's come back she's like oh my god you'll never guess who's in you'll never guess who's in the restaurant no you'll never guess she says Patrick Vieira's in the restaurant down there she's massive Arsenal fan so she's beside herself she's on the phone to her mum and it's that and the other and I'm thinking now I'm getting starstruck and I'm thinking no I've got to see I've got to see if it's him.

1:15:45I bet it's not. So I've gone to the toilet and I've clocked him. I'm thinking, bloody hell, it is him, it is him. So I've gone to the toilet and then on the way back from the toilet, I hear, tails, tails. And I've looked round and Patrick Vieira's shouting me. And I'm thinking, there's no way he's recognising me. And how many times have you played against him? Only a couple. Only a couple. So he's recognising me. The thing is there as well, you've seen him but now you've got to pretend that you've not seen him because he's called you. Oh, Patrick! Oh, Patrick! What are you doing here? What are you doing here?

1:16:20And he's with his missus. And then he says, oh, who are you here with us? I says, oh, we're with another couple. I'm with my girlfriend at the time. And he says, oh, I says, come and join us if you want. So he's come and joined this couple that we're with. They're sat there beside the silence thinking, we're with Patrick Vieira. They've forgotten all about me now. Patrick Vieira and and it ended up the lad ended up being best man at Patrick Vieira's wedding forgot about me did you get an invite that is Mendo they became best mates it weren't one of them hotels were adults only pineapple on table I know I was like and they were they were ringing us up saying oh we've just been invited on a private jet with Patrick that we're going to flipping can or wherever it is they're going and we're like oh cheers thanks for that just think if he hadn't been there you could have been oh mate could have been his best man I was ready after that every game we played there was a bit of banter going on it was hard to concentrate sometimes

1:17:27Ian Taylor:because then you're playing against a mate do you know what I mean you didn't want to kick and what not so it was weird that's crazy is anybody that you used to like high level players that used to enjoy playing against where you thought he's not going to stay with my runs or something where you thought you had his number? Oh, not that I can remember. Because every game was tough, mate. I used to enjoy playing against, just playing against top players. Do you know what I mean? Scalzi and that was the days of Keane and Vieira, even Gerrard as well, Frank Lampard. There were some top, top players that I was playing against.

1:18:07Ian Taylor:I mean Murs will always say you know I should have played for England but when you've got players of that calibre that you're up again we're on about that on Car don't wear down weren't we saying you got a tough pool weren't it tough pool in midfield central midfield top players mate and desperate to play for England but with that bunch you've got no chance have you really especially the likes of Lamps who's scoring goals for fun from midfield you know I mean Scolsey as well so yeah it was tough but I used to love playing against those kinds because you could measure yourself against those kinds of players and yeah did you never did you never come close to like getting a call reserved you always heard stuff but especially not officially do you know what I mean in a couple of seasons when you're scoring every week yeah there was always people saying oh you might get called up you might get called up but nothing nothing actually happens because back then they were the top four and then Villa were you seen as like the next team down one of them from the top four I'm thinking that season when like you were top up to Christmas and scoring every week in Europe there's always rumours but nothing concrete yeah nothing concrete loads of Villa fans get in touch about you following Villa in Europe last year oh no yeah poster boy weren't you yeah well we're fun at it's all good isn't it we're in it away end up Birmingham and whatever 18-30 rep as well on these away trips you got one of them courts with gobble now again mate I just I get the best of both worlds at Villa at the minute because you know all my mates go to the away games and you know I'll travel to away games with them but then I'll get me tie on and be official at Villa as well for the actual game and I'll do commentary and all that kind of stuff so I'll get I get the best of both so you know I'll get the night out with me with my mates and stuff but then I'll be official as well so but yeah Europe last year was something else the night before games and it's just being with the away fans did I see you singing in a pub did I see you singing once or twice I thought I saw you singing in a once or twice you know like something like Elton John honestly mate honestly it started off it started off with just me and my mates just going in a boozer and then all of a sudden people find out that you're in there and then all of a sudden there's like hundreds of people in there and then you get after they've had a few songs Taylor, Taylor give us a song Taylor so I ended up making a thing of it so I ended up getting on the table and getting getting everybody I thought I'd say and then starting the songs off but it's brilliant it's brilliant the banter's brilliant and the atmosphere was good and the fans love it but you're not buying a pint are you?

1:21:01I didn't didn't have to that's right See, I think I'm going with the right. A pub that's dead said to the barman, right, if I can get 300 people in here in the next half an hour, drinks are on the out. Do you know? And that does happen. That does happen. I can't remember.

1:21:20Ian Taylor:Was it PSG, I think, after that game? There was an official Villa bar and we're all in there. And then it finishes. And then me and my mates, we walk out. And we're walking down the road and one of my mates turns around and goes, Tiles, have you seen that? They've all followed us out the place. And we've gone into this bar. It couldn't have been any bigger than this place. And it was like that. It was empty when we walked in. And then it was just full of illophones because they'd followed us out of this one bar and into the next. That was on social media as well. Them all following us down the street.

1:21:58And it was nuts, mate. But the bar was like, oh, c 'est très bien, c 'est très bien. That must be a class for you though, class feeling.

1:22:05Ian Taylor:It is nice, mate, that they still appreciate myself. But they appreciate you just being one of them as well. And I always have been, do you know what I mean? I just managed to play for the team as well. But like I said, just got the same mates who are Villa fans and I still go drinking with them and I love it. It's brilliant. when it came to leaving Villa was it was a pushback from yourself I remember us we played it was Sunderland our last game at home and I think we played we played Leeds away the week before and the we were in the hotel the night before the Leeds game and Graham Taylor said oh you know Doug wants to have a chat with you so Doug had come to the hotel got in a room like this and just said, no, yeah, you know, you're coming to the end of your contract at the end of the season and we're not going to renew it and like, you know, you know when you kind of know it's coming but actually hearing the words it was like, I want to do that.

1:23:14Ian Taylor:But, yeah, I was gutted because it's my team and I didn't want to leave but you knew that that day was going to come but it was still hard to tell. And did they tell you this on the Friday night before the game on the Saturday? Yeah. And did you play in the game of the Saturday? I was sub. Oh. I was sub for that game, but I came on. And it was a surreal feeling as well. But I just remember at the end of the game going over to the away fans and I've been in tears and, you know, giving them the applause and everything. And a lot of fans, a lot of my mates who was there, they could see that something was...

1:23:48Ian Taylor:So it had not been med public at this point? No, no, no. Had he done that so that you could have that goodbye? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think so yeah but then we played Sunderland the last home game no sorry it was the other way round it was the other way round Sunderland was the week before and then Leeds was away the last game was Leeds away but if they'd have told me the week before when we were at home then I could have you know had a proper send off which they could have done by the way which they could have done I know which they could have done but yeah the good boys were away at Leeds with a smaller contingent do you know what I mean and you've gone on you've gone on to play another 150 games after leaving Villa yeah but you know if they'd came to you and said you know you're not going to feature we'll offer you another year you're going to be a bit part looking back do you think you'd have accepted that I probably would have I probably would have it probably would have been the wrong decision but I probably would have to be fair leaving then it made me say to myself you've got to take care of yourself a little bit more so I started to do stuff outside a villa training wise keep myself fit strength and conditioning and all that kind of stuff when i went to derby and um and like you say i played i played pretty much the next two years without any without any injuries so yeah it must have done well because a lot of derby fans from what got in touch with us are all doing high regard yeah i don't know honestly i had a great two years there.

1:25:19Ian Taylor:George Burley took me there. And it was after the likes of Ravanelli had left and Iranio, they had the big, big hitters there, didn't they? And they'd all gone. And he had to rebuild the team. And he saw me as the experienced player who could come in. And they'd brought a load of younger players in. Tom Woodlestone was bloody 16. And me and him playing in midfield. You know, I was nearly twice his age. Oh, I was twice his age. He was running as well. Yeah, yeah. But, yeah, I know. Come on, Tom, pull your finger. Honestly, I've never seen a passer like it, but what a player he was. But yeah, me and him playing in midfield and what a pleasure that was because he's a great lad and a good player as well.

1:26:07Was he missus a Forest fan or a Derby fan? He says she's from.

1:26:09Ian Taylor:A family's Forest. I know, a family's Forest. Not getting invited around for Sunday? honestly mate the stick because she's she's got hairdressers in nottingham oh she did have sorry and um she was getting stick off the derby fans in the flipping salon she told me and i was like bloody hell they're taking this a bit far ain't they we had a few run-ins with forest fans and i did have a few run-ins with forest players as well who were giving me stick about my missus as well yeah because obviously they're they were local they knew where my missus worked and everything so they're trying to give me a little bit of verbal during the game so uh yeah that didn't go down well either yeah you're weighing a few out yeah i heard you speak about this on the way down but if you missus opened the salon who would you want to come and open it iconic football i've heard you at the minute with that them locks david ginola i was just give him the call?

1:27:14To be fair, I was playing with him at the time and my missus says,

1:27:18Ian Taylor:because, yeah, he was doing the L 'Oreal adverts at the time, wasn't he? I'm woof it and all that balladha. Oh, will you ask David if he could open my salon for me? And you know when you're thinking, it's an awkward one for you, isn't it? I know, I know, because I'm thinking the minute I ask him, he's going to slaughter me and I plucked up the courage and I said, mate, David, missy's gonna open a salon in in nottingham and she wants you to you know cut the ribbon will you do it for me mate tails for you no problem no problem i was like you're joking mate he says yeah i'll come and do it and honestly he came up uh hassan cashel was um playing for us at the time as well and he came as well and uh was invited he didn't even have any air and then what are you doing here son just hold this ribbon for you that's the same scissors Hatchel and my missus said my missus said that she was telling loads of people and they were like nah he's not coming he's not coming and honestly he came the place was just full of women full of women he was getting women putting the phone numbers in his pocket and everything honestly I swear to God man didn't even have to try you might think that's how well than Good Tales that happens to me regular on those Saturday night in Barnsley yeah it's 999 the number isn't it crime watch

1:28:54but honestly I'll never have a bad word said about that guy because he didn't he didn't have to do that

1:28:59Ian Taylor:at all and he came and opened it it was massive success and I love him to death for it I bet it got you some downy points in the house didn't it oh mate Jesus I won't tell you what happened that noise.

1:29:14She didn't put a number in damage. I had to get it out. On a piece of string. Whoa. But honestly, you know, he's a top man. He's brilliant. Really, really good.

1:29:29Quick break in play, gents, because we've teamed up with The Invincible Studio. Do you know what it is? No. Well, let me tell you. It's a new game. and it's Soccer Manager 2026. Right. You can control some of the biggest clubs in Europe. We're talking Man City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona. You can take charge of them, manage them through the season or you can take on a little club and take them to the heights of the Champions League. I think that's the way I'll go. Yeah, I always like doing that. Well, for this season's game, we've also managed to wangle ourselves into the new, they've done like a comedy section cards.

1:30:06So you can sign a few. few ringers ringers from out the game and we're on it and we've been added so people can still sign us we're in the game before we give the all clear get the stats up we've got some stats here John yeah 6 foot 3 no 6 foot 4 alright right footed yeah but can use my left striker yes can play centre half age 43 yes parking 31 on your shirt yeah I've had to the parking 31 at York weight 130 kilograms Grams? Give a tech. Do you know how heavy that is? Have you Googled it? 130 snotters. I've finished playing at probably one... I've probably finished playing at 112, 113. What did you say?

1:30:56Give a tech?

1:31:01Six foot two? No, six foot four. 70 kilograms, you are dead. 93 I am right footed striker age 40 brown 9 yeah nearly right you're not on there I'm on here Chris height 5 foot weight which is national average may I add 104 kilograms oh no 70 well they know you've just been on holiday don't they preferred foot so they don't even think you've got a good foot right yeah right with stronger stronger foot position right wing yeah there's no place up front is there no could play left wing and cut in yeah birthday displays age at 41 yeah shirt name little Chris squad number minus zero I'll be very surprised if somebody signs you I'll be honest yeah unless they're wanting to get the sack if they're wanting to get the sack and get a pay up I think they might sign you and put you on right wing I have do you want to have a scroll down that our images are on there.

1:32:09That's 23 kilograms on its own there. Let's get them up on the screen. Where's your flipping Photoshop? That's outrageous. You're like a duck. It's actually the same shape as mine, though, as well. How have they done that? Overall score is 68, 67, 65. so I'm only one point behind you. That's two. I can't be 68, M67 and you 65. I think that's about right. Nipping in front right wing. They want to come and sing in in some of these charity games we've played in. The matches are powered by realistic match motion engine, which is above my pay grade, but it sounds good. Yeah, sounds impressive. I don't have a clue what you've just said.

1:32:55It gives you full control over your team as you guide them to glory, or in our case, if you sign those, relegation probably. So yeah, download Soccer Manager 2026. Now from Google Play, Steam or... The App Store. The App Store. It's worth downloading just to see the Photoshop they've done on my Fiesta. When you went to Derby, were you happy to drop down? Were there any clubs in the Prem that were interested?

1:33:25Ian Taylor:I think QPR was one, but I went to London, yeah. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, Derby was perfect, to be honest, just because it was on the doorstep. Was that a similar decision-making when you went to Northampton? Yeah, and to be fair, because Colin Calderwood was the manager and I'd played with him at Villa, and he said to me, he said, look, if you come, we'll get promoted. And I said, you sure? He says, look, I'm building a good team. We've got some good young players. and if you come in, you'll have that experience and we've got a chance of getting promoted. And we did. And we did. And there I played with Luke Chambers, who was only a kid, Bradley Johnson, who was only a kid, Daichi was at the back.

1:34:20Ian Taylor:Were you playing that game when he'd done that tackle? Which one? Jesus Christ. Is Lucky's not still in prison for it? I don't know. but a tackle for Northampton Sean Daish and it is one of the worst you've ever seen and he just gets up and puts his hand up oh yeah he would do that yeah except in the yellow he would do that and he'd do that walk away wouldn't he probably could have accepted six months at the time yeah he won't yeah he did like a tackle Deitchie yeah but yeah Deitchie was at the Ian Jeff was there as well Chris Doig but yeah again it was a good bunch of lads do you know what I mean and and I love I love being at Northampton as well because I'd pretty much gone from there up to there and then finished there.

1:35:03Ian Taylor:Do you know what I mean? But I loved it because, again, we achieved something and got the club promoted in the end. So it was brilliant. What happens when you're an experienced pro but yet you're a born entertainment manager? Are you still adopting that role in the Northampton dressing room? Kind of, yeah, because we had a few Christmas parties that we organised. well like me and Daichi and he and Jess organised and it was fancy dress I ended up spending the night in a prison cell the one Christmas do what did you go out as a robber

1:35:49I knocked on the wrong police car windows do you know what I mean and trying to take the piss and I was like in the back of the van I was like what? That is getting us promoted See that?

1:36:07Ian Taylor:No I don't know it was near the end of the night you know when all the police vans are around and stuff and we're on the way home and you know when you just walk up and you're like alright mate are you doing your right? And I just picked on the wrong one who had a bit of an attitude and Just to paint a picture what what fancy dress have you got? Oh, what did I go as? I think I was a superhero. It's a big, big skull full of coffee. Went to super that night. Finally got the joke. I think, was it Spider-Man or something? Do you know, I can't, I can't remember that either. But I just remember, and, and they're going down the window and it was one of those, move along, move along.

1:36:49I said, who's pissed in your pocket? That's all I said. And then, and then it was one of them back of the van and see you next morning, lads. Was there a minute where you've sat in the back of the car dressed as Spider-Man thinking, I'm fucking fair and fine at five years old? At my age as well. Taking your gloves off at that. Yeah, yeah. Putting your webs on the floor.

1:37:17Hanging your webs off. I'll tell you what. There's not many people that know this, by the way. They're going to know it now. but yeah I didn't see the lads till the next day and he's like where the hell were you but yeah Northampton was good to be fair I loved that as well Sounds like you just enjoyed everything about being a footballer Yeah because everywhere I went it was it was good do you know what I mean so I never really had

1:37:47Ian Taylor:that many down times or bad times at a football club maybe only Sheffield Wednesday when I had to leave there. But then it was going to Villa. Actually, packing in football was probably one of the worst as well, really. One of them will want to just play as long as I could at whatever level. Yeah, yeah. In the end, yeah, it was just the body giving up on you really. And I was all right to play on the weekend, but it was just training during the week and going down to Northampton. A bit bleak Northampton was in the winter. But yeah, it's just the training. part of things and because i was traveling as well because it's like just over an hour from where i lived to be fair the big one of the biggest things was when you get the young young players trying to take the mickey out yeah do you know what i mean when when they're starting to do tricks and stuff and you're like yeah half a yard slower there do you know what i mean and that's that was one of the biggest things as well that uh there's a little bit of a lack of respect from some of the younger players but if I've got a thing fair play to him you're like not sure about it you want to do that but you can't catch him that's a problem this might be a hypothetical hypothetical question but you know when you were in your prime at Villa say if a top four team would you have come in for you would you have gone I knew you were going to ask that it depends who to be fair they'll go throw him

1:39:23we'll keep going do you know I don't know because my prime at Villa was only just outside of that

1:39:32Ian Taylor:so I don't know double your money I don't know about that bottom four

1:39:41double your money of course I'd have gone

1:39:48he'd have been on strike like he's like fuck you John Gregory fuck you I'm sorry Brian I would have shot him

1:39:59I know you fetch me and Brian but fuck you did you ever want to go into management?

1:40:05Ian Taylor:no no I saw what it did to other managers mate and managing managing coaching it's not for me Did you have a plan when you finished? Did I have a plan? Not really. To be fair, when I was at Northampton, I had an agent approach me about, you know, looking after young or recruiting younger players. And I did that for a while. I liked it, to be fair, and being a mentor to younger players who then go on to, you know, for us to represent them. And I quite liked that. But then, you know, as it went on, starting to actually look after players. There was no loyalty from players, especially. Yeah. And clubs as well.

1:40:55Ian Taylor:It's a dark world, isn't it, being an agent and working in that world. There's transfer window. You can imagine what's happening behind the scenes. But I saw some of that firsthand, not just from clubs, but from players as well. and I didn't I grew not to like it so then you know I started to sort of build my own businesses instead Did I say something about some headphones? I only saw it today Have you got your own headphone company? Yeah I've got my own headphone brand It just so happens I've got some here I'm just bloody boss See then what you've got in your ear mate Got some Yeah These are What are they called?

1:41:39Ian Taylor:It's IT7 Audio if you give us one each then we won't cut that bit out there the bloody batch the batch is brilliant 100 % still on these I can arrange for you to have some lads if you want but yeah to be fair probably yeah it's probably over 10 years I've been doing that now but I literally had it's Villa Villa connection again it's guys who Villa fans that were manufacturers in different headphones and earphones and stuff. And I was with Villa on an ambassadorial role in Hong Kong. And these guys go to Hong Kong to source products and everything, had an office out there and whatnot. And we did an event in Hong Kong and these guys came along to him.

1:42:29Ian Taylor:We're just chatting over a few Jager bombs. And that's the truth. and I said what do you think to starting a headphone brand that sounds like the conversation after six or seven Yeagerbombs yeah yeah it was yeah go on then line them up it'll be out till Christmas yeah just still toppling over by the time by the time that bar of Yeagerbombs is done they'll be in production but yeah they said yeah do you want to start and we had a chat when we got back and we started the brand and patented it and everything so it's out there on Amazon but yeah and it's a nice thing it's just a nice thing to have is there a website as well yeah yeah it7audio.co.uk send it to Chrissie and we'll pull it yeah I've got a company where I bring academies from all over the world to play academies in the UK as well.

1:43:36Ian Taylor:It's not to find players or anything like that. It's just to give, you know, there's a lot, for instance, there's a lot of clubs in America at a decent standard, just under MLS standard, who like to travel and like to come to, you know, to Europe and whatnot. And it's only when you go to America and you see the kids and they talk about the Premier League like they do. It's like seen as the mecca. And so we give them the opportunity to come over and see it all and to play against your Liverpools and your Man Uniteds and your Man Cities. That's class for the young pup. Yeah, it's brilliant. It's brilliant.

1:44:17Ian Taylor:So, yeah, we've had tournaments at St George's Park and Liverpool's won. We've got the next one at Derby County as well. Last one from me. Would you rather be a Premier League footballer now and get the money or a Premier League footballer when you were there and made good money but enjoyed your life as well? Back then. Yeah. Not change it? No, because there's no way you could live your life like that then now. And I like to go and enjoy myself and, you know, without somebody taking a picture or a bloody video. Unless you're on a table in a pub in Paris. When it's under your terms, yeah. Get your phone to the number.

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1:46:56Ian Taylor:what does me about football these days you don't know what kind of personalities players have got because you're not allowed to are you they're all robots and they're probably not when you get to know them but they're not allowed to get the personalities like bloody Jack do you know I was just going to say that like my old mate Jack Grealish and he's so misunderstood is the nicest guy you'd ever meet who just likes to have a good time with his mates and he gets a raw deal. I mean, if I won the treble, I think I'd go out every night for a month and all. But you're not allowed to do that now, are you?

1:47:29Never fucking had a play, never kicked a ball, really since, did he, for Man City? It's unreal. I know you say some of them probably have got personalities behind the scenes, but I think a lot of them will evolve to not have personalities because they can't.

1:47:44Ian Taylor:Yeah, exactly. then that's what I'm saying. The personality will never come out. And that's what I'm saying. That's sad. It is sad. But yeah, to answer your question, give me back then all day long. I love it when them videos get released of them pissed up. Did you see Oasis? Somebody in Colour who was like, I love City, I do. It was absolutely steaming. But why shouldn't it be? I know. Brilliant. That's the thing, you can't be just a normal person. You know what I mean? The man in the street he goes, pissed every other week, doesn't he? And, you know, end of the, you know, Friday, you're out.

1:48:21Ian Taylor:That's what, because I used to be like that myself. Friday, lads, where are we going tonight? Do you know what I mean? And this is when I'm playing on a Saturday as well, non-league. We used to be out on a Friday and that's what you do as a working person. It's just, it's what you work for, isn't it? To have a good time. And with no reason, you're not allowed to. You're still working all week, aren't you? Yeah. If there's an impromptu all day tomorrow who you're ringing from all the players that you played with give us three Mark Draper Tommy Johnson can't be David any he's just opening doors no I'll be feeding off his knockdowns there's a few of them numbers can we have my last two numbers please David who else who else who else I'd probably say Des Des Walker there's Walker because he looked after me he used to come he used to come out to train a cup of coffee what in the back he'd come out finish his cup he took his cup and then and then train nuts mate it's mad that you were like one of the best federares yeah I know when I got to Wednesday I was like you smoke because he was rapid wasn't he yeah yeah Never beat Des Walker.

1:49:44Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And it's funny, there's loads of lads that had a good old chuff. It's mad. Chuff, I love that word. I saw one on his. It's mad, but when you think, when you go into football, you think, oh yeah, it was clean living and this, that and the other. It was the bloody opposite. I think it was when a lot of foreigners came off of it, weren't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Foreigners, like the English lads would get pissed and have a kebab and the foreigners would sit with a coffee or a red wine and a Marlboro light. And the old snush. Yeah, that's good stuff. You're a Guinness man. I do now, yeah.

1:50:19Ian Taylor:I do now. When I went to Villa, we had loads of Irish players. Ray Outen. Well, adopted Irish anyway. Ray Outen, Andy Townsend, Steve Staunton, Paul McGrath. And there were loads. So sometimes we'd play on a Saturday, get a flight, go over to Dublin, and they have a couple of nights in dublin and then come back to training on the monday warning early flight yeah early flight straight to training on a monday morning like dublin was just off the scale off the scale especially when like you know you're a villa player then you're a villa man united or liverpool then you just and you're out with unbelievable unbelievable and yeah so we just opt on a flight and went out there and just had a great night or a couple of great nights and back on Monday so bleary eyed tough on that getting up though for the flight to get to training we weren't bothered we weren't bothered it was that good we weren't bothered the one time me was it Charlo me Charlo drapes definitely drapes you know I said talking about money pennies earlier they used to have these these one-off parties in like they'd hire a stately home out and just have these like raves and like I said I knew all the lads who organised it and they'd give us VIP so the one time we organised and they're always on a Sunday yeah let's get a limo we'll get a limo to this one and I think it was in Leeds this one yeah it was in Leeds so we got a limo go to this party and there was always an after party afterwards bearing in mind the next day is Monday when we got training so So we get the limo, go up to this party.

1:52:13It's an unbelievable party. But we've decided to stay for the after party

1:52:18Ian Taylor:because the main do finishes at 12. After parties obviously goes on then. And are you going to get the driver to fetch you down that night? Yes. Yeah. The after party's done. We're all thinking, yeah, we'll get the car back. Get home. Get home, get changed. We'll be all right to get to training. we've all fallen asleep in the limo. One of the lads gave the driver the training ground address.

1:52:52So we're all asleep in the limo. Drivers, lads, lads, rear, rear. He's driven into the training ground. Big white limousine. Ask Andy, if you get Andy Townsend on, they're all training when we've rocked up we got stuck in traffic because we don't know this got stuck in traffic we were oblivious so we're late so we're late and where Villa was they used to do you know all the fast feet with the cones and everything part of the training game right in front of the dressing room was where they did it so and right by the car park so he's pulled up here the lads are training here so we've opened we've opened the doors all the lads have stopped training and they're all they're all watching us get out of this limo who's first out because I just imagine you know just open door like kick somebody back oh fuck yeah I know I know I can't you know I can't even remember who was first out well I just remember fine fine fine fine and the lads were pissing themselves laughing pissing themselves laughing that's when your stomach drops innit obviously you're still in your gear

1:54:10Spiderman outfit and everything. Get me out of here.

1:54:18It's one of them, if you won on the Saturday, fine. Well, this is it. And that's the thing, at that time, we were doing quite well. So generally you did get away with stuff that you wouldn't get away with. It's getting away with stuff, but turning up to training like Rolling Stones. like Richard Gere bottle of champagne just rolled out that's what he better off doing just hopping in the sunroof and getting a like Richard Gere when he does it with the flowers and pretty woman is that your last one either that you open no you stay there yeah yeah I might have gone with the old drive shut the door and drive let the rest of the lads get out well brilliant top man mate thank you very much for that thank you very much no worries thanks for having me on We'll see you next time.