Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE ONLY WAY IS UP Cast out by United, Taylor’s taking off again and loving life at League Two Vale
JAKE TAYLOR was left in tears when released by his boyhood team Manchester United.
But the young midfielder is working his way back up after overcoming the initial heartbreak of failing to make the grade five years ago. None of his peers who also trained with United from age nine to 16 remain at Old Trafford either. Many have been lost to the professional game altogether.
But Taylor has stuck at it after going to Championship side Nottingham Forest via trials with Spurs and Blackburn.
He is now relishing his first taste of senior football out on loan at League Two Port Vale, who host Carlisle today.
Taylor has scored four times in all competitions, including a screamer – his first league goal – from the edge of the box that his hero Paul Scholes (inset) would have been proud of. Taylor said: “I was at United all my schoolboy years and it was brilliant – the facilities they have and the coaches they have.
“You are living your dream as a schoolboy playing for your boyhood club. But it didn’t turn out the way I wanted when it came to the scholarships.
“They have scouts worldwide now, that is how tough it is to get through. But I had a good grounding at United and the aim remains to play at the highest level.
“I remember they had a parents’ evening and they called my dad in to give the decision.
“It wasn’t to me personally, but he told me the news in the car after training. I broke down in tears.
“He asked the question: ‘Do you want to carry on?’ and I was like: ‘Yeah definitely,’ because there is life after Manchester United. I thought: ‘I am not giving up on this.’
“I was one of four or five that did not get kept on and the rest did the scholarships. But as of this day none of them are still there.”
Taylor credits Forest’s youth team chief Gary Brazil with helping him shape up since he was cannily signed on a free. It has seen Taylor adjust impressively to the pace and physicality of league football since stepping up from Forest’s U-23s.
This term Taylor has shone playing on the left of midfield in a 4-3-3 formation for John Askey’s Vale, and is encouraged to get forward.
Taylor is now due to go back to Championship promotion hopefuls Forest in January to re-assess his future.
He added: “Forest did a lot of work on the other side of my game, the physical side, and it has stood me in good stead. I wasn’t as fit as I am now.
“As a schoolboy at United we trained Tuesday and Thursday, played on a Saturday, and then trained Sunday. “But it was all ball work and before the age of 16 I had never set foot in a gym, so going to Forest was a wake-up call.
“They installed that work-rate and work ethic, and it has helped me get ready for first team football at Vale, which I am enjoying a lot.
“Goalscoring is important and as a midfielder I try to chip in with goals to help the forwards out.
“Paul Scholes was one of the best there was at it, and it was an honour to watch him live while I was at United.”