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During the summer of 2021, Sunderland AFC explored the possibility of signing Glen Taylor, a prolific striker from non-league football, as they prepared for their League One campaign. Following their relegation from the Championship, the Black Cats sought to strengthen their squad under new manager Lee Johnson. A pre-season friendly against Spennymoor Town, where Taylor showcased his skills, sparked interest from Sunderland’s recruitment team.
Glen Taylor said: “We played a friendly and I played against Flanagan and Wright, who have decent pedigree. I battered them for the first-half – although they’ll probably not have been that bothered playing against Spennymoor. Lee Johnson came over to me at half-time and asked my age. I told him I was 30 and he said ‘if only you were younger big man’. Then Jamie Chandler is good friends with Kevin Ball and I think Sunderland were struggling to get a forward and three or four weeks later Jamie said they were actually talking about me.”
Despite not scoring in the 2-2 draw, Taylor’s performance left a lasting impression on Sunderland’s management. Lee Johnson’s inquiry about Taylor’s age highlighted the club’s interest, albeit tempered by concerns over his age. Taylor, a lifelong Sunderland fan, later revealed that conversations about him took place within the club as they sought to bolster their attacking options.
Taylor’s contributions to non-league football have been widely recognized, earning him the North East Football Writers Association’s inaugural ‘Non-League Personality of the Year’ award, now known as ‘The Dicka Award’. This accolade honors Paul Dixon’s extensive contributions to the game over the last 50 years. Taylor expressed admiration for Dixon, recalling memories of listening to Dixon’s broadcasts on BBC Newcastle and the impact it had on his football journey.
The potential move for Taylor underscored Sunderland’s strategy of scouting talent from various levels of football to aid their return to higher divisions. While the transfer did not materialize, it highlighted the club’s commitment to exploring diverse recruitment avenues to enhance their squad.
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