Our first move into the transfer market during the 2021 close season saw Jake Taylor come in from League Two rivals Exeter City; the tenacious midfielder arriving just two weeks after our 2020-1 campaign had come to an end. It’s a move that highlighted two things. He saw it all during his time with us too. From the depths of the 2021-2 campaign to the dizzying highs of the following season, Taylor was a reliable presence for us. But boss Steve Evans took a different direction in summer 2023 – and the midfielder was allowed to leave.
Taylor’s experience spoke for itself when he signed on at the Lamex. In his five-year stay at St James’ Park, he featured in no less than three playoff finals with the Grecians. And his aim at Boro’ was to do the same. “Stevenage have been on a really good run of form since January, revealed the midfielder. “And I want to help build on that. It’s a new challenge for me. I had a fantastic time at Exeter City, but it was important for me to experience something else.
Jake Taylor: Before Boro’
Taylor’s career started out at Reading; a side relatively local to the Ascot-born player. He first joined the Royals at the tender age of eight-years-old and was on their books for 17 years. By impressing in their youth sides, Taylor made his Reading debut in August 2010. But it’d be on loan that he’d gain most of his experience in the early part of his senior career. One of his first spells away from the Madejski included a first stint with the Grecians.
After four loan spells around the Football League, a chance presented itself back at Reading in October 2013. He was in and around the first team squad that season and did enough to earn himself a new deal at the end of the 2013-4 campaign. The following season, however, saw the midfielder back out on loan; signing for Leyton Orient in March 2015. Five months later, Taylor went north of the border and joined Scottish Premiership side Motherwell on loan.
His time in Scotland was cut short, however, as the Royals recalled him in January 2016. Why? We’re not sure. But it was at that time Taylor moved onto pastures new (for good) when Exeter signed him on a free. In his time with the Grecians, he served as club captain from 2018 until it was time to come to us. And he established himself as a constant and dominant present in the Devon club’s midfield; helping them challenge at the top of the table for his entire time there.
