Newcastle United stalwart Steven Taylor endured a baptism of fireside on his first group debut for the membership in 2004, developing in opposition to Samuel Eto’o within the UEFA Cup final 16.
Although Newcastle have been already 6-1 forward on mixture because the second leg entered the ultimate levels on the Estadi Municipal de Son Moi in Mallorca, Taylor nonetheless felt the strain having to return up in opposition to the African Participant of the Yr.
Substituted on for Andy O’Brien within the 81st minute, Taylor turned the youngest Newcastle debutant in European competitors within the 2000s, on the age of simply 18. Luckily, Eto’o did not get a possibility to go away him red-faced, whereas Alan Shearer added one other to additional lengthen the Magpies’ lead.
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor debuts in opposition to Samuel Eto’o
“I didn’t wish to be the academy child who got here in, performed one recreation after which was forgotten about,” Taylor tells FourFourTwo. “I at all times believed that after I obtained an opportunity, I’d be there to remain.
“Once I noticed Samuel Eto’o, I assumed, ‘Wow, that is the kind of participant I wish to compete in opposition to’. I cherished the problem. I swapped shirts with him after and I’ve nonetheless obtained his. Mine? He in all probability used it to scrub his home windows!”
Taylor quickly established himself within the Newcastle first group, enjoying repeatedly earlier than the important thing season of 2006/07, when he made 44 appearances in complete in all competitions. He finally spent 13 seasons within the senior facet till his departure in 2016, having made 268 appearances total.
When reflecting on his memorable highs and lows on the membership, Taylor is unequivocal in his reply.
“An enormous excessive was beating Sunderland 3-2 at St James’ Park when Emre scored the winner from a free-kick,” Taylor says. “It was a dream feeling. For me, nothing can compete with scoring my first objective, in opposition to Celta Vigo. St James’ is the perfect – even going again now, the ambiance is unbelievable.
“The lows have been struggling relegation. The primary time, in 2008/09, was the toughest one to take.”
