Bristol Rovers

From Rovers to City: Anger cascades onto striker Matty Taylor

Former Bristol Rovers striker, Matty Taylor has been in the spotlight recently after becoming only the second player to move from Rovers to Championship side and rivals, Bristol City since 1987.

The uproar began on deadline day when Bristol City signed Bristol Rovers’ top goalscorer, Matty Taylor, for just £300,000. Once reality dawned, the reactions from the Bristol Rovers fans came as somewhat of a comedic act for the City. Some still did not believe that the signing was 100% true and continued to hope that it was just a hoax.

Towards the summer transfer window back in 2016,  Taylor signed a new deal to extend his time at the newly promoted club. It was only days earlier that Bristol Rovers announced a new signing; Peterborough United striker, Luke James on a long season loan. James’ role was initially for replacing Matty Taylor as the possibility of him leaving on a free transfer in the window seemed likely. Taylor wanted to show his passion and loyalty to the club although various other teams in League One were seeking for the striker. Manager Darrell Clarke has confirmed that Luke James will be featured in the squad more now that Taylor has left.

From being a Non-League team, to back to back promotions, Matty Taylor’s contribution to the team has been exceptional. He scored a total of 61 goals in 118 appearances for the Pirates. He is an amazing striker who wanted to play at the highest level possible, he wanted a challenge for himself, hence why making his move to Bristol City. The move was simple for him. It’s clear that he may not have wanted to move cities and instead chose to stay close to home. He has settled in Bristol with his family and receiving higher wages is what made the move fairly easy for the striker.

He made his first appearance at his new club yesterday, coming on at the 58th minute for defender Mark Little.

I see criticism all the time when something happens in any sport, but this “criticism” he received was deemed to be inappropriate and was taken too far. A vast majority of fans called him a “snake” and I see why fans are in disbelief and upset with the news. It’s unfortunate that he has gone to a rival club, but at the end of the day, it’s clear that he is old enough to make it is his own decision with what he wants to make out of his football career. As a Bristol Rovers fan myself, I don’t agree with the large majority of fans who have given him this abuse for it. I just think that all fans now should respect his decision and let him move on with his career. No player should be made to feel unsafe in public and have to watch a sea of fans from his former club make him feel so uncomfortable.

Feature Image Credit: Chris Clements at English Wikipedia

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