playoffs in 1995/96. Blackburn Rovers Taylor joined the defending Premier League champions to work alongside England Physiotherapist Alan Smith and it was at this time he first worked with Roy Hodgson, proving influential due to Hodgson's previous exposure to sports science in Italy. During his time at Ewood Park, Taylor also worked under Brian Kidd and Graeme Souness and experienced 2 European campaigns. Bolton Wanderers Bolton's return to the top flight coincided with Sam Allardyce re-joining forces with Taylor and appointing him as Head of Sports Science and Medicine. They believed innovation in sport could offer a performance advantage and they set about investing in one of the most respected sports science and medical teams in the Premier League. Highlights included 4 consecutive top 10 finishes, 2 UEFA Cup campaigns and a League Cup final appearance. It was during Bolton's most successful period in modern history that Taylor became instrumental in player recruitment with players such as Fernando Hierro, Ivan Campo and Youri Djorkaeff based at the Euxton Lane training ground. Newcastle United After Allardyce became manager of The Magpies, Taylor was appointed Head of Sports Medicine and Science on Tyneside. Fulham Being reunited with Roy Hodgson once more as Head of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science, Taylor oversaw Fulham's most successful period in modern history building a department that achieved unrivalled results in injury prevention. Fulham peaked reaching the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final. Promoted to board director in 2012 and becoming Performance Director, Taylor worked closely alongside Mark Hughes who believed "this club is at the cutting edge of the modern game. Mark Taylor is Head of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science and he's the most qualified of his type. Mark and his team can give you the extra one or two per cent that can make a difference on a Saturday afternoon". Sunderland On 22 October 2015 Taylor was once again re-united with Sam Allardyce where he was appointed in the role of Performance Director for Sunderland. Having achieved the objective of avoiding relegation with Sunderland AFC and Sam Allardyce being appointed the new English manager, Taylor was linked with a move to the national team, but Allardyce's reign as managers was cut short. References Bibliography Taylor's profile at Soccerbase 1964 births Living people Footballers from Hartlepool English footballers Association football wingers Hartlepool United F.C. players Crewe Alexandra F.C. players Blackpool F.C. players Cardiff City F.C. players