9th April 1918

Wolverhampton

Defender

Dick Taylor was a wartime guest player for Exeter City during 1944/45 when, as the situation eased, a number of games were organised to constitute the first football played by the club since 1939. On the books of Grimsby before and after the war, he managed Aston Villa in the 1960s. 

Dick was an amateur with Wolverhampton Wanderers before signing for Grimsby Town in 1938 with whom he officially remained until after war as he eventually made 36 league appearances. 

Guesting in wartime football, Dick appeared for Exeter City in a 4-1 win against the Royal Marines in February 1945.

Moving to Scunthorpe of the Midland League in 1948 at the age of 30, he played regular first-team football for five seasons as the club began life in the Football League in 1950. 

After retiring as a player Dick joined Scunthorpe's coaching staff before moving to Sheffield United in 1956 to work under manager Joe Mercer. Following his mentor to Aston Villa, he eventually took over as manager when Mercer stepped down due to ill-health. At the helm at Villa Park between 1964 and 1967, Dick retired from football and, after running a sports shop, died in 1995.