The name won't be familiar to some of you but I was really saddened this morning to learn that Jeff Taylor has passed away.

Jeff worked in the youth department for many years at Burnley, heading the scouting team and generally being a really decent person who I thought the world of.

He left in the Blake era and despite by then being in his 70s he took a job with Blackburn Rovers much to my disgust and I always let him know when I saw him.

I know he's been ill for some time and I got the impression from Stuart Harvey recently that things really weren't good.

A lovely man and my thoughts are with Jeff's family and friends today who I haven't seen since before a game in 2019/20 when he came past our Clarets for Foodbanks bin with Andy Farrell.

I met Jeff a couple of times, we was really enthusiastic about the development of young players and showed me around Gawthorpe (as it was then) to watch some of the youngsters play and identified some potential for me to look out for.

Thinking about it, that was almost 10 years ago, they’ll be teenagers now and I don’t think I’ve seen them in in any reports for the U18’s and U23’s. One was a relative of Paul Scholes, and another I think was the grandson of Jimmy McIlroy. Not sure what happened to them, if they are still at the club or moved on.

Anyway, I liked Jeff, he was one of those who would talk to you like he’s known you for years. He seemed well respected by everyone around him.

That’s really sad news. I was just thinking about him the other day. I reported to Jeff as an U16s scout for the club during the Waddle and ST days. Lovely chap was Jeff and put a hell of a lot of work and unpaid man hours into bringing youngsters to the club. I’ll always be grateful to him for what he did for me and the club. I know the other scouts of my era will be sad to read this news. I hope the club can show they’re respects to his memory in some way. Rest in peace Jeff, it was a pleasure to know you. My sincere condolences to all his family and friends.

That's really sad. I reported to Jeff for a while whilst working at the club. A lovely man who gave a lot of hours to Burnley Football Club. Thoughts with his family and friends at this sad time

RIP

Thoughts with his family and loved ones.

Lovely bloke was Jeff.

RIP

I omitted to add CT that when he was presented with the award that you organised for him at the players evening several seasons ago he was absolutely made up.

Very sad news ,Jeff was great servant, all ways had a smile and made everyone welcome at Gawthorpe .
Last time I spoke to him a few years ago now , he had just driven past Disraeli St and was telling his wife how kids used to get changed in the old sub station ,
One of life's gentlemen.

R.I.P. Jeff Taylor. Condolences to all his family.

Really sad news about Jeff. He was a tremendous supporter of the Lancashire Schools' Football Association both as a scout and as a friend of all connected with schools' football. Wherever and whenever there was a county game or a schools' tournament Jeff would almost invariably be there and always completed his scouting work in a pleasant and friendly manner without being at all intrusive. Jeff will be greatly missed by many many people. RIP Jeff.

I played for the Centre of Excellence until 16. Unfortunately I wasn't offered an apprenticeship but always remember Jeff being around on Sundays and seeing his friendly face talking to people. Always seemed mild-mannered and spoke in a correct way. The complete opposite of some of the managers at the time screaming and balling acting like big timers thinking they were trying to win a championship or something.
Thanks Jeff for treating me well.
R.I.P.

Never heard of this Claret, however, if is very obvious from all posts, just what a man he was and the positive mark he made on people and the club.

My condolences to Mr Taylor's family and my thanks for his contribution to our wellbeing.

RIP buddy - I scouted for Burnley for a two year period along with TYBFC and I reported to him as the South Manchester scout.

Jeff never wore any thing relating to Burnley whilst scouting which was his style and allowed him to slip under the radar in the days when all the other club scouts were wearing full training sponsored kits.

You’ll always be a claret.

It would be appreciated if anyone has information about Jeff's funeral / donations etc.

So much to say, about a generous, calm, gentleman.

When Jeff got involved in the "Youth Setup" I am told it was barely more than the junior clarets on the wooden floor, in the sports hall behind the turf. He, along with 1 or 2 other people, went about trying to improve it, building links with local clubs, and trying to find a way of getting players to come and try out at a club that had no youth setup. He put so many hours in unpaid, to build and build the setup, recruiting the occasional coach, the occasional scout and making links with the odd club. One of those early links was with Barrowford Celtic (I think) which yielded Jay Rodriguez joining the club, along with a couple of people who would help out with profile and scouting, in Kiko Rodriguez and Jeff Smith. Year on year, he added more and more, all unpaid, and was the one who added a personal touch in picking ups and dropping off players arriving at the airport, from contacts built up in Ireland and elsewhere. He eventually took the role of head of recruitment, and helped all of us involved on the journey, with his experience, and calming nature. He diffused situations and always had a word for everybody if he felt you were a little bit low.

Jeff was from the Bolton area originally, and loved to tell tales of Nat Lofthouse, especially if he found out that kids we had brought in, and their parents were Bolton fans. We signed players from that area, we shouldn't really have done, through the hard work of the lead scout, and some of Jeff's words and stories. He was an integral part of creating a family feel, of ensuring that people were treated fairly and with respect, for many many years.

I was very sad when I heard the news of his illness recently, I'd not really seen him since I stopped scouting 9 years ago, but he's always somebody I will remember fondly, for his attitude and approach to life. RIP Jeff, you will be missed.

What lovely words Dan

RIP.

Does anyone know the details of Jeff's funeral ?

MT03ALG wrote: ↑

Thu May 27, 2021 2:45 pm

Does anyone know the details of Jeff's funeral ?

Yes it's a week on Monday but just for close friends & family.

Thanks Andingle. I would like to send a condolence card. Do you know who the Undertakers are ?