George Taft

George William Taft (born 29 July 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back or left back for League Two club Cambridge United.

George Taft
Taft playing for York City in 2013
Personal information
Full name George William Taft[1]
Date of birth (1993-07-29) 29 July 1993[2]
Place of birth Leicester, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Playing position(s) Centre back / Left back[4]
Club information
Current team
 Cambridge United
Number 4
Youth career
0000–2011 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Leicester City 0 (0)
2011 → Kettering Town (loan) 14 (0)
2012 → Karlstad BK (loan) 12 (0)
2013 → York City (loan) 3 (0)
2014–2016 Burton Albion 30 (1)
2015 → Cambridge United (loan) 11 (1)
2016–2018 Mansfield Town 13 (0)
2017–2018 → Cambridge United (loan) 10 (0)
2018 → Cambridge United (loan) 18 (1)
2018– Cambridge United 64 (3)
National team
2010 England U18 1 (1)
2011 England U19 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:04, 9 April 2020 (UTC)

A graduate of Leicester City's youth academy, Taft failed to break into the first team and was loaned out to Kettering Town, Karlstad BK and York City. In 2014, he joined League Two club Burton Albion on a two-year contract. Taft was capped by England at under-18 and under-19 level, and was a member of the squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Club career

Leicester City
Taft playing for York City in 2013

Born in Leicester, Leicestershire,[5] Taft started his career at Leicester City in their youth academy.[6] He signed a professional contract with Leicester on 17 March 2011, tying him to the club until June 2013.[6] To gain first-team experience, Taft was loaned out to Conference Premier club Kettering Town in August 2011[7] and after playing seven times had his loan spell extended by a month.[8] He returned to Leicester in October 2011[9] having completed the loan with 14 appearances for Kettering.[10] His first involvement with the Leicester first team was as an unused substitute against Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup third round tie which ended 0–0 on 7 January 2012.[11] In the replay he was also an unused substitute, when Leicester won 4–0.[12]

Taft went on loan to Swedish club Karlstad BK in Division 1 Södra in March 2012.[13] He made 12 appearances,[10] returning to Leicester in July 2012.[14] At the end of the 2012–13 season, Taft signed a one-year contract extension with Leicester.[15] On 29 August 2013, Taft joined League Two club York City on a one-month loan,[16] and made his debut two days later in the a 2–1 away defeat to Exeter City.[17] Having made three appearances for York,[17] he was sent back to Leicester on 23 September 2013 after falling behind David McGurk, Daniel Parslow and Chris Smith in the pecking order for a central defensive berth.[18] Taft was released by Leicester on 9 May 2014, following the club's promotion to the Premier League for 2014–15.[19]

Burton Albion

Taft signed for League Two club Burton Albion on 30 May 2014 on a two-year contract.[20] He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 away win over Oxford United.[21] From that on in the first half of the season, Taft played regularly until he tore his hamstring during a 4–3 defeat to Carlisle United, which kept him out for six to eight weeks.[22] Taft made his return on 17 November 2014, where he came on as a substitute for Stuart Beavon in the last minutes, in a 3–1 win over Wycombe Wanderers.[21] Coincidentally, it was also Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first match in charge.[23]

On 3 January 2015, Taft scored the first goal of his professional career with a half volley from 12 yards in Burton's 1–0 home victory against promotion rivals Shrewsbury Town.[24] Burton manager Hasselbaink praised Taft saying "George took his goal very well."[25] He dedicated his goal to Richard Mayne, a victim who lost his life in Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.[26] Taft helped the club earn promotion to League One for the first time in its history.[27] In the 2014–15 season, Taft made 34 appearance for Burton and scored once.[21] At the club's award ceremony, Taft was named the club's player in the community.[28]

On 31 July 2015, Taft joined League Two club Cambridge United on a six-month loan.[29] He returned to Burton on 29 October 2015 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a league match against Yeovil Town.[30]

Mansfield Town and Cambridge United

Taft signed for League Two club Mansfield Town on 26 May 2016 on a free transfer.[31] On 31 August 2017, he returned to Cambridge United on loan until January 2018.[32] Taft rejoined Cambridge on 29 January 2018 on loan for the rest of the 2017–18 season, following an injury to Leon Legge.[33] He was released by Mansfield at the end of 2017–18.[34]

Taft signed for League Two club Cambridge United permanently on 30 May 2018 on a two-year contract.[35]

International career

At international level, Taft represented England at under-18 level one time and scored in his only appearance against Poland on 16 November 2010.[36] He made his debut for the under-19 team against Germany on 9 February 2011, and earned a total of five caps at this level.[36] He was named in the under-20 squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup but did not make any appearances.[36][37]

Style of play

Though primarily a centre back, Taft can also play as a left back.[4] After signing for Burton Albion, manager Gary Rowett praised him for his height.[4] After being promoted from the junior to the senior team of Leicester City, manager Sven-Göran Eriksson said "This is great news. They are very talented young footballers and we have the belief that they will progress."[6] During his loan spell with Kettering Town, he was both played as a centre back and a left back.[8]

Career statistics
As of match played 11 February 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City 2011–12[38] Championship 000000—00
2012–13[39] Championship 0000000000
2013–14[17] Championship 000000—00
Total 0000000000
Kettering Town (loan) 2011–12[10] Conference Premier 140———140
Karlstad BK (loan) 2012[10] Division 1 Södra 120———120
York City (loan) 2013–14[17] League Two 30———30
Burton Albion 2014–15[21] League Two 30100301[lower-alpha 1]0341
2015–16[40] League One 0000——00
Total 301003010341
Cambridge United (loan) 2015–16[40] League Two 111—101[lower-alpha 1]0131
Mansfield Town 2016–17[41] League Two 13000001[lower-alpha 2]0140
2017–18[42] League Two 00—001[lower-alpha 2]010
Total 130000020150
Cambridge United (loan) 2017–18[42] League Two 28110——291
Cambridge United 2018–19[43] League Two 37210102[lower-alpha 2]0412
2019–20[44] League Two 27110101[lower-alpha 2]0301
Total 9243020301004
Career total 17563060701916
  1. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Burton Albion

References
  1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014.
  2. "George Taft". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  3. "George Taft". Cambridge United F.C. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  4. "Burton Albion sign George Taft". The Football League. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  5. "George Taft". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  6. "Deals for Leicester youngsters Adam Smith & George Taft". BBC Sport. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  7. "Kettering Town's Leon McKenzie expecting play-off push". BBC Sport. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  8. "Kettering Town extend loan for Leicester's George Taft". BBC Sport. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  9. "Kettering Town sign ex-Lincoln defender Moses Swaibu". BBC Sport. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  10. "G. Taft: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  11. "Leicester: Results/matches: 2011/12". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  12. Phillips, Owen (17 January 2012). "Leicester City 4–0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  13. "Swedish side take on Leicester City youngster George Taft". Leicester Mercury. 24 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  14. "Thank you George Taft!" (in Swedish). Karlstad BK. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015.
  15. "Youngsters rewarded for progress". Leicester City F.C. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  16. "York City sign Leicester City defender George Taft on loan". BBC Sport. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  17. "Games played by George Taft in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  18. Flett, Dave (23 September 2013). "Relieved York City manager Nigel Worthington hails wide rot-stoppers". The Press. York. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  19. "Leicester City retained list 2014/15". Leicester City F.C. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  20. "George Taft: Burton Albion sign defender as Hussey exits". BBC Sport. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  21. "Games played by George Taft in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  22. "Taft suffers injury blow". Sky Sports. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  23. Osborne, Chris (17 November 2014). "Wycombe Wanderers 1–3 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  24. "Burton Albion 1–0 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  25. "Taft wins Hasselbaink praise". Sky Sports. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  26. Warzynski, Peter (5 January 2015). "Footballer George Taft dedicates his first ever goal to MH17 plane crash victim Richard Mayne". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  27. "Morecambe 1–2 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  28. "Burton Albion awards handed out". Burton Mail. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  29. "U's agree six month loan for Taft". Cambridge United F.C. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  30. Cambridge United F.C. [@CambridgeUtdFC] (29 October 2015). "RM: George Taft has unfortunately torn his ACL and returns to Burton to complete his recovery" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 September 2017 – via Twitter.
  31. "Defender George Taft joins Mansfield from Burton on a free transfer". BBC Sport. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  32. Vaughton, Michael (31 August 2017). "Transfer deadline day: Loan return to Cambridge United for George Taft". Cambridge News. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  33. "U's complete George Taft loan until end of the season". Cambridge United F.C. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  34. "Mansfield Town release Rhys Bennett and six others transfer-listed". BBC Sport. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  35. "George Taft: Cambridge United sign former loanee defender on two-year contract". BBC Sport. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  36. "George Taft". The Football Association. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  37. "World Cup squad announced". The Football Association. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  38. "Games played by George Taft in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  39. "Games played by George Taft in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  40. "Games played by George Taft in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  41. "Games played by George Taft in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  42. "Games played by George Taft in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  43. "Games played by George Taft in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  44. "Games played by George Taft in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  45. Anderson, John, ed. (2015). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2015–2016. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 94–95. ISBN 978-1-4722-2416-3.
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