Tom Taiwo
{{Short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Tom Taiwo
| image = Tom Taiwo.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Taiwo playing for Carlisle United in 2011
| fullname = Thomas James William Taiwo{{Cite book
| editor-first = Barry J.
| editor-last = Hugman
| title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10
| year = 2009
| publisher = Mainstream Publishing
| isbn = 978-1-84596-474-0
| page = 397 }}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|2|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pudsey, England
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 1997–2000
| youthyears2 = 2000–2006
| youthyears3 = 2006–2008
| youthclubs1 = Farsley Celtic
| youthclubs2 = Leeds United
| youthclubs3 = Chelsea
| years1 = 2008–2010
| years2 = 2008
| years3 = 2009–2010
| years4 = 2010–2012
| years5 = 2012–2014
| years6 = 2014–2018
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs1 = Chelsea
| clubs2 = → Port Vale (loan)
| clubs3 = → Carlisle United (loan)
| clubs4 = Carlisle United
| clubs5 = Hibernian
| clubs6 = Falkirk
| clubs7 = Hamilton Academical
| caps1 = 0
| caps2 = 4
| caps3 = 19
| caps4 = 99
| caps5 = 47
| caps6 = 104
| caps7 = 16
| goals1 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| goals3 = 1
| goals4 = 5
| goals5 = 2
| goals6 = 3
| goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 289
| totalgoals = 11
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = England U17
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Thomas James William Taiwo (born 27 February 1990) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder.
An England under-17 international, he graduated out of the Chelsea academy to turn professional in 2008, having switched from the Leeds United Academy two years earlier. He never appeared for the first team and instead enjoyed a brief loan spell at Port Vale before he joined Carlisle United on a loan deal that was made permanent in January 2010. He played in two consecutive Football League Trophy finals for the club, as Carlisle were defeated in 2010, before they won the tournament in 2011.
He joined Scottish club Hibernian in September 2012 and stayed with the club for two seasons. He signed with Falkirk in July 2014 and played on the losing side in the 2015 Scottish Cup final. He joined Hamilton Academical in June 2018 and retired due to injury in June 2019.
Club career
=Chelsea=
Tom was a student at St Mary's Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy. He joined Chelsea from Leeds United along with Michael Woods in a controversial move after Ken Bates accused Chelsea of tapping up the youngsters.{{cite news |title=Leeds lodge tapping-up complaint |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5243100.stm |publisher=BBC Sport | date=3 August 2006 |access-date=5 September 2008}} Leeds received £5 million in compensation for the pair after threatening to take Chelsea to court.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/6935758/Chelseas-Tom-Taiwo-set-to-leave-Stamford-Bridge-after-Leeds-United-legal-feud.html |title=Chelsea's Tom Taiwo set to leave Stamford Bridge after Leeds United legal feud |last=Stewart |first=Rob |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=5 January 2010 |access-date=14 June 2011}} He broke his leg two days before he was due to make his youth team debut for the "Blues".{{cite news|title=Tom Taiwo ready to step up for Hibs|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tom-taiwo-ready-to-step-up-1370082|access-date=24 October 2016|work=Daily Record|date=10 October 2012}} His parents were accused of taking backhanders to influence his decision; Taiwo stated that these "false claims" were highly "upsetting" to him.{{cite news|title=Hibs ace Tom Taiwo happy at Easter Road after seeing old Chelsea team mates fall by the wayside |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hibs-ace-tom-taiwo-happy-1502901|newspaper=Daily Record|date=23 December 2012|access-date=24 December 2012}}
Taiwo joined League Two club Port Vale on a month's loan in August 2008. He made his debut, coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute, at home to Bournemouth, in the 3–1 win on 30 August.{{cite news |title=Port Vale 3–1 Bournemouth |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/7578319.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 August 2008 |access-date=5 September 2008 }} Vale sent him back to Chelsea in September after they decided not to extend his loan.{{cite news |title=Vale send Taiwo back to Chelsea |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7635712.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 September 2008 |access-date=29 November 2008 }} Taiwo went on a trial with Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer in March 2009.{{cite news |title=Seattle Sounders FC 2009 Trialists |url=http://seattlepitch.tripod.com/matches/2009/2009trialists.html |publisher=Seattle Pitch |date=26 May 2009 |access-date=2 June 2009 }}
{{Blockquote|"I always felt like I was playing catch-up. The club had a glut of players in my position and I was unlucky enough to suffer a serious injury. There's always somebody younger than you coming through. I was disappointed, but I also have to look back and say I wasn't good enough. That can be quite a painful thing to say. As a young footballer, you can be quite blinded at times. It was the first time in my life I'd ever suffered a real setback. I had to face the fact that I wasn't as good as I hoped I'd be."|In 2014, the BBC featured Taiwo as part of an article on notable players who had suffered rejection from Premier League sides.{{cite news |last1=Gheerbrant |first1=James |title=What happens to football's lost souls? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28950665 |access-date=12 April 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 August 2014}}}}
=Carlisle United=
In July 2009, Carlisle United announced they had signed Taiwo on loan until the end of December.{{cite news |title=Carlisle capture Taiwo |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11719_5423228,00.html |publisher=Sky Sports |date=9 July 2009 |access-date=9 July 2009 }} He impressed supporters with his "aggressive, tackle-heavy performances at the heart of the midfield."{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/8303221.stm|title=Taiwo eyes extended Carlisle stay |date=12 October 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 October 2011}} Taiwo scored his first goal for Carlisle in a 3–2 league victory over rivals Hartlepool United on 1 December.{{cite news|title=Carlisle 3 – 2 Hartlepool|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8377276.stm|access-date=7 February 2012|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 December 2009}} On 6 January 2010, Carlisle signed Taiwo from Chelsea permanently on a two-and-a-half-year contract, after paying the London club an undisclosed fee.{{cite news |title=Chelsea release Tom Taiwo three years after 'poaching' allegations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/06/leeds-chelsea-carlisle-tom-taiwo |work=The Guardian |date=6 January 2010 |access-date=6 January 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/8444003.stm|title=Carlisle United sign Chelsea's Tom Taiwo |date=6 January 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=9 October 2011}} He played a total of 35 League One games in 2009–10. He also featured in six of Carlisle's seven games in the 2009–10 League Trophy, including the final in front of 73,476 fans at Wembley, which ended in a 4–1 defeat to Southampton; he was a late substitute for captain Paul Thirlwell, with the "Blues" already 4–0 down.{{cite news|last=Shemilt|first=Stephan|title=Carlisle 1 – 4 Southampton|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8583783.stm|access-date=7 February 2012|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 March 2010}}
He played five games of Carlisle's march to the League Trophy final in 2010–11; he also started the final against Brentford, which the "Cumbrians" won 1–0.{{cite web|title=Match Report|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/johnstonespainttrophy/news/20110403/trophy-final-match-report_2293332_2329473|work=football-league.co.uk|access-date=7 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929000055/http://www.football-league.co.uk/johnstonespainttrophy/news/20110403/trophy-final-match-report_2293332_2329473|archive-date=29 September 2012}} In total he made 55 appearances in league and cup for Greg Abbott's side, scoring three goals. He scored three times in 41 games in 2011–12, as Carlisle finished eighth, missing out on the play-offs by a four-point margin. On 11 June 2012, Taiwo revealed he would not be signing a new contract with Carlisle, citing family reasons for his departure from Brunton Park.{{cite news|title=Taiwo and Michalik quit Carlisle Utd – but three to stay|url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/carlisle-united/latest/taiwo-and-michalik-quit-carlisle-utd-but-three-to-stay-1.964029?referrerPath=home|access-date=11 June 2012|newspaper=News & Star|date=11 June 2012}}{{cite news|title=Taiwo turns back on Cumbrians|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7809314/Taiwo-turns-back-on-Cumbrians|publisher=Sky Sports|date=12 June 2012|access-date=14 June 2012}} However, Carlisle retained his registration and initially demanded a £200,000 transfer fee from other clubs – a prospect that ended a potential move to Yorkshire club Bradford City.{{cite news|title=Bradford launch new bid for ex-Carlisle Utd star Tom Taiwo|url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/carlisle-united/latest/bradford-launch-new-bid-for-ex-carlisle-utd-star-tom-taiwo-1.985570?referrerPath=2958|access-date=14 September 2012|newspaper=News & Star|date=15 August 2012}}
=Hibernian=
In September 2012, Taiwo signed a two-year contract with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian.{{cite news|url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20120913/taiwo-situation-explained_2262950_2918064 |title=Taiwo Situation Explained |work=hibernianfc.co.uk |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=13 September 2012}} "Hibs" manager Pat Fenlon said that he felt Taiwo was a quality signing, and would provide competition for central midfielders Jorge Claros and Gary Deegan.{{cite news|title=Hibernian sign Tom Taiwo, former Chelsea prospect|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19592983|access-date=14 September 2012|publisher=BBC Sport|date=13 September 2012}} Speaking about his move, Taiwo stated his belief that the club could challenge for the league title.{{cite news|title=Tom Taiwo: It's not impossible for Hibs to win the SPL|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/spl-match-preview-hibs-v-1337221|newspaper=Daily Record|date=22 September 2012|access-date=22 September 2012}} Carlisle manager Greg Abbott criticised Taiwo's move to Scotland, claiming it was a poor decision and that he had been badly advised.{{cite news|title=Tom Taiwo's move to Hibs is 'wrong decision', says Carlisle Utd boss|url=http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/carlisle-united/latest/tom-taiwo-s-move-to-hibs-is-wrong-decision-says-carlisle-utd-boss-1.996623?referrerPath=home|newspaper=News and Star|date=17 September 2012|access-date=24 December 2012}} Taiwo made his "Hibs" debut on 6 October, in a 3–0 win over Dundee at Easter Road.
Early in the January 2014 window, BBC Sport reported that new manager Terry Butcher had made Taiwo available for transfer.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25665279 |title=Hibs tell Vine, Taiwo, Clancy & Thomson to find new clubs |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2014 |access-date=9 January 2014}} Butcher refused to confirm the report, but said that allowing some players to leave would freshen the squad and that he was also looking to recruit some new players.{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/terry-butcher-shedding-players-will-freshen-hibs-1-3262898 |title=Terry Butcher – Shedding players will freshen Hibs |work=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=9 January 2014 |access-date=9 January 2014}} Taiwo was released by Hibernian at the end of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20140526/out-of-contract-players_2262950_3858888 |title=Out of Contract Players |publisher=Hibernian FC |work=Hibernianfc.co.uk |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=26 May 2014}}
=Falkirk=
Taiwo joined Scottish Championship side Falkirk in July 2014 after manager Peter Houston sought to add experience to his midfield.{{cite news|title=Falkirk: Jamie MacDonald one of five new arrivals|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28147322|access-date=3 July 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 July 2014}} He scored three goals in 41 appearances for the "Bairns" in the 2014–15 season, including one at Ibrox Stadium that effectively ended Rangers's chances of beating his former club Hibernian into second place.{{cite news|last1=Duncan|first1=Colin|title=Queens will be kings: Tom Taiwo writes off Rangers and Hibs' promotion chances as Falkirk dent Ibrox hopes|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/queens-kings-tom-taiwo-writes-5587348|access-date=9 May 2015|work=Daily Record|date=26 April 2015}} Falkirk also reached the 2015 Scottish Cup final, where they lost 2–1 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden Park.{{cite news|last1=Lamont|first1=Alasdair|title=Scottish Cup final: Inverness CT 2–1 Falkirk|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32728510|access-date=19 December 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 May 2015}}
He played 27 games in the 2015–16 season as Falkirk posted a second-place finish before they lost 4–1 on aggregate to Kilmarnock in the play-off final.{{cite news|last1=English|first1=Tom|title=Kilmarnock preserved their 23-year stay in the Scottish Premiership in the most emphatic fashion by thumping Falkirk in the second leg of the play-off final|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36314850|access-date=23 May 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 May 2016}} On 12 November 2016, he was sent off in a 1–1 draw at former club Hibernian after a reckless challenge on John McGinn.{{cite news|last1=Dowden|first1=Martin|title=Scottish Championship: Hibernian 1–1 Falkirk|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37881922|access-date=14 May 2017|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 November 2016}} He made 38 appearances across the 2016–17 campaign, helping Falkirk to qualify for the play-offs with a second-place finish; he played both legs of the 4–3 aggregate defeat to Dundee United in the play-off semi-final.{{cite news|last1=Crawford|first1=Kenny|title=Falkirk 1–2 Dundee United (aggregate 3–4)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39905406|access-date=20 May 2017|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 May 2017}} Taiwo left Falkirk Stadium after he was released by Falkirk manager Paul Hartley upon the conclusion of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/players-depart-club/ |title=Players Depart Club |publisher=Falkirk FC |date=30 April 2018 |access-date=30 April 2018}}
=Hamilton Academical=
On 24 June 2018, Taiwo signed with Scottish Premiership club Hamilton Academical.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tom-taiwo-ready-offer-experience-12898986|title=Tom Taiwo is ready to offer experience to Hamilton Accies|first=Andy|last=McGilvray|date=13 July 2018|website=dailyrecord}}{{cite news |last1=MacRae |first1=Daryn |title=Hamilton complete double swoop for Taiwo and Bloomfield |url=https://stv.tv/sport/football/1420327-hamilton-complete-double-swoop-for-taiwo-and-bloomfield/ |access-date=24 June 2018 |work=STV Sport |date=24 June 2018 |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/tom-taiwo-happy-at-hamilton-after-failing-to-make-the-grade-at-chelsea-hml66hvft|title=Tom Taiwo happy at Hamilton after failing to make the grade at Chelsea|first=Douglas|last=Alexander|date=26 August 2018|newspaper=The Sunday Times|access-date=28 August 2019}} However, he was judged to have been a poor signing by manager Martin Canning and he left Hamilton by mutual consent in May 2019 after making 19 appearances during the 2018–19 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/player-departures-3/|title=Player Departures|date=21 May 2019|access-date=21 May 2019|publisher=Hamilton Academical F.C.}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48356091|title=Hamilton: Eight players leave after safety secured|date=21 May 2019|access-date=21 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite news |last1=Fowler |first1=Craig |title=Judging all 61 Hamilton Accies signings of the Martin Canning era |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hamilton-accies/judging-all-61-hamilton-accies-signings-of-the-martin-canning-era-1-4865535 |access-date=22 May 2019 |work=scotsman.com |date=31 January 2019 |language=en}} He retired due to injury in June 2019, at the age of 29.{{cite news |last1=McPartlin |first1=Patrick |title=Tom Taiwo, ex-Hibs midfielder, retires after injury problems |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/latest-hibs-news/tom-taiwo-ex-hibs-midfielder-retires-after-injury-problems-1-4945972 |access-date=12 June 2019 |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=12 June 2019 |language=en}}
International career
Although he has played for England at youth level, he is eligible to represent Nigeria through his paternal grandfather.{{cite news |title=Port Vale: New boy Tom keen to claim first-team place|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-New-boy-Tom-keen-claim-team-place/article-310032-detail/article.html |publisher=The Sentinel|date=6 September 2008 |access-date=19 July 2009 }} He was named as a substitute in all of England's games at the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, however, he did not feature in the defeat to Spain in the final. He did, though, make it off the bench in the 1–1 draw with Belgium and the 1–0 semi-final victory over France.{{cite web|title=Belgium 1 – 1 England|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2007/round=2248/match=300753/report=ev.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709050234/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2007/round=2248/match=300753/report=ev.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 July 2012|publisher=UEFA|access-date=7 February 2012}}{{cite web|title=England 1 – 0 France|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2007/round=15069/match=300766/report=ev.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708151844/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2007/round=15069/match=300766/report=ev.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 July 2012|publisher=UEFA|access-date=7 February 2012}}
Style of play
Taiwo "has a reputation as a tough-tackling and wholehearted player".{{cite news|last=Bathgate|first=Stuart|title=Ex-Chelsea player Tom Taiwo joins Hibernian on two-year deal|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/ex-chelsea-player-tom-taiwo-joins-hibernian-on-two-year-deal-1-2525551|access-date=14 September 2012|newspaper=The Scotsman|date=13 September 2012}}
Career statistics
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Carlisle United
- Football League Trophy: 2010–11; runner-up: 2009–10
Falkirk
- Scottish Cup runner-up: 2014–15
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taiwo, Tom}}
Category:Sportspeople from Pudsey
Category:Footballers from West Yorkshire
Category:People educated at St. Mary's Catholic High School, Menston
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Farsley Celtic F.C. players
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Hibernian F.C. players
Category:Hamilton Academical F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Premier League players