Former Newcastle United youngster aiming to build a career with Hartlepool United and Dunston
A former Newcastle United youngster joined the Hartlepool United ranks during the summer.
Former Newcastle United youngster Matty Taylor is ready to build a career in football with the help of Hartlepool United and Dunston.
The 18-year-old saw his time within the Magpies academy setup come to an end this summer when he was named on a list of released players alongside the likes of Sweden international Emil Krafth and former England star Kieran Trippier. Taylor’s search for a new club was short-lived as he joined Pools before making his senior debut in a National League Cup defeat against Everton Under-21s in September.
The versatile forward has also earned invaluable game-time with Northern Premier League East club Dunston as they push for promotion into non-league’s third tier - and he is relishing the pressure of competing in a results-first environment.
Speaking to The Mail after coming off the bench during Dunston’s dramatic midweek win against Lincoln United: “I learnt a lot at Newcastle and I can’t thank them enough for how I developed during my time there. It’s a different game when you leave an academy because it’s more performance-based there but it’s about getting results now. I had a number of trials after leaving but I just want to build myself back up now and that’s what I am trying to do. It’s about taking those opportunities when they are put my way and that’s what I want to do with Hartlepool and Dunston.
He continued: “I have to adapt to men’s football because it’s a totally different environment to academy football. The wins mean more and getting the points on the board is what it’s about. I came on today and you could see what it meant to the lads to get the win in the circumstances. That pressure to get the points is something I relish. At Dunston, you have to fight, you have to be physical in this league and I’ve enjoyed it. There’s a good group of lads here and I couldn’t be at a better place to experience men’s football and it works well alongside working hard with Hartlepool.”
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Advice
Taylor has not had to look far for advice on life with Dunston after former Newcastle United academy team-mate Tyler Jones and Hartlepool striker Josh Donaldson, who is currently on loan at National League North club Hebburn Town, both spent time at the UTS Stadium over the last year.
The Pools youngster described Donaldson as ‘a good lad’ and revealed he spoke highly of a club where he scored 13 goals in 26 appearances and bagged the first senior hat-trick of his career in an FA Trophy win against Garforth Town last season.
He said: “Josh was a few years older than me and he’s obviously at Hartlepool now so I spoke to him a little bit. He’s a good lad, he spoke highly of the club, he told me everything I needed to know. He did well during his time here and I want to do the same.”
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