West Ham may have sold Matthew Taylor back in 2014, but the English winger has been remembered fondly in East London.
That’s why when the 37-year-old announced that this season will be his last as a professional footballer, the London Stadium faithful had nothing but praise for him.
When he hangs up his boots for the final time, it will bring the curtain down a career spanning twenty years, having made his senior debut at Luton Town as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in the old second division back in 1999.
He went on to join Portsmouth and score some stunning strikes on the south coast at Fratton Park, and put in a shift in Claret and Blue when Sam Allardyce brought the 3-cap former England U21 international to Upton Park in 2011.
Taylor may not have scored many during his time with us, in fact he only found the net on three occasions in his 90 appearances, but he was a key part of the side which earned promotion out of the Championship via the Play-Offs, and for that we will be forever grateful.
That’s why when the current Swindon Town player-coach announced his retirement, West Ham fans could speak anything but praise for the Oxford-born midfielder…
You were highly underrated at West Ham mate I thought you were a class left sided player and pivotal in our promotion in 2012. All the best for the future ⚒⚒⚒
— L U K E (@LukeyMalden) March 19, 2019
Best left foot in world football
— David (@DavidWHU_) March 19, 2019
Thanks for helping us with promotion
— Paul Reynolds (@PaulReynolds27) March 19, 2019
He’s left foot was dangerous
— Sam Krueger (@SamKrueger_) March 19, 2019
Absolute wand of a left foot.
— Richard Vaughan (@richiejv) March 19, 2019
Great player. Great attitude. Great left foot. Happy retirement Matty! #COYI ⚒
— Jamie Thomas ⚒ (@jamieathomasuk) March 19, 2019
A great player on the pitch . I remember some great goals from him . A gentleman off the pitch .⚒️
— ToneHammer (@tone_hammer) March 19, 2019
What a left peg he had
— Antonio Fanelli (@ALFanelli1994) March 19, 2019