Experienced EFL player Lyle Taylor explains the decision to sign for ambitious non league side Chelmsford City.
Lyle’s move to National League South side came from Caroline Barker and chairman Spencer Gore messaging him about the opportunity.
Initially focused on staying with League Two side Colchester, the move materialised quickly after discussions, culminating in his decision to join Chelmsford.
Lyle had enjoyed his time at Colchester, where he had a successful season goal-wise but suffered an injury towards the end. After attempts to try to secure a new contract for eight months, ultimately he moved on, appreciating how Colchester reignited his love for football.
Having starting his career at Concord, Lyle sees his return to a non-league setting with Chelmsford as a full-circle moment, with the aim to provide experience from his 17-year career, including 16 years as a professional, to help the club progress toward the Football League.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Striker Lyle Taylor, following his departure from Colchester United. #ClaretsTogether
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) August 7, 2025
STATEMENT:
We are delighted to announce the signing of Striker Lyle Taylor following his departure from Colchester United!
The-35-year old joins after a season with Colchester United in League 2, where he was the U’s top scorer. His career started out with Millwall, but he found some prolific goalscoring form with Concord Rangers.
That resulted in a move to Bournemouth where he had loan spells in the National League South with Lewes and Woking. He joined AFC Wimbledon in 2015, where he had his longest spell with 1 club.
During his 3-year-stint Taylor netted over 50 times in over 150 games. He also helped the Dons get promoted to League 1, scoring the opener in the Playoff final.
After that he was promoted to the Championship with Charlton and to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
Since then he had spells with Birmingham City, Wycombe Wanderers and Cambridge United before playing for Colchester United last season.
In April 2022, Lyle Taylor & Andy Carroll were on opposing sides in the Championship when Birmingham City faced West Brom
This season they’ll face each other in the National League South when Chelmsford City go up against Dag & Red
— Thomas Feaheny (@ThomasFeaheny) August 7, 2025
Upon joining the club, Taylor said: “I worked with Caroline Barker last season and she brought the club to my attention and over the summer I spoke to her and Spencer and it just rolled from there.
“I know a few of the players already so it was good to see some familiar faces.
“Angelo’s been honest with me about what he wants and I’ve been honest with what I would like and we’re aligned, let’s go.”
Manager Angelo Harrop said: “I am over the moon that Lyle has joined us.
“He has been one of our top targets throughout the summer so to make it happen and bring him to the club is huge credit to Spencer and everyone at the club.
“It’s a very exciting time for us all to be involved with!”
A big warm welcome to Lyle and we look forward to seeing him in action!
ClaretsTV caught up with new signing Lyle Taylor, after he agreed to join the club!
Watch the full interview below! 👇 #ClaretsTogether pic.twitter.com/Pr0im8WtCT
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) August 7, 2025
Over the moon to get this deal over the line , huge credit to @SJGore and the club for making it happen.
Welcome to the club @lyletaylor90 ⚽️ https://t.co/zHIzKoyGv3— Angelo Harrop (@HarropAngelo) August 7, 2025
INTERVIEW WITH TAYLOR:
Interviewer: How did move to Chelmsford come about?
Lyle: Caroline Barker on a game for Sky and she brought Chelmsford to my attention. I’m not going to sit here and lie and say that Chelmsford was on my radar because it wasn’t. I was very much focused on Colchester and being there and expecting to be there. Over the summer she messaged me and then, funnily enough, Spencer messaged me about half an hour later and it kind of just rolled from there. It kind of came to a head Monday night this week and the upshot is I’m here.
Interviewer: You were at Colchester United last season so just up the road, had a good season in terms of goals but suffered a bit of an injury at end. How was that time for you there?
Lyle: I loved my time at Colchester. I’m not going to lie, I absolutely loved it, for eight months I was trying to sign a new contract there so it kind of was what it was and goal posts were moved and that’s just how things go in football, so we scrambled and what we came up with was a project that in my opinion seems like it’s going to go places and a year ago I said to my agent, I said I want to play football for one more year. I want to try and get promoted and I just want to enjoy it. Four months after that I was trying to sign a new contract. I really enjoyed it. So Colchester, I owe Colchester a lot because Dan and Nick helped me find a place where I was treated really, really well and enjoyed football so much that I didn’t want to stop playing. And I hope now, once I’m back from this injury, which will be a week, 10 days from now, I really want to continue in that vein of enjoyment and fun and just going out there. It might be the last time I play football, but I’m going to do it with a smile on my face and I’m going to really enjoy it. That’s what I want to do. When I stop enjoying it, it’s going to be time to call it a day, but that isn’t yet. I’ve been out on the training pitch this morning with the boys and it’s just the buzz you get, you’re back out there, you’re in a keep ball session and it’s just fun. Football is fun.
Interviewer: You started off your career in non league, a prolific spell at Concord, so how nice to be back in that, I know we’re full-time now, so it’s not really as it was then at Concord, but it’s a similar way.
Lyle: Yeah, was last season kind of felt full circle for me because Dan and Nick, played with Nick at Concord and Dan was the manager and that was his second year in management and it kind of feels even more full circle now because it’s back in the non-league setting. It’s a bit of a wake-up call because it’s been a while since I was at the level. So it’s a little bit different. It’s a little bit different from how things, how I’ve got used to things. But the whole point is I’ve been asked to provide experience and expertise to what I’ve done and experienced and been through, this will now be the last 17 years as a footballer and 16 of those as a professional footballer across the various levels up to the Premier League. The whole point is that it’s not just about what I can give back on the pitch, it’s about helping this club be ready for the steps that they want to take, which is towards the Football League.
Interviewer: What’s your strengths?
Lyle: Well sometimes I kick it in the goal. My job is to help the team win, and whatever that looks like. If that means providing goals, then so be it. If that means being the one who’s scoring the goals, then so be it. But the job is for the team to win. It’s not about me scoring goals. It’s not about me setting goals up. It’s simply about us winning and my job is to be an attacking threat at the top end of the pitch. So that’s what I aim to do.
Interviewer: And what do you make of the squad that we’ve put together so far? Do you any of the players or play with them in the past?
Lyle: Yeah I know few of the players. Chris Haigh, he trained at Colchester one day a week, pretty much the whole of last season. He’s good guy, a good goalkeeper. I know Tom Lapsley, I played with his brother George and obviously Laps has been around the Football League so he’s a familiar face. And Taylor Clark was at Wycombe when I was there so I know a few of the boys. I played against Ricky Holmes for years and years. So yeah, there’s familiar faces and in my old age, I’m not great with names, but I’m going to get there.
Interviewer: What’s your conversations with Angelo and the management staff? How’s your relationship with him so far?
Lyle: Brilliant. He’s been really honest with me with what he wants and what he expects. And I’ve been honest with him with what I want and what I expect. And it’s now about all of us working together to reach the common goal. The common goal has to be fighting at the top end of this league and trying to get to the next level.
Interviewer: You’re injured at moment, not too far. You’re training today, so hopefully in the future, in a couple of weeks, is that going to be it?
Lyle: Yes, that’s the aim. The aim is for me to be back in the matchday squads in the next two weeks. I have done part training and my own fitness work today so that’s gone fine and it’s about ticking boxes now for me until I’m back in full training.
Interviewer: What’s your message to the Chelmsford fans ahead of the new season finally?
Lyle: Let’s go. It’s work time now so let’s go.
Here’s how fans reacted as experienced EFL player Lyle Taylor explains the decision to sign for non league Chelmsford…
@GMixture: I wouldn’t say I’m excited but I’m off up the club now to buy myself a half and half scarf!
@ClaretCroch: That is a ridiculous signing. We are fucking massive
@OakleyBromfield: This is an unbelievably good signing!! Remember watching Lyle live at Wembley in Wimbledon’s play-off win vs Plymouth in 2016. Top quality striker who knows where the goal is. History being made at Chelmsford 🙌🏼
@LukeRileyUK: Will always be a Forest legend to me after Bristol City away. The 2 minutes that started the madness! Good luck Lyle
@itwobob: There is an argument we wouldn’t be in Prem if Bristol City hadn’t took piss out of his hair which he dyed pink for charity. Mr Taylor went on to win is the game singlehandedly in extra time. Best of luck!
@Oiiimush: Unbelievable signing. He shouldn’t be anywhere near NLS! (no disrespect intended) #ColU
@bwinnumbers: Incredible player. Way too good when fit in league 2 last season, so if his injury hasn’t affected him too much, he will be incredible for yous. Top man too, we will miss him. Tear it up Lyle 💙🤍
@ijozhh: What a player man 😢 great person to have at the club 30+ goal szn coming
@no1_gouldy: Wow what a signing for Chelmsford 👏
@fusionjosh_: Now that is a STATEMENT. Looking forward to seeing how Chelmsford get on this season, They have to go up.
@Jasonsnell17: What a signing for Chelmsford
@edward_w97: Colchester’s double-figure top scorer from last season dropping down two leagues, as you do…
@MontserratFooty: 🤯 Lyle Taylor dropping two divisions was NOT what I (or anyone) was expecting after he announced his departure from Colchester, surely? Scored 10 goals in League Two last season!
