Who is Tommy Taylor? Meet the teenager who was on Town bench in FA Cup.

Tommy Taylor, a teenage Ipswich Town player, was on the bench for the Blues’ FA Cup defeat against Nottingham Forest on Monday. Ross Halls looks closer at him. The 19-year-old attacker made his senior team debut as Kieran McKenna’s side was eliminated from the competition on penalties.

Tommy Taylor celebrates scoring for the Town U21s at Portman Road. (Image by Ross Halls) Early Life and First Steps Taylor’s father, Paul, was born in Chelmsford and grew up watching Town win the FA Cup and UEFA Cup. Taylor Senior still watches the Blues, especially since his son plays for the team. Taylor joined Town at the age of ten, progressing through the age groups until he became a full academy player in the summer of 2022, signing a two-year scholarship. The versatile player was a member of the FA Youth Cup’s under-18s team that advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual winners West Ham United in extra time. During that stretch, they beat Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.

Tommy Taylor signed his first professional contract at Portman Road. (Image: ITFC.) CAPTAIN & PRO CONTRACT Taylor scored consistently throughout the 2022/23 season, including a hat-trick against Watford on the last day. During the next season, he captained the under-18s. He would also play for the under-21 team before signing his first professional contract at Portman Road in October 2023. He wrote on Instagram after signing the contract: “Really proud moment for me and my family to sign my first professional contract.”

It was a strong end of last season for him as he netted in four straight games for John McGreal’s team in March 2024, establishing himself as a regular for the under-21s.

Tommy Taylor played for the Ipswich Town under-21s in a preseason match against Borussia Monchengladbach of Germany. (Image by Ross Halls)

THIS SEASON AND WHAT HE BRINGS

Taylor can play anywhere in the midfield or up front. He is a creative and cerebral footballer who draws his teammates into play and can be a real issue for opposing defenders due to his ability to hold up the ball and his poacher instinct. He has excelled for McGreal’s team in the 2024/25 season. He got a brace against Birmingham City on the first day and has ten goals and seven assists thus far. The forward’s contract expires this summer, so we’ll see what the future holds for him after taking his initial steps into the first team.

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