Taylor made for West Ham
Sam Allardyce has his third summer recruit with Matt Taylor the latest new face at the Boleyn Ground
23.07.2011
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Matt Taylor.
The 29-year-old joins from Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee, becoming Sam Allardyce's third summer signing after Abdoulaye Faye and Kevin Nolan. Taylor passed a medical on Friday but the deal could not be finalised until Saturday afternoon, as Bolton were returning from a tour in the United States.
A proven Premier League performer renowned for his set-piece ability and dynamic play anywhere on the left-hand side, Taylor will join up with his new team-mates officially on Monday. He has already been to Chadwell Heath to meet the manager and his coaching staff, as well as having a look around the club's facilities.
Speaking exclusively to whufc.com, Taylor said: "This is a great opportunity to come and play for a fantastic football club. This is a big club with a lot of heritage. It is a new challenge for me and obviously I want to be part of something special and, from the outset, it looks like I will find that here."
Although he has never played under Allardyce before, Taylor said he was looking forward to working for his new manager - and is already impressed by his vision for the campaign ahead as well as the club's grand plans off the pitch.
"I have had good conversations with the gaffer, he is such a positive person. I think you can see already the aura around the place and the quality of players he has brought in to add to the players already here.
"From a totally impartial point of view, I couldn't see anything other than that I was coming to a great football club and wanted to be part of it."
Taylor is particularly relishing the prospect of turning out for the Hammers faithful, having enjoyed his previous experiences of the Boleyn Ground on the opposing side. He is keen to get involved in giving the fans a season to remember after the disappointment of the previous campaign.
"Hopefully myself and the team can give them something to cheer about, something to smile about. One thing they can count on is that I will give 100 per cent every time I play.
"Everytime I have played at West Ham you notice the fans, so hopefully now I am playing for them, they will back me and the team this season."
With the promise of more new faces to come and the squad settling down for the Championship challenge - the team play Real Zaragoza at home next Saturday before the big kick-off at home on 7 August against Cardiff City - Taylor cannot wait for it all to get going.
"As I said, ultimately it is a huge football club and I want to play my part if I can. There were never any second thoughts about coming here. It is a big challenge for me which I am looking forward to, to be part of helping the team get back up to the Premier League and do that as soon as possible.
"I see this as a very positive move for me. I don't expect to be playing Championship football for more than one season if I am being totally honest. I just want to get stuck in and start playing. I think it is going to be a great season."
http://www.whufc.com/articles/20110723/taylor-made-for-west-ham_2236884_2399627
