Express & Star

How Douglas James-Taylor 'vindicated' Walsall's belief in him at Drogheda United

Walsall loanee Douglas James-Taylor hit the goal scoring trail from the get-go at Drogheda United and the goals just continued to flow.

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Walsall loanee Douglas James-Taylor scored in Drogheda United's 2-0 win over Derry City in the FAI Cup final last year. (Image by David Cavan / Drogheda United)
Walsall loanee Douglas James-Taylor scored in Drogheda United's 2-0 win over Derry City in the FAI Cup final last year. (Image by David Cavan / Drogheda United)

During his first season in Ireland, James-Taylor plundered 13 goals and set-up four more in 20 appearances across all competitions. 

It felt very much like last chance saloon territory for the 23-year-old, who was had his option year triggered by Walsall at the end of the previous campaign. 

And James-Taylor, who had scored just five times in 63 matches for Walsall, feels his goal-laden loan with the Drogs suggests that the faith shown in him by Mat Sadler was vindicated.

"That was really a strong sign of support from Mat, the staff and the owners that he believed in me," James-Taylor notes.

"I know from the outside that people were looking at my numbers and thinking I don't know why we're still sticking with this guy. 

"He obviously sees me every day in training, he knows what I'm like as a person and he could see something that meant I got this opportunity to go on loan to Drogheda and show what I've got.