Blast from the past: Super Bob Taylor the hero in West Brom's hour of need

On Friday, the hugely-popular striker celebrated his 50th birthday with a surprise party at Kinver Conservative Club.

That bash came a staggering 25 years since he pulled on the famous blue and white stripes for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, he marked that occasion with a debut goal as the Baggies took on Brentford.

Initially signed by Bobby Gould, Taylor became the focal point of an Albion team plying its trade in the third tier of English football for the very first time.

Goals seemed to flow whenever he took to the field but it was after Osvaldo Ardiles came into replace Gould that he really flourished.

A 37-goal haul in the 1992/93 campaign inspired the Baggies to promotion – with Taylor ending the year as Divison Two's leading marksman.

And the arrival of Andy Hunt in March 1993 ensured the Baggies had a strike force that would enable them to make history.

Hunt and Taylor were part of the Baggies team that beat Port Vale at Wembley in the Division Two play-off final.

Taylor top-scored for the Baggies once again in 1993/94 season and again in 1995/96.

That led to interest throughout the Football League with it becoming public knowledge that Albion rejected a £1.5million bid from Coventry for the striker's services.

Despite that interest, it still came as a huge surprise when Baggies did sell Taylor to Bolton in 1998.

A total of 18 goals in 65 appearances followed as Taylor helped guide the Trotters to the Premiership. But he returned to Albion in 2000 with his second stint arguably even more successful than his first. At the time, the Baggies were embroiled in a relegation scrap that looked to have them heading back to the third tier of English football.

Taylor re-signed as part of Gary Megson's 'Famous Five' which also included Des Little, Tony Butler, Georges Santos and Neil Clement. And his goals proved the catalyst to keep Albion in the division with the hitman netting five in the last eight games, including the clincher, as Megson's side beat Charlton on the last day of the season.

Incredibly though, Taylor's remarkable Albion story was not done. In the 2001/02 season, the Baggies trailed arch rivals Wolves by 11 points in the race for the Premiership.

A late Taylor goal to earn a win at Nottingham Forest gave the team belief they could overhaul their neighbours.

Then, on the final day, Albion knew a win over Crystal Palace would see them clinch a place in the top flight.

Once again it was Taylor who came to the rescue with the striker on target in a 2-0 victory.

That goal, undoubtedly, proved to be one of the most important of the 131 he scored for the club.

Taylor left the Baggies for Cheltenham Town in 2003.

But to this day he arguably remains the most significant Albion player of the 21st Century.