Jordan Moore-Taylor is set to add steal and experience in Chris Agutter’s backline, having joined Sutton on a permanent deal following his departure from Forest Green Rovers.
Here’s everything you need to know about the defender and his story so far…
Name: Jordan Moore-Taylor
Age: 32
Position: Defender
Former Clubs: Stoke Hill AFC (youth), Exeter City, MK Dons, Forest Green Rovers
Starting in the South-West
Hailing from Exeter, Devon, Moore-Taylor’s journey began at his local club, via a stint in the youth setup at Stoke Hill AFC. After being spotted by the Grecians, he spent two years in the academy at St. James Park before signing professional terms in 2012, and went on to spend six years with the club, racking up almost 200 appearances in the process.
After graduating from the academy, Moore-Taylor made his debut in a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace in the League Cup, but initially struggled with City only winning once in his first eight games – a stat that would hamper any usual young defender. Luckily for the Grecians though, Jordan wasn’t a usual defender. In a league used to towering centre-halves, ‘JMT’ broke that mould and established his starting spot in City’s side, displacing the vastly experienced Pat Baldwin during the tough 2013/14 season. A first goal against Cheltenham cemented his popularity among City fans and he would have started the 2014/15 season as first choice had it not been for a freak injury in the summer. While Matt Oakley began the 2015/16 season as Exeter’s skipper, he was replaced by Moore-Taylor, a player 17 years his junior, for an FA Cup tie against Didcot Town. After leading the side out again against Premier League giants Liverpool in a famous 2-2 draw, Jordan was subsequently confirmed as the club’s new permanent captain.
His 30-yard thunderbolt strike against Doncaster Rovers in 2016 then helped City confirm a spot in the League Two play-offs but unfortunately, Blackpool prevailed 2-1 in the final. Despite this, the defender led his hometown side out at Wembley for the second time in 2017 but yet again, the Grecians lost in the play-off final and Moore-Taylor departed the club, moving to MK Dons after becoming an extremely dependable figure in Devon.
His links to the South-West didn’t end there though. After a two-year spell at Stadium MK, the defender returned a bit closer to home with his move to Forest Green in 2020, spending another six years in Nailsworth prior to his departure in the summer.
Making Amends
Having suffered Wembley heartbreak on two separate occasions during his time at St. James Park, JMT will have been keen to make amends upon his move to Buckinghamshire in 2018.
After signing a two-year deal after he activated a clause in his contract to leave Exeter, reuniting with former Grecians manager Paul Tisdale, he scored his first goal for the club during a 4–3 away defeat to Bury, though he suffered a premature end to his maiden campaign as a Don after suffering a knee injury two weeks later in a 1–0 away defeat to Grimsby Town, which resulted in him being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.
However, he had played an important role nonetheless throughout the campaign with 25 appearances to his name, and finally won that promotion from League Two he had craved after the Dons sealed a third-place finish with victory on the final day over Mansfield Town.
Furthermore, the promotion which had escaped him for so long soon came along like buses, having waited for two years prior to his triumph with MK Dons, before two came along almost at once following his exit from Devon. After departing Stadium MK following two seasons, a return to the South-West brought a move to Forest Green, where he sealed his second promotion from the fourth tier in the 2021/22 season – his second campaign at The New Lawn – playing 44 times in all competitions as the Green made it to League One for the first time in their history. JMT was instrumental in this success, scoring two goals as well as giving the club the defensive platform it needed to build an outstanding away record across the season.
Top Tier Taylor
JMT is a central defender who is strong in the air and reads the game well, whose play centers on strong positional awareness, composed distribution from the back, and vocal on-field leadership, offering experience and physical presence in defence.
His footwork and positioning are exemplary, helping him keep even the tallest centre forwards quiet. Whether he’s coming out to meet long forward balls, making critical tackles or showing opponents away from goal, his defensive skills gave FGR steel at the back across his six-year spell there.
As a natural left-footer, he is frequently tasked with leading the play-out from defence. He offers reliable distribution and looks to initiate attacks by finding the deepest midfielders, being comfortable with playing a crafted ball forward to turn defence into attack and launch powerful goal-bound rockets when he gets the opportunity to shoot from outside the penalty area.
