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Fan Phil Hits 1,000-Game Milestone
Monday, 23rd Dec 2013 10:11

Much is made of players reaching appearance milestones but not often fans, however, Blues supporter Phil Taylor’s achievement of 1,000 consecutive Town games certainly deserves recognition. Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Watford saw Phil hit that mark after more than 19 years and eight months without missing a match in a major competition.

“It was never a target,” Phil, 40, told TWTD after Saturday’s game. “I’m pleased that I have reached this milestone, though I doubt I will do another thousand!

“The last game I missed was the early kick-off at Liverpool on Grand National Day on April 9th 1994.

“I had been offered a week of work worth about £500 - a lot of money to a student in those days - but I had to commit to working the whole week or get nothing.

“As I had missed the Newcastle game a couple of weeks before, breaking a previous run of 262, as Newcastle weren’t admitting away fans that season due to rebuilding work, I took the job as I thought I wouldn't be going on that sort of run again.”

He says the first match of the 1,000 didn’t particularly stick in the mind: “I had to look up it up, not surprising that a 1-1 draw at home to Swindon doesn't register in the memory. I do remember the 0-0 at Blackburn on the last day of that season very clearly though.”

Phil, who is currently based in Northampton, cites the 2000 play-off final as the best game of the 1,000 and says that at times he has had to climb from his sickbed in order to keep the run going.

“There have been many occasions when I have dragged myself to games despite illness, injury or even the day after having my wisdom teeth out when Newcastle at home was rearranged in 1995,” recalls Phil who has regularly travelled to matches on his motorbike.

“Going to Old Trafford the following Saturday still swollen up wasn't a fun experience either.

“Plenty of midweek trips have been a mad dash on the bike, it's not usually in the early season warmth though, snowy trips to Cardiff and Scunthorpe stand out in the memory, alongside many cold and/or wet trips.

“I have finally passed my driving test, so now it will be a decision based on the weather and being able to get through any traffic jams.

“I would like to thank everybody that has helped me get to all these games over the years. It is perhaps fitting that the score was the same as in the very first game in the run and also ironic that it came against the same opposition that I saw in my first ever game at Portman Road.”

Having hit the 1,000, is he going to keep going? “I will take each game as it comes," he joked. "I seriously fully intend to make 20 seasons, after that I will go to every game I can but maybe not at risk to life and limb any more!”

And he has plans for when he reaches that 20-year milestone in April: “I wanted to do something to mark the 20th anniversary, so I thought I would cut off my long locks that have been ever-present throughout that time.

“The idea was first suggested when I appeared on Soccer AM in April 2000, Tim and Helen promising to match any money I raised.

"Unfortunately other commitments meant I couldn't make a return visit when invited to appear ahead of the play-off final. I wasn't ready for it anyway.

“However, I decided to use my long run of consecutive games as the catalyst for a fundraising effort. I'm hoping that there will be plenty of people that recognise me from my years following the Town, and can afford to pledge a little towards my target.

“Both the charities, the British Heart Foundation and the MS Society, support research into conditions that have affected members of my family, so it would really mean a lot to me to raise in excess of the target for them.”

Phil’s Just Giving page can be found here.


Photo: Action Images



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MickMillsTash added 10:51 - Dec 23
Legend
7

Greektractor added 10:58 - Dec 23
The club need to recognise this achievement, what a legend!
9

ottovonbismark added 10:59 - Dec 23
Well done Phil brilliant achievement.

This story should be put on facebook as it deserves much wider recognition, and credit to TWTD for highlighting the story in the first place.

Be interesting to see how many fans of other clubs have achieved the same.
10

CavendishBlue added 11:21 - Dec 23
`rod either madness or dedication...or both!!!!
0

ThatMuhrenCross added 11:31 - Dec 23
This guy should be recognised in the club's hall of fame.
4

Dyland added 11:53 - Dec 23
Excellent support Phil, and good luck with the fundraising.
7

BowEastLondonBlue added 12:14 - Dec 23
Wow this is great, well done Phil! I Good charity cause as well.
6

pioneerbob added 12:32 - Dec 23
Congratulations Phil, I remember you from the Mildenhall Supporters Club bus 88-90 and have bumped into you at matches here and there since - a true fan and font of all knowledge ITFC related - nice one!
2

marcusevans added 12:37 - Dec 23
How about a 1 minute round of applause in the 60th minute at the next home game? Surely supporters should be honoured as well as ex players.

I wonder how much money Phil has invested in supporting our club?
2

itfcst added 12:44 - Dec 23
I'd love to know how many miles he's clocked up over that time following town
1

Michael11 added 12:50 - Dec 23
Wow. That's incredible. I think guys like this should be rewarded for their loyalty and dedication. It'd be a good gesture to give him a free season ticket for next year or something but doubt it'll happen.
2

Shotleytractor added 12:54 - Dec 23
I tweeted the just giving page to our official page, I dont know you Phil but you are a true supporter,
1

Marshalls_Mullet added 13:03 - Dec 23
Get a life Phil.
0

FriskinPriskin1 added 13:20 - Dec 23
Thought I'd seen him about a lot...
0

reaper added 13:29 - Dec 23
Aka Mr Taylor that taught at KHS?!
0

WestNorfolk_Blue added 13:41 - Dec 23
Excellent, a true Blue. Totaly agree the club should award Phil a free season ticket.
2

AliceTheobald95 added 13:45 - Dec 23
reaper spot on there. was lucky to have him as my form tutor and left the same time as our year left year 11. It was good as we would just spend form talking about town. I will definatly be supporting him with the charity efforts. Defo a true blue and agree with many he should be offered a free season ticket
1

itfchorry added 14:56 - Dec 23
Top Work Phil
1

BlueinBrum added 16:16 - Dec 23
Unbelievable Jeff.
0

FennersITFC added 16:31 - Dec 23
Top man mr T (good teacher aswell) I knew he went to a lot of games but didn't realise that he had been to every one!

Sir it wouldn't be the same without your hair, but all for a good cause!
0

JCBLUE added 16:36 - Dec 23
Fantastic, well done!
0

StowTractorBoy added 16:42 - Dec 23
I know Phil well and this achievement is absolutely fantastic. It takes some doing to not miss a match in a season let alone for nearly 20 seasons. Phil takes his motor cycle to most games now and when he gets to matches unloads half a ton (exaggeration)of baggage and puts under his seat. A passionate fan who I last saw in action and in ecstasy, when we scored the winner at Blackpool. Would have loved a video of that. Well done Phil - a top supporter of our beloved club.
1

blueblood66 added 16:55 - Dec 23
Well done sir, a true Blue.
I have been attending games since 1977' had a season ticket then moved away for a couple of years then returned and have had a ST since 1991. Never counted how many games I have actually seen though, would be interesting!
0

carlisleaway added 18:12 - Dec 23
Well done Phil, that is an outstanding effort by you and unlikely to be beaten. I will bring this up at the next Supporters Forum held at the club every 2 months. Knocks my support of the Town for 50 years into insignificance.
1

ajs83 added 18:39 - Dec 23
I've had a season ticket since the start of the 1999-2000 season and an away passport since the start of the 2004-2005 season. I also went to the last few away games of the 2003-2004 season. The last game I missed was around April 2004 (I think it was Gillingham away). I'm coming up to 10 years since I missed a game so at approximately 50 games per season that's obviously about 500 games (although I must admit I've not been keeping count). Can anyone other than Phil do better than that?
-1


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