Ayr United forward Ross Taylor has opened up about being released by three clubs early in his career and how that adversity paved the way for his current success in the Scottish Championship.
The 23-year-old was let go by Rangers, St Mirren and Morton in quick succession before rebuilding his career in Junior football with Auchinleck Talbot. Despite the setbacks, he has risen to prominence with Ayr United, scoring five goals since joining the club in June.
Career Setbacks and Resilience
Taylor's journey began with disappointment at Rangers, where he was released at age 11, mainly due to his small size. He then spent five or six years at St Mirren before being released in 2020, a move he admitted was overdue.
"There were umpteen times when I wouldn't come on in games or I'd be playing down an age group," Taylor said. "I was wasting my time there, development wise. But I had that personal pride where I didn't want to say, 'I'm going'."
He moved to Morton a week later but was let go again after a year with the reserves, citing financial reasons. "Mentally, it was something I was getting used to," he said. "You become more of a realist. I began to accept that I wouldn't be a full-time footballer."
Turning Point and Rise Through the Ranks
While working at Morrisons and studying at Stirling University, Taylor nearly gave up on his dream. But a night out in Liverpool with his Talbot teammates proved pivotal, as he sat an exam sober while others nursed hangovers.
"I went back to Morrisons for a while and just had my one season at Talbot. I scored 16 and got 13 assists," Taylor recalled. His performances earned him a move to Stenhousemuir, where he scored 18 goals last term and helped the club win promotion to the Championship.
Manager Gary Naysmith, who had signed him for Stenhousemuir, brought him to Ayr United in the summer. Taylor credits Naysmith and assistant Brown Ferguson, along with Talbot boss Tommy 'Tucker' Sloan, as major influences on his career.
Aiming for the Premiership
Taylor has already made an impact at Ayr, with five goals and three assists. He believes his development as a goalscorer came from working on his positioning and composure, despite not scoring on loan at Kilbirnie Ladeside a few years ago.
"It's been a big step-up. You feel it, even in training," he said. "My aim has to be to reach the Premiership. Once you're in the Championship, it's all you want to do."
Reflecting on his journey, Taylor added: "It certainly beats working in Morrisons, 100 per cent."
