Huddersfield Town star once 'hated' football after brutal Norwich City decision | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town's Joe Taylor almost quit football for good after being released by Norwich City at 15

Huddersfield Town’s Joe Taylor once made the decision to walk away from chasing the dream of becoming a footballer after suffering major disappointment at Norwich City.

The 23-year-old has been with the Terriers since January 2025, signing from Luton Town, and he’s now cemented himself as a core part of the first team squad.

The Yorkshire outfit agreed to loan him to Wigan Athletic in the 2026 January window, but he has since returned to become a regular starter at John Smith’s Stadium.

Taylor played a minor role in helping the Hatters gain Premier League promotion in 2023, including having a goal ruled out in the play-off final, but he ultimately wasn’t able to establish himself as a key part of the squad prior to his switch to Huddersfield.

Joe Taylor opens up on how he once hated football

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Taylor originally started his football career at the age of just nine, joining Norwich’s academy system.

However, he did not receive his scholarship, which led to his exit from the Norfolk outfit, and that caused him to lose interest in the sport altogether.

The 23-year-old revealed that he turned his attention to rugby, even though he had been offered a position at Peterborough United after his exit from the Canaries.

“I was more a cricket fan as a kid but got signed by Norwich aged nine,” said Taylor, via The Sun.

“But I didn’t get my scholarship and that was the worst feeling I’ve had in football, apart from my disallowed goal at Wembley!

“Myself and another lad who was released, Aaron Powell, got trials at Peterborough and were offered deals.

“Aaron said ‘yes’ but I turned mine down because I hated football.

“I didn’t want to play anymore. I said, ‘Dad, this isn’t for me.’ He asked, ‘So what is?’ I told him, ‘Rugby’.”

But Taylor eventually found his way back to football, joining King’s Lynn Town, where he worked his way back up the English football pyramid.

Joe Taylor’s King’s Lynn success

Taylor signed for King’s Lynn in 2021 at the age of 16, making his return to football after the disappointment of not making it at Norwich, while also working part-time behind a hotel bar.

The youngster made a strong impression with the non-league side at the age of 16, having gotten over the disappointment of being released at 15.

But after 21 goals in 13 appearances, he finally made the switch to Peterborough in November of that year, signing a two-and-a-half year deal.

Joe Taylor’s road to Huddersfield

While Taylor only played 12 times in the league for the Posh, it was enough to get the attention of Luton, who signed Taylor in 2023.

The forward had loan spells with Colchester United and Lincoln City during his time with the Hatters, but he did also play 18 times in the Championship for the club, as well as in the play-off final.

The former Norwich academy player made 13 appearances in the second tier in 2024/25, with the Hatters struggling for form in the first half of the campaign.

Huddersfield took advantage of their slide down the table, securing the services of Taylor in the winter market.

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Joe Taylor’s impact at Huddersfield

The Terriers swooped in for Taylor in January 2025, but he struggled for form at first which led to a loan spell with Wigan last season.

But a strong stint with the Latics showed what Taylor can do for the Yorkshire outfit, having scored 11 times in 21 appearances in League One for the third tier side in 2025/26.

Upon his return, the forward has now been reinstated into the Huddersfield starting lineup, with the club targeting a push for promotion.