Joseph Taylor was one of Scotland’s first football stars but his grave, rediscovered by his family in 2012, is in need of urgent attention.
He represented Scotland against England in the first-ever international match in 1872, the belated anniversary of which was celebrated last year when the teams met at Hampden, before going on to play six times in total for his country, including the first five clashes with the Auld Enemy.
He also wore the captain’s armband at Queen’s Park and lifted the first three Scottish Cups from 1874, with the 150th anniversary of the maiden success falling in March.
Now the family of a key player in Scotland’s “First Eleven” have appealed for donations after launching a JustGiving crowdfunding appeal to restore their ancestor’s final resting place near Hampden Park.
Joseph Taylor, who died from pleurisy in 1888 aged just 37, is one of only two members of that historically significant side buried in Glasgow.
Taylor’s great-grandson Colin is coordinating the restoration work on the plot at Cathcart cemetery and still needs nearly £1500 to cover the cost of the work. The current total raised stands at just over £1000.
Colin and his cousin Alex plan to attend Queen’s Park’s game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 13 April at Hampden to coincide with the official unveiling. Taylor was also a former president of Queen’s Park, who hosted a benefit match against Third Lanark after his death that attracted a crowd of 7,000 and raised over £100 for his widow and four sons.
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