Paul pictured with the Scottish cup that the team won in 2000

Paul Taylor (Oscar) is in his second spell with Whitburn and has worn the claret and amber jersey for 12 out of the previous 14 years. He first joined the club in 1987 having played senior with Aberdeen, Mansfield, Dunfermline, Dumbarton and latterly Berwick Rangers. Two years later, having starred in the Whitburn team as a left midfielder, he stepped back up senior with East Fife. There he stayed for a further two years before resigning with the Central Park side - coincidentally his father Kenny had also played for the team in the sixties and seventies, as had his brother (also Kenny). In 1991 Oscar returned to Whitburn and has stayed to this day. He has contributed fully to all of the successes the team has had during the nineties and continued to ply his trade down the left flank. He has played over 450 games for the club and has scored 64 goals, including 4 this season. He is, in addition one of Whitburn's small band of Junior internationalists.

The culmination of Paul's testimonial year was a game on Sunday 13 June which involved a Whitburn select versus an ex-Glasgow Rangers select. The Rangers team included such famous names as Jimmy Nichol, Bobby Russell, Ally Dawson, Craig Paterson, Chris Robertson, Jim Stewart, Dave MacKinnon, Stuart Williamson, Dougie Bell, John MacDonald, Sandy Robertson, Steve Richardson, Scott Wilson (Radio Forth DJ.) and John Robertson the ex Hearts man.

Back row (l to r) : unknown, Bobby Russell, Craig Paterson, Jim Stewart, Scott Wilson, Steve Richardson
Dave MacKinnon, unknown, unknown
Front row: John Robertson, Jimmy Nichol, Dougie Bell, Oscar, John MacDonald, Ally Dawson, unknown
(With apologies to those that I do not recognize - can anyone help? Email me please!)

Derek Strickland and George Fairley took charge of Oscar's Whitburn team. A large number of Paul's current and old teammates made up the Whitburn select. Paul's daughter Amy (pictured on Paul's knee in each of the team photos was the mascot for the game.

The first half Whitburn team - including such old favourites as Evan Balfour, Robert Burns, Colin Campbell, Carlo Crolla, George Fairley, Keith Ferguson, John Perry, Steve Prior and Robert Scott.

The second half Whitburn team - ex players : Derek Black, Lee Bullen, Glynn Bullen, Scott Cowan, Colin Grant , Jimmy Rae, Ian Ramage and David Scott.

The game itself was played in bright sunshine in front of a good crowd who had turned out for Paul. The football on view was generally good as both teams tried to play the ball on the ground. There were many substitutions as everyone got a game and later some swopping of teams as some of the older Rangers players began to feel tired.

For the record Whitburn won 3-2 and Paul scored a lovely goal, stretching at the far post to finish off a good right wing cross.

A dinner for Paul was held in the club after the game with John Robertson and John McKelvie speaking. Comedian Scott Glynn also entertained the audience after the meal.

There were various pieces of football memorabilia available as prizes, one of the most sought after probably being a Rangers strip signed by Paul Gascoigne.

500 for Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor notched up five hundred games for Whitburn in the game versus Newtongrange on Saturday 30 March 2002. In these days this is a magnificent achievement. Paul has figured prominently in all the major achievements of the club over the last 10 years and he deserves credit for sticking by the club. I received the following email in response to his recent presentation by the club and the supporter's club :

Please accept my sincere thanks to everyone on the Football & social club committee for the presentation of the beautiful crystal decanter marking my 500th appearance for the club. It goes down as one of the proudest moments in my time for the club and I can't thank you all enough for making it such a memorable day for me.
Many Thanks Oscar

And thanks, Oscar for all the times you have pulled on a Whitburn jersey. Let's hope you do so to good effect for a while yet!