Taylor Moore stated it has been an ‘emotional’ week ahead of Bristol Rovers’ final Sky Bet League One fixture of the season against Blackpool.
Due to results elsewhere, the Gas’ place in League Two was confirmed on Tuesday night. The Pirates are four points behind Burton Albion with only one fixture left to play.
Nevertheless, there was plenty of pride the next day when Moore was named Player in the Community at the 2025 EFL Awards ceremony. His award came after he was previously selected as the League One Community Player of the Season earlier in April.
Moore reflected on the mixed week, confessing Rovers’ relegation to the fourth tier is ‘embarrassing’ before stating his pride at his achievements off the pitch.
“It’s been an emotional week for sure,” said the defender. “Ending up in this situation that we’re currently in as a club, obviously relegated officially as of last night, is a disaster. There are no other words to describe it, really. I think, personally, I feel embarrassed, and I feel ashamed that it’s happened, and I think as a squad and as a group of staff, we all should be because this club deserves a lot better than what we’ve provided this year. So, I’m absolutely devastated, and there’s no hiding from it. There are no excuses, but over the course of 45, almost 46 games, we haven’t been good enough, and we’ve paid the price. Burton Albion have shown incredible character to get out of the position they were in, and it’s just incredibly frustrating that we weren’t able to get over the line.
“Especially after a few good results in March where we were probably very optimistic about staying up. So, in the past nine games, to come away with only one point out of 27 is unacceptable. Like I said, it’s embarrassing. It’s an awful feeling and one that I’m absolutely not proud of, but on the flip side, you also mentioned that I won the award at the EFL awards this week. That did put a smile on my face, and like you said, it was very emotional. I don’t do that to win any awards or to win anything like that. You do it to make an impact on people’s lives.
“I’m very proud of what I achieved in the community this year with a great team here at the club within the Community Trust, and we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re not just satisfied with what we’ve done all. I know the pitch comes first. The football club comes first, but also having an impact on people’s lives is something that means a lot to me. We’re going to continue with that as of Sunday. We’ve got another one coming up, so, I’m proud to be launching that. It's been a disastrous and very bad season, but if I can end it on a little bit of a positive note by doing something positive with the community, then that’s a win for me.”
Moore was recognised for his outstanding work in the local community. He has looked to support mental health through his ‘5k Your Way’ initiative, which encourages participants to be open and honest about their mental health. Over 40 people attended the first walk, inspiring it to become a regular event.
His passion for mental health came as a result of his own experiences after his mother attempted suicide last year. Collecting his award on Wednesday, Moore delivered an emotional speech that brought both sides of Bristol together, with the whole city feeling his story.
Moore discussed his feelings on stage before announcing the next event this Sunday.
“I went there because I was nominated, but I didn’t actually expect to win the award,” said the defender. “Now you’re sharing your heartfelt story in front of a room of 900 people, and it is also being broadcast by Sky. I have probably told that story 50 times or given the reasons as to why I started what I did in the community, and not once has it made me emotional at all. Just there on stage, in front of everyone and even when you’re talking, you’ve got your thoughts in your mind. I’m thinking of my brothers. I’m thinking of my mum. I’m thinking of the dog that we’ve got her that’s made her better as well, and all these things are going through your mind. It was just the reception that everybody gave me in the room as well. It just made me emotional.
“Then my bottom lip started to go, and I just couldn’t stop it. I tried holding it in, but I think everyone knew that it did come from the heart, and it is raw emotion, and like you said, it’s been an emotional week anyway. So, that probably didn’t help, but I was proud to say what I said because it really did come from the heart, and the reaction has been amazing from both sides of the city. I think when it comes to mental health and stories like that, colours don’t matter.
“What we’re offering on Sunday is another 5K walk. It will be Sunday evening, and we’ll probably start around six o’clock. We will finish the route at The Gaffe Comedy Club in Bristol and that will be around 7:30 for their show. They have been absolutely brilliant. They are really looking forward to hosting however many people come, but it’s all been sorted and taken care of with the Community Trust, and we’ll have a comedy show in the evening. So, I’m looking to end a disastrous season on a bit more of a positive note with that.
“It's something that I’m looking forward to, and if we can get the same amount of people if not more, then brilliant. We’re looking to build more and more on, so I’m really looking forward to it, and hopefully, many people can come down because it’s Sunday. It makes it a little bit easier for people. It makes it a little bit easier for people, but it should be really good.”
Moving to matters on the pitch, Rovers eased their relegation concerns with back-to-back wins over Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers in March. However, eight defeats in nine league outings have proven costly, with Burton’s strong form seeing them jump above the Gas to secure their safety.
With the Pirates in League Two for the 2025/26 campaign, Moore reflected honestly on the season and the summer ahead.
“We’re going to enter into a very difficult period now where you’re going into a summer where there will be a lot of chop and change, I suppose,” he said. “Whether that’s in the playing squad or staff. The club will have to make their decisions on absolutely everyone. It’s just a disastrous way to end the season with the talent and the characters that we actually do have in that squad. We should never, ever be in the position and how we’ve allowed it to happen and happen and happen and get to a point where maybe six or eight games to go, people realising that we’re in trouble, but we’ve been in trouble all season.
“Over the course of 46 games, have we been consistent enough with our attitudes? Have we been consistent enough with our approach to training or professionalism in our daily lives? Probably, that’s each to their own, but that’s where, within the squad, we probably needed a lot more direction, and a lot more leadership, and we’ve lacked in all areas. I think, as a squad, we’ve just been on different pages. Whether that’s on the pitch and off the pitch as well.
"It’s been a real struggle, and I think in the end, we can probably openly sit here and say we got what we deserved. I know it’s horrible to say, but there’s no hiding from it. Over the course of a season, you have to be more consistent, and you have to be a lot better than what we were.
Moore has played 32 times in League One this campaign, with Iñigo Calderón utilising his versatility by playing him in several positions depending on the formation and availability. The 27-year-old has been disappointed with the campaign and wants to do everything he can to help the club move forward.
“On a personal note, have I played well? Probably not,” said Moore. “Maybe at the beginning, and I just feel like the more the season went on, I was inconsistent, especially around Christmas time and with the new manager coming in, game time has been limited. In and out, in and out and a lot of chop and change. I’ve played different positions. I’ve played at right-back. I’ve played in central midfield. I’ve not really played in my own position at centre-back, but there’s no hiding from it.
“We’ve not been good enough altogether. Personally, and individually, I feel like I could have done a lot better, and that’s for sure from a technical standpoint and on the pitch, but I know that I’ve had the right approach to everything I’ve done on a daily basis and unfortunately, that’s life, that’s football, you don’t get rewarded for doing the right things.
But there’s definitely determination and grit between my teeth to actually make things right because what’s happened here is not right. The quicker I can reset and focus on myself individually but also what I can do to affect this squad of players, this group and moving forward, how we can get back into League One, minimum.”
