John Marks 40 Years on Clyde Board
It is not often that Chairman John Taylor is caught by surprise, but that is exactly what happened before Saturday’s match against Edinburgh City, when his 40th anniversary as a member of the club’s Board was marked with a special presentation in the Boardroom.
Keeping the celebration under wraps was no easy task. With John’s unrivalled knowledge of the club’s day-to-day operations, very little gets past him, but on this occasion the surprise was successfully kept until the moment arrived.
John was presented with a framed painting of Clyde legend Harry Haddock lifting the Scottish Cup in 1958 by his fellow Directors, marking four decades of service to the club.
His contribution to the wider Scottish game was also recognised, with SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster and Chairman Murdoch MacLennan joining the occasion to present John with a medal in recognition of his outstanding service to Scottish football.
A lifelong supporter, John grew up in Oatlands, just across from Shawfield, and attended his first Clyde match in 1961. He joined the Clyde Board in August 1986 and, in the four decades since, has become one of the most familiar, trusted and knowledgeable figures in the club’s history.
John has become a fountain of knowledge in football administration and operations over the decades. He served as Club Secretary for twenty-seven years and currently holds the position of General Manager, carrying out the countless tasks behind the scenes that are essential to the day-to-day running of the football club.
In February 2025, John added another significant responsibility when he took on the role of Chairman, bringing to the position the same diligence, knowledge and meticulous attention to detail that have characterised his service to the club throughout his career.
John’s service to Scottish football has also extended well beyond Clyde. He has served on a number of SFA committees, including the SFA Council and Football Regulations Advisory Board, as well as acting as Head of Delegation for the Under 19 and Under 21 international squads. He currently sits as a member of the SFA Judicial Panel and the Rules Revision Committee. He has also held committee roles with the SFL and the SPFL and has been a long-serving Secretary of the Glasgow Football Association, where he continues to represent Clyde on the committee.
His work has also taken him onto the European stage. For more than a decade, John served as a UEFA Match Delegate, for the European football’s governing body at matches including FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, UEFA European Championship qualifiers, Champions League, Europa League and Conference League matches, as well as youth competitions at international and club level across 35 countries.
Alongside his many other roles, John became the driving force behind one of the most highly regarded publications in Scottish football, The Clyde View.
He joined the editorial team in 1980, becoming editor in 1991. Under his stewardship, the programme enjoyed an extraordinary run of success, winning Scottish Programme of the Year for 12 consecutive seasons from 1995-96 to 2006-07, and again in 2008-09, as well as the Divisional Award for 21 consecutive seasons.
It is a record that reflects not only the quality of The Clyde View, but also the care and attention John has devoted to documenting the club’s story for generations of supporters.
Gordon Thomson, who has served alongside John on the Clyde Board since 2009, paid tribute to his colleague.
“John’s outstanding service, loyalty and resilience through all of those 40 years deserves this recognition. However, more importantly he is worthy of our thanks for his qualities as a person. A true gentleman, kind, thoughtful and generous who always puts the club before himself.”
John’s 40 years on the Board, and his wider contribution to the club and Scottish football, are a remarkable achievement.
Everyone at Clyde FC would like to congratulate John on this milestone and thank him for his continued dedication and service to the club.