Cumbrian lad Taylor Charters comes across as one of those players who just quietly gets on with it, but behind that calm, professional demeanor is a drive that has seen him edge towards 50 appearances for his hometown club (he currently sits on 48), with the latest two, a month ahead of his 22nd birthday, coinciding with back-to-back excellent team performances against Tranmere.
Employed in defence, midfield and even up front through the course of both games, manager Paul Simpson spoke after Saturday’s 2-1 home win about how it had been taken completely in his stride when the gaffer mentioned that a second-half spell as a lone striker was going to be needed on a needs must basis to see the game out.
“I really don’t mind which position I play in as long as I’m on the pitch, and when we’re winning games it makes it even better,” Taylor told us when we grabbed him ahead of the Monday morning session.
“I’m just enjoying it at the moment. Since I’ve come back from injury I’ve just tried to work hard in training to try and impress the manager. I’ve had to be patient, but it was all about taking my chance when it came.
“It’s hard at times when you aren’t playing but you’ve just got to keep working hard, and it’s finally paid off. When you get the chance you have to perform, there’s pressure on and you’re expected to go and perform, and that’s what I’ve tried to do.
“It’s been good to be involved in the last few games. I wasn’t up in Largs because of my injury but I know the lads talked about wanting a cup run in their meetings up there. We’ve made a good start with that, and we’ve had a good start in the league as well, we’ve just got to try and keep it up now.”
On the double-header of victories against Tranmere, he said: “We’re not just getting results, we’re getting the performances to go with it.
“It’s a long season and we’ve got to keep it up for as long as we can. It’s brilliant to be involved in it, after the win at Tranmere last week the atmosphere in the stands was class and even on the bus home we had the music going and everyone was still bouncing.
“It just puts everyone in a good mood which I think helps with the confidence and consistency as well. The fans were unbelievable at Tranmere, when you hear them singing during the whole game it does give you an extra gear to keep on going.
“It was a bit weird to play Tranmere twice but we didn’t think too much into it. I can only speak for myself but it probably gave me a bit of extra confidence going into the second game because I knew we’d beaten them once, so there was no reason why we couldn’t do it again.”
His more advanced roles in the last two outings have brought an assist, and a chance in the away game that he’s still beating himself up about now.
“I was pleased with my assist on Saturday,” he confirmed. “I think I might say I prefer them over goals, but I might change my mind if I eventually get another!
“When I passed it I was just hoping that Jayden would finish it off. When he took it round the keeper I just wanted him to smash it in, but it got there in the end.
“I should probably have scored the chance I had away at Tranmere. I watched it back a few times and I know I should have put it the other side, but those sorts of things are easy to say afterwards.
“It’s much harder in the moment. I’d back myself if I get that opportunity again to put it in the back of the net.
“I ended up as a striker on Saturday, but I really don’t mind what I’m asked to do. I think the least you can do is put a shift in even if you aren’t in your preferred position, and that’s definitely what I tried to do at the weekend.”
Having put his marker down by knocking on the manager’s door in the best way possible – performing on the pitch – he also accepts that there’s healthy competition for places, with nothing a guarantee.
“It feels unbelievable to be getting more game time,” he said. “Since I signed professionally I just want to play for Carlisle every week, so hopefully I can try and do that.
“We’ve had four Cumbrians on the pitch for the past two games as well, which I think is class. Most of us have been through the academy and the dream then is always to go and play for the first team.
“When there’s four of us on the pitch doing that it does mean a lot. When you get your chance on the pitch you’ve just got to perform, try your best and hope that the manager keeps you in the team.”
