The team may have just avoided it in spectacular fashion last season, but one player has decided that going down is definitely for him. Under, that is, for midfield ace Craig Taylor looks set to end an outstanding spell with Logica Football Club by moving to Australia at the start of October. Initially a six month loan-spell has been agreed with the Socceroos, but the player hopes ultimately to make the transfer permanent. And the Leeds dynamo will be sadly missed by fans and players alike, as the popular, hard-working and talented hot-shot has proved himself a true club-man through nearly five years sterling service for the team.

Taylor burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion by bagging what would prove to be an overwhelming choice as Goal of the Season in just his fourth ever appearance, away at Chelsea. He had already struck another goal, and by the end of that 1999/00 season, outgoing Supremo Scott Fleming knew that he had bequeathed an exciting, goalscoring midfielder to his successor.

The following season more than justified these high expectations, as Taylor thrashed home no fewer than nine goals from midfield in just 12 starts, as Logica finished in a respectable fifth spot. This haul earned him one half of the pair of Golden Boots (shared with Nigel Hoyland) whilst the all-round quality and consistency of his displays saw him voted runner-up in the Player of the Season Award. It seemed the lad could do no wrong as his 5-aside outfit Internazionale also walked off with the Mole Barn Premiership title that year.

Although ambitious to become an out-and-out striker, Taylor was a victim of his own success as his strong running and tackling, coupled with a prolific strike-rate from the middle of the park, made his selection there almost unavoidable. The following season saw him rack up a mightily impressive 20 appearances in which he notched another half dozen goals, but towards the end of 2002 serious injury started to plague his promising career. A series of knee and hamstring problems have seen him in and out of the team during the last two campaigns, although Taylor did still manage to finish third top-scorer last time out. Ironically the opportunity of a couple of swansong appearances prior to his departure has also been spoiled by yet another injury.

But Taylor has not just contributed on a Sunday morning. The Yorkshireman has been a key member of the England Pups side that has claimed a third place in each of the last three World Cups, and as ever his goals – 10 in 28 internationals - have played a major part in that success. We here at "If Selected..." will also be eternally grateful to his significant contribution. Not only did Craig regularly step in to write match reports, but he also supplied plenty of other ideas and content, such as the splendid "If Selected..." Dictionary.

So Taylor will be badly missed, and the Supremo will be more than a little worried. Despite the influx of talented young blood, there is no substitute for experience, and losing the likes of Taylor and Mainwaring at the season’s outset is a significant blow. However, after careful calculation based on the Buck Model, and using 11 appearances from Sweden as the benchmark, we estimate that Taylor should still be expected to be available for at least 5 games this season.

As well as a change in the day job, Taylor also hopes the move will help on the field too. "Hopefully the warm Australian atmosphere and some time away from playing will allow my joints to heal properly!" he says. We can only wish Craig, Vicki and his various injuries the very best of luck down under, and sincerely hope that he will stay in touch through "If Selected...". We won’t even hold against him his Bucking the usual trend of a tearful e-mailed adieu expressing genuine belief that those he’s leaving behind can win promotion this season!