Joe Taylor has revealed he had interest from as many as 25 clubs after his decision to leave Ramsgate was made public.

Taylor joined National League South outfit Hornchurch on Friday, just over a week on from his Rams exit.

The prolific striker was a man in demand after scoring 101 goals in two seasons back with his hometown club, captaining them to the Isthmian South East championship.

He departs Southwood as the club’s record goalscorer and, at 34, feels it’s now or never to show what he can do at Step 2.

“I had a lot of clubs in for me,” said Taylor.

“I’d say about 25 and I had five offers at Step 2.

“Hornchurch tried to buy me out of my contract when I was at Lewes and Ramsgate, and they both got rejected.

“We’re emotional souls, us strikers, we need to feel wanted and loved and Hornchurch are a club who’ve come in for me a few times and it’s not quite happened.

“They did really well last season and it’s a good club to be joining with everything they’re doing, on and off the pitch.

“The whole project fits for me.

“It was important for me if I made the step to National South that I was with a good side and I was wanted.

“At Ramsgate and Lewes I’ve been the only striker in the squad but at Hornchurch it’s not going to be that way.

“There may be three or four strikers in the squad but I want to prove to myself I can go and score goals at that level and that’s the challenge for me.

“I think the top scorer in that league last year was low 20s.

“I’m aiming for 25, I think that’s realistic.

“I haven’t gone below 30 for a long time now, so it’s hard not to say 30 but it’s going to be new environments for me.

“I’ve played at lots of the grounds in that league but there’s lots of grounds I haven’t played at and I’ve got to learn a new set of players, a new playing style, so I’m looking forward to that.

“It’s going to improve me as a player.

“I know I’m 34 now but that’s what football’s about, constantly improving and learning, and it’s the right time to move on to that level if I do want to better myself.

“The goals don’t move, do they?

“It’s business as usual for me in terms of aiming for goals.

“I live off my goals, I’m not happy if I’m not scoring but also I’m going to be part of a good squad and I’m looking to improve the other players’ games around me.

“I’ll hold it up for them and make chances for others but I’m judged on my goals and I’m going for goals.”

Taylor briefly played in National League South - then Conference South - more than a decade ago when he joined Farnborough from Sittingbourne.

He also had short spells with Ebbsfleet and Welling on loan from Cray Wanderers during the Covid years.

“I’ve had a little taste of it, but before I finished playing I wanted to give it a crack properly and get involved in a good side,” said Taylor.

“Hornchurch have got a good manager, in Daryl McMahon, and good players so it’s a good opportunity for me, that’s how I see it.

“I’m 34 and I’m playing the best football I’ve ever played, so I’ve got to give it a go now or that opportunity won’t come again.

“It’s been in my mind for a few years. When I left Lewes I wanted to go and give it a crack but I stepped down a level to join my hometown club, Ramsgate, because of the project they had.

“They said to me it’s a two-year project, we want to go up, we want you to be at the centre of that.

“I leave there as the club’s leading goalscorer in their history, broke the record for the most goals scored in one season, scored 101 goals across the two seasons and won a league title.

“So it’s job done there for me and now this next chapter is to have a crack in a league where I’ve got a few things to prove to myself, not to anyone else.”