FORMER Concord Rangers striker Lyle Taylor has signed for Scottish Division One side Falkirk.

And the 22-year-old, who was prolific for the Beachboys in the non-league game, immediately endeared himself to the Falkirk Stadium faithful by grabbing a hat-trick in a Ramsden Challenge Trophy game against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

Taylor was released by Bournemouth at the end of last season and had a trial game for Southend United over the summer, but he says he’s now delighted to have made the move north of the border.

“When I first heard about the opportunity I was very excited by it,” said the striker, who grew up in New Cross, South London.

“But the day before I went I started to have doubts and I spoke to my step-mum and said ‘I don’t want to go’.

“But once I got here I settled in straight away and in the end it was an easy decision to sign.”

Taylor said at just 22 he is one of the senior members of a very young team, and that in Steven Pressley they also have an up-and-coming manager who he expects to be in hot demand in the future.

He said he is enjoying life in Scotland although “a bit more sun would be nice”, and admits he struggled to understand some of the thick local accents on their pre-season tour of the Highlands.

He said: “When they talk really fast I struggle to understand them sometimes, but then they struggle to understand me too — so it’s a bit of a learning curve!”

Taylor, who started his career at Millwall, has joined the Bairns on a two-year deal after impressing Pressley during the club’s pre-season tour.

Pressley said: “Lyle was really keen to come here and I’m really pleased to bring in a player of his quality.

“We had to be quick off the mark for his signature because interest in him was growing.”