Graham Taylor Dies

[Pagnell]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38599231

 

[You Orns]

Absolutely gutted to hear the news today. His first spell at Watford was long before I was born but it was during his second that I first started to go to games.

If ever one man built a football club it was Graham Taylor with Watford, even with Elton Johns money we never would have made it as far without him.

I know many people judge him on his time as England manager but he will always be a football legend to me.

R.I.P Graham Taylor. You will always be in the hearts of every Watford fan.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I am surprised as he wasn't that old and I hadn't heard anything about ill-health.
Did a marvellous job at Lincoln City, Watford and Aston Villa but he wasn't cut out for international football. He did have a lot of bad luck as England manager, what with our key flair players suffering injuries just before Euro 92 and the infamous Koeman professional foul incident in that fateful game in Rotterdam.
He always came across as a very decent and honourable man too.

 

[Son of Cod]

When I was like 9 or 10 and I first read about the Taylor Report when Grimsby started getting rid of the standing areas at Blundell Park, I thought that Graham Taylor was the one who decided that everywhere had to be seated and because he was England manager at the time he got what he wanted.

 

[Pagnell]

I am surprised as he wasn't that old and I hadn't heard anything about ill-health.

"The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss."

It looks like there was no ill health involved and it was unexpected.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Very sad news. He led us to an FA Cup Quarter Final in 1994 too . As said above he was a bit before my time too, but I know many Wolves fans held him in high regard around these parts

RIP Graham.

 

[Pagnell]

Already created a thread in international football.

 

[Blitzballer]

oh man rip

 

[Red]

Upon learning of this one thought sprung to mind ' - Do I not like that!

Straight talking and seemed like a genuinely nice bloke.

RIP

 

[tonymac84]

Sad news indeed. Remember him as England boss when I first started getting into football. Seemed a genuine guy and will be a big miss to the game

 

[rudebwoyben]

"The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss."

It looks like there was no ill health involved and it was unexpected.

Deepest sympathies to them.
Was he still working on BBC 5 Live this season?

 

[Aber gas]

I reckon that documentary thing he did was a high point in football based documentaries. Anybody that says it was " ill judged" is wrong. Fantastic stuff and showed him as a true football man.
RIP GRAHAM.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Just seen this story linked somewhere else: http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/1958456.graham_taylor_best_man_for_job/ What a great bloke.

 

[You Orns]

There's countless stories like it.

My dad always say's that he first met Graham Taylor as a ball boy in 1976 and every time he met him afterwards Graham would always recognise him.

I only met him once, when I was a mascot for our first game in the premiership in 1999 and I am now filled with regret that I never had the chance to meet him again as I can't remember much about that day at all.

I'm upset that I'm unable to get to Vicarage Road on Saturday because it will be an incredible emotional day for all.

 

[Luke Imp]

Our most successful manager.

The youngest manager at the time he was appointed (28). Most wins (32), least defeats (4) and highest points total (74 - 2 points for a win at that time) in our 4th Division title season.

Ironically enough, we could reach the FA Cup 4th round on Tuesday if we beat Ipswich in our replay. The last time we did that, Graham Taylor was manager.

 

[Luke Imp]

Leigh Curtis ‏@LeighCurtis_NP 50m50 minutes ago
Graham Taylor told me how he rejected West Brom because they never intended to pay @LincolnCity_FC full compo. Watford did. Rest is history.

Leigh Curtis ‏@LeighCurtis_NP 45m45 minutes ago
That was the mark of Graham Taylor. Sacked West Brom off to make sure Lincoln got what they were due. A man of principle. Love that.

 

[Super_horns]

Very sad and tragic.

Of course a true WFC legend or maybe the true WFC legend!

Will always remember the 2 promotions in 98 and 99 under GT (was too late to enjoy the wonderful era of the late 70s/80s)

RIP.

 

[Super_horns]

Don't think so but as above there hadn't been any reports of ill-health.

Very sad day for us WFC fans and GT will certainly be remembered fondly.

Until last season the only man to keep us in the top flight and reach a Cup final/Europe all through mainly keeping the same team as we went up the leagues whilst finding young stars like John Barnes.

RIP.

 

[SALTIRE]

'Do I not like Orange!!!'

The press treated him abysmally even if he wasn't up to the England job, and listen to them come out today saying what a nice guy and admirable coach he was.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

RIP Graham. I shall devour a turnip in your honour

 

[T.A]

Threads merged.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

'Do I not like Orange!!!'

It should be noted that this was prior to me using it as my text colour of choice in the shoutbox.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Tbf, whatever his limitations as Engand manager, I always thought he seemed a pretty decent bloke and obvos did fantastically at Watford. Sad times.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Didn't witness either of GT's spells at Villa, still a legend to me of course, led us from the Second Division (our last relegation before this fucker) to challenging for the First Division title. His second spell wasn't so great, of course, but there we are.

RIP to a Villa and Watford legend.

 

[Stevencc]

https://streamable.com/p2at3

Good man.

 

[SALTIRE]

 

[Luke Imp]

GT's programme notes from his first game were re-published in our programme last night:

"I demand nothing from you as the Supporters. I am not in a position to do that. You have that privilege. However, I would ask of you that before you make any demands you try and assess everything as fairly as possible.

I have had 12 years in football and won nothing. I am fully aware of Lincoln City's decline during a similar period of time. In terms of lack of success we are in the same boat. However, I refuse to become obsessed with the idea of immediate success (but I do know what I am working for) but I find that obsessions can be dangerous.

If things do not go as planned that can lead to frustration, bitterness, and irrational thinking. So that eventually one has little chance of achieving anything.

Therefore all that I and my players can do on your behalf is to try and work at our best at all times and to keep fingers crossed that this will bring its due reward not only to ourselves but to all genuine good City supporters."

 

[Luke Imp]

Here's the rest of it. Just come across it on Twitter.

 

[rudebwoyben]

A Graver wasn't a success at Leicester City then?

 

[Super_horns]

GT's funeral today so last night's great win was very fitting.

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/15062028.Graham_Taylor_funeral___live_blog/?ref=mrb&lp=10