R.I.P. Graham Taylor

Switched the box on at 2pm, just before I went to pick my youngest up from school.

I feel as numb typing this now as I did when Hayley McQueen (who was brilliant by the way) was speaking to the likes of Gerry Armstrong & John Barnes about the great man himself.

It still hasn't sunk in properly, but I think it will on Saturday!

Such a sad day and considering I never had the good fortune to meet the man, his death has saddened me as much as it would do if it was a family member or friend.

RIP GT.

 

RIP GT

True legend. Like many here I grew up watching Watford in the late 70s / early 80's.

I live in Devon so don't get to see live games often but will be watching on TV and singing along with the crowd

 

I love this so much - https://twitter.com/OllieTrenchard/status/819541225468403714

GT's smile as he looks at the Watford Fans at Wembley.

 

Would be nice for Watford and Villa to play a pre-season friendly in his honour. He is so revered at both clubs.

 

Stan Collymore ‏@StanCollymore 5h5 hours ago

I propose any future Watford v Villa game should be for the Graham Taylor Trophy. More than an appropriate gesture.

 

Hmm, gone off the idea now that Stan has thought the same thing...

 

What a impact Graham has had on so many people's lives it is unbelievable one man could do so many great things and touch so many people in different ways.He will always be a part of my life and many others,I will never forget the spells he had at the club as long as I live and was lucky enough to witness it all as a little boy,a teenager and a grown man,He will never be forgotten for what he has done for Watford football club and will remind the greatness manager we will ever have and live in people's memories forever.Saturday is going to be so emotional for everyone involved it's going to be very hard for me aswell as I lost my mum 2 years ago Saturday I am sure most will be in tears.I hope all stands will be singing his name through out the game and give him the send off he deserves,I am sure he will be watching down on us all and will see what he means to us all.RIP.We all love you Graham Taylor and Always will.

The people we love don't go away they walk beside us everyday,unseen unheard but always near still loved,still missed and very dear.

 

Remembering Graham Taylor

Didn't want to post old videos on the main thread, but wanted to share these if, like me, you will spend most of your Friday with these playing whilst you work.

I wasn't old enough to experience the rise of the club or the highs of the 80s. These two seasons were the ones that cemented my love for the club for life.

Thank you Graham.

[video=youtube;Nxv3s8VC1gA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=Nxv3s8VC1gA[/video]

[video=youtube;00iH5-ox0FI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=00iH5-ox0FI[/video]

[video=youtube;EEsgjxJXb_k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=EEsgjxJXb_k[/video]

[video=youtube;SDZ7cslxfRw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=SDZ7cslxfRw[/video]

 

I have sent an email to the club requesting a minutes silence. As I said in the email I believe we We applaud our heroes for what they achieve and for allowing us to share their glory. But for a member of our family we mark our grief and reflect collectively in silence.

Listened to John Motson on the 5 Live tribute, I thought his contribution shone out and captured the magnitude of Graham Taylor's footballing legacy but more importantly his humanity.

 

Some more great words.

https://medium.com/@n.miller/on-graham-taylor-from-football365-48d44c105c6d#.87bsbnpgo

 

Will never forget him explaining why Barnes was leaving under the scoreboard at the Vic Rd end.

Apart from family and friends probably the single biggest influence on my life. A truly sad day but one full of joyful memories.

 

I haven't had a chance to read through the thread yet, but i'm sure i can only echo what everyone else has said.

I don't think that the death of a non family member or friend has ever made me well up before, it feels like we have lost someone very close and very special to all of us.

All I can say is Thank You Graham, thank you for the memories, thank you for making us the club we are. You are where the watford family began.

We owe you an endless debt of gratitude.

 

Funnily enough I remember that moment too.

Long time ago but it was his attention to detail and being a man of the common people which has made him a true Watford legend.

Will be sadly missed.

 

It's telling that only a few mention the promotions and incredible acheivements he had here. It was all about who he was and how he did it, rather than what he did.

 

Just woken up in Melbourne to read this devastating news. So many memories passing through my mind as I look back over his golden years. I'll be watching the game on TV and no doubt blubbing as the deserved silent and raucous tributes flow from the terraces. I'll be alone - but I'll be standing in silent respect for the greatest Hornet of all.

 

I met him in the chip shop in Croxley Green after Bristol City away. He had just picked up his dinner and was leaving when we arrived. We offered our congratulations as we had just been promoted and he the proceeded to chat to us for 20 minutes while his dinner was getting cold. I bet Rita gave him a right rollicking when got in for having cold fish and chips. I've never met a nicer man in my life, Saturday is going to be tough

 

Got an email response from Scott Duxbury within the hour, really impressive and good of him to take the time to respond so quickly, especially with all the added demands there must be on him right now

The club are consulting the family for what they want on Saturday (including minutes silence/applause) and will of course go with their wishes

Whatever form of tribute we end up with on Saturday will be be the choice of Graham's family and you can't ask for a better tribute than that

 

Truly horrible and terribly sad news. Impossible to describe quite how much he did for and meant to this club.

Best wishes with his family during this awful time.

 

Me too, I had a similar response within an hour.

 

GT was with EJ responsible for me getting totally hooked on my home town team as a boy,I do feel lucky that GT came to Watford and made our football history one which is exciting to have been part of.The football was great and our rise to almost the very top amazing.
I was disappointed when he left for Villa but then I grew up and was able to appreciate why he went.
His return led to more good times and his involvement when things got to a low was immense.
Like many I am feeling very sad today,

 

This always made me smile:

[video=youtube;z9n_XxwLoCs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9n_XxwLoCs[/video]

 

That final video of the interview truly is something. What a wonderful man he was.

His legacy will live on forever at this Club.

Gone, but never forgotten.

 

As a young kid, I only saw a Watford that laboured in his shadow - the Perryman/Lee/Roeder years. It was pretty poor fair, dwindling crowds. And then, the return. The excitement - the big crowd for that game against Ipswich. I've always felt mildly cheated that I was too young to remember his first spell (born 83) but boy, that second spell. Elton's return. The 4-0. Wembley. Anfield. It didn't matter that we didn't win at Spurs, or Villa, or Sheffield Wednesday. This was MY team. Little Watford. In the big time. I was gutted when he retired.

Today is just heartbreaking.

I won't be at the Vic on Saturday. I hope, I really, really hope, that it's a performance in his image. Of passion. Of power. Of skill. Of a team. Attacking.

 

There are odd tickets online. If you can make it as far as Brizzle there's a lift on offer.

 

Is it true that he essentially invented the football dugout/bench? Or have I made that up?

 

The thing with GT which I think made him one of a kind, are the things he did for the fans. He realised that the fans were the club, and always made time for people. Testimony to this is how many of us, have recollections of personal interactions with him.

Mine are as follows:

1. I was serving away in Germany with the Army, and I'd been on annual leave and watched a few games. I think it was at the beginning of either the 97/98 or 98/99. I wrote Graham a letter asking about our forward options or my perceived lack of them and discussing a few transfer targets. He sent me a full response, explaining the situation and why we weren't looking at the players I'd mentioned. It was a personal and detailed response, and wasn't just a few lines. Absolutely brilliant.

2. My father and I used to sponsor Stuart Slater, and we went to one of the sponsors evenings, which was at the Met Police Club at Bushey. We had just got to the do, and were sat down, without any players (lots of people were swarming around their particular player). GT came over, introduced himself, and then proceeded to chat with us for a good half hour. He then took us over to Stuart Slater, who wasn't really doing much mingling and said "Stuart, these gentleman are one of your sponsors, and they'd like to speak to you, so go to the bar and get them a drink." We then spent a while chatting with Stuart, but our day had been made, by the time spent with GT.

3. I got married in 2004. Unbeknown to me, my best man had written to GT explaining the situation and how I was a die hard Watford fan and that GT was a hero of mine. GT sent a card to my wedding, with a lovely message in the card, which the best man read out. Again it was more than a simple congratulations, and showed what a kind and caring person he was.

4. I met him again in the foyer of a hotel in Barcelona when England were playing Andorra there. He was over doing some work for the media. I went over to say hello, and to thank him for the card he had sent. He then proceeded to ask me to sit down and we chatted for while about the Hornets.

These are just little things, and I am sure loads of people will have their own anecdotes, but how many other football people would take the time that GT did with us?

All I can say, is we were blessed to have such a person involved in our club. He loved Watford FC, and we loved him. It was fantastic marriage, I for one will never forget the times he gave us. I was lucky enough to see most of the 1st period of his time here, and they were the best of times. What a manager, a legend, and above all what a gentleman. RIP GT, you will never be forgotten at Vicarage Road.

 

Funny!:sign15:

I'd forgotten all about that.

 

This is lovely, from Mark Pougatch https://twitter.com/5liveSport/status/819659386960236544

 

And me. You know the leaders of our club are very good and have high standards and honour the Graham Taylor legacy.

 

Yes that is very well delivered.

I heard it when it was broadcast earlier tonight and it is a very worthy tribute.

 

Ok that made me well up again...

 

It is testament to the man who shaped our club that so much has been said on this thread and throughout the media today. With personal experiences from posters and all of our appreciation for his love for our club he was the greatest man ever to have been associated with us.

It is so sad that a hole has been created in our hearts for a man to whom we owe so much.

Having experienced the pre Taylor days to the success with him at the helm and his leadership during the darker days pre Pozzo we would not be in the happy position we find ourselves in with PL status without his vision, passion and love for our club and us fans.

I drove past the ground tonight to see the scarves and shirts left outside and parked up to look at my clubs ground taking a few moments alone to remember him. On Saturday for those of us who can be there it will be emotional of course but deep down I am just so grateful that we were so fortunate to have had GT at our club

RIP GT

 

I started listening to the 5live tribute earlier and had to give up as started blubbing. I'm beginning to feel a bit silly now as every time I hear or read something it starts me off again. I'm going to be a complete mess Saturday

 

That was great. I've been a bit taken aback by the level of attention the Beeb have given this, it's clear that they thought as much of him as much as we do.

And I said this earlier, I really feel there is a sense of a passing of an era, as well as of a splendid human being, here. Football managers just aren't like GT anymore and the game is the worse for that.