That hard period, which saw Taylor harshly lampooned by tabloid newspapers who called him a “turnip”, couldn’t detract from the respect he was held in across the football world.
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English football has lost one of it’s warmest individuals.
Taylor, who won admiration by leading Aston Villa and Watford into the top-flight in the 1980s, died early Thursday of a suspected heart attack, his family said.
After beginning his managerial career at Lincoln, Taylor was appointed Watford manager in 1977 by its chairman Elton John.
Taylor would help develop John Barnes into one of the stars of the English game.
“It was a very sad day for English football”.
“He wanted that job more than any other job”.
“Family was also a very big thing with him”. On his return in the late 1990s, he took them back into the Premier League. Credit: PA Taylor was awarded an OBE in 2002.
In my books, and in the one week I got to know him, he ranks as one of the most decent football individuals I’ve ever met, always politely and professionally responding to questions even when you had good cause to despise some of the hacks who were asking those questions. But there is no doubting he had earned his chance.
After taking England to the 1992 European Championship in Sweden, the team did not make it past the group stages. There simply was no justification for the vilification and vitriol that Taylor had to deflect but it did not break the man.
“I know Graham was very proud of his time as England manager and it was always great to see him at football grounds across the country”.
Taylor made Watford a success both on the pitch and off it, ensuring his team were an engaging force in their community.
It is no secret either that upon his departure for a second time in 2001, Watford suffered dearly without him. However, Taylor retained his sense of humour and continued as a club manager for another ten years.
FA Chairman Greg Dyke said in statement: “On behalf of everyone at The FA, I am saddened to hear this news. Unfortunately he’s passed now, I’m absolutely devastated”.
During his worldwide managerial career Taylor’s England actually just lost one match in 23 games.
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Passion An unfailingly pleasant, amusing and helpful man, Taylor understood the game and loved it with a real passion. “Pat Rice had him as a manager and spoke to me about how passionate and interesting it was to work under him at Watford”.
