Graham Taylor: Former England manager dies at the age of 72

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

"Former England manager Graham Taylor has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 72.

During his club management career, he led Watford and Aston Villa to runners-up spot in the old First Division.

He also took Watford to the 1984 FA Cup final, where his side were beaten by Everton at Wembley.

Taylor was appointed England boss in 1990 but resigned in 1993 after the team's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

A family statement said: "With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack."

RIP

 

Very sad. He was cruelly and unnecessarily vilified by the gutter press when he was England manager.

 

Oddly, he came up in conversation last night when I was out.

I was explaining (ranting) why the England national team is dead to me as the FA are an utter joke, employing a long line of ****e managers since Bobby Robson.

He was one of them but when considered against McClaren, Erikson, Cappello and Hodgson he was actually not too bad.

 

Crap as England manager, but he didn't deserve the personal abuse.
He was humiliated by the stupid idea of having a documentary with such open access.
Did well as a club manager and seemed like an ok bloke, if a bit of a pillock.

 

His England tenure was a shambles, but he was a very good club manager. Did really well at Watford and seem to remember him doing a good job at Villa too (the first time)

 

I think that Watford and Villa would be quite happy to finish 2nd in the top-flight and reach a cup final now!

 

Quite a feat looking back really. Especially with Watford, they were a lower division club when he took over and he took them up repeatedly.

 

Yeah, Elton's John's having a **** few weeks, isn't he?

 

Chief doesn't get points for this.

I can prove why, but I don't think there will be any need for that, we are reasonable enough to know i am right.

RIP

 

I might chuck him into the mix in the Dead Pool tbh, he must be looking over his shoulder....

 

No **** Spurlock

 

Irrespective of football achievements, the man has died. RIP Graham Taylor.

 

Do I not like this news!

 

You are quite the detective, fair play!

 

Is **** news.

A true lover of the game and someone who genuinely cared about English football and did his best.

 

Will disagree on the Documentary, when that showed the pressures that he was under, he gained a lot of sympathy! When he was telling the forth official that the linesman had cost him his job.

 

I've just heard that in 2008 at a book signing, a watford fan slipped Taylor a note asking him to be best man at his wedding. Lo and behold, Graham Taylor turned up at the church and did it. If true, what a legend.