Popular Post markavfc40 Posted January 12, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) This has knocked the stuffing out of me. I was only 8 when Ron Saunders left the club so during my time of really properly supporting us then Graham Taylor is the greatest manager during that time by a long way. I was lucky enough to be at Goodison Park with about five thousand plus other Aston Villa fans for his last game as manager with us. Not one of us left that ground and all chanted Graham Taylors claret and blue army until he came back out onto the pitch 20 minutes after the game had finished. We knew he was off to manage England but we wanted to salute the man who had given us our pride back and some. I want to salute him again. So thanks for the memories Graham. I will cherish them. RIP Edited January 12, 2017 by markavfc40 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mykeyb Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Awful news and very upsetting not only for Villa fans but fans of football. RIP Graham Thanks for everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 This man was a major part of my great love affair with the club. He was the manager when football and Aston Villa clicked for me. I'd been to a few games prior to him taking over, but that first season in the old Division 2 was when it all started to make sense to me. He was also responsible for bringing in three of the best players I've ever seen on a football pitch (McGrath, Platt, and Yorke), as well as bringing Sid back to the club (I only edited a post in the 'Modern Legends' tread earlier today, to acknowledge this). I'm genuinely a bit emotional writing this. He was a hero, and he'll forever be a Villan. RIP Sir Graham. Holte Ender In The Sky. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tismyk Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 10 minutes ago, markavfc40 said: This has knocked the stuffing out of me. I was only 8 when Ron Saunders left the club so during my time of really properly supporting us then Graham Taylor is the greatest manager during that time by a long way. I was lucky enough to be at Goodison Park with about five thousand plus other Aston Villa fans for his last game as manager with us. Not one of us left that ground and all chanted Graham Taylors claret and blue army until he came back out onto the pitch 20 minutes after the game had finished. We knew he was off to manage England but we wanted to salute the man who had given us our pride back and some. I want to salute him again. So thanks for the memories Graham. I will cherish them. RIP I was there as well and remember that, also we were singing Graham Taylors claret and blue army before half time, never stopped singing it all through half time and carried on for a number of mins into the second half, the longest chant I have ever witnessed from us or anyone else, indeed at the end of the match the Everton fans to a man leaving on the left hand side applauded us Villa fans, after the match said they had never witnessed fans like us before. Back to the topic RIP GT. another HITS. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 WTF !!! Gutted - a truly unique man, whose like we shall never see again. He had the ability to always do the sensible level headed thing - Yet at the same commanded the respect of the players and swiftly kicked anyone up the ass if they stepped out of line. I loved the time he returned to VP as watford manager - as he he took his seat the whole ground rose in applause to salute him. His time as England manager was doomed from the start, as the london press wanted 'El Tel' as the manager and reverted to disgraceful levels to undermine him. Goodbye Sir Graham, I wish there more who shared the values of decency , Honestly and integrity that you displayed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hippo Posted January 12, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2017 Come on Dr Tony - lets Organise a Villa v Watford posthumous testimonial - all proceeds to charity. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam100 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I was on my way to Libya, of all places, for work. At the airport I picked up a copy of the Irish Independent. They had a picture of Graham with Paul McGrath and Kent Nielsen, having signed them the day before. Genuinely exciting. Thanks for everything Graham and rest in peace. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hev Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 What truly sad news. RIP Sir Graham Taylor. True Villa Legend. What may have been for us had England not come calling ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted January 12, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted January 12, 2017 Devastating news. RIP Sir Graham - absolutely gutted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMcKenna Posted January 12, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted January 12, 2017 Very sad - he gave us some great times :-( RIP Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Terrible news , he had a real affection for the club , and if it wasn't for the lure of the England job , he could of been ,I believe , as successful as Saunders and Barton before him . The original three at the back manager . " The bells are ringing " . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brommy Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Such sad news. I met Graham a couple of times and he was very polite to me as a young man somewhat in awe of him. I was also at Goodison for his final game in his most successful period at Villa and remember the constant chanting of his name. It left the Everton fans stunned. My thoughts are with Graham's family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastie Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 1 minute ago, Hev said: What truly sad news. RIP Sir Graham Taylor. True Villa Legend. What may have been for us had England not come calling ! Truly believe he would have built a great dynasty at villa had the England job not taken him away . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markavfc40 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) 27 minutes ago, tismyk said: I was there as well and remember that, also we were singing Graham Taylors claret and blue army before half time, never stopped singing it all through half time and carried on for a number of mins into the second half, the longest chant I have ever witnessed from us or anyone else, indeed at the end of the match the Everton fans to a man leaving on the left hand side applauded us Villa fans, after the match said they had never witnessed fans like us before. Back to the topic RIP GT. another HITS. You’re right. That day was all about saluting him. I actually travelled up with an Everton fan and his dad and they sat in the home end and me, three mates and my old man were in the away end and like you say the Everton fans after the game said they had never witnessed away support like it. It was a cracking game as well and a fitting way for his stint with us to finish. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up that day when he came back out to acknowledge us and just thinking about it now brings a lump to my throat. No Villa manager has been loved like he was since and there won’t have been many before. We were crying out for a Graham Taylor now and if we have one, or eventually find one, half as good as he was during that first stint we will be very lucky. Edited January 12, 2017 by markavfc40 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TrentVilla Posted January 12, 2017 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2017 34 minutes ago, tismyk said: I was there as well and remember that, also we were singing Graham Taylors claret and blue army before half time, never stopped singing it all through half time and carried on for a number of mins into the second half, the longest chant I have ever witnessed from us or anyone else, indeed at the end of the match the Everton fans to a man leaving on the left hand side applauded us Villa fans, after the match said they had never witnessed fans like us before. Back to the topic RIP GT. another HITS. I was there as well, I was only a kid but you could tell it was special. Years later I spoke to Sir Graham about it, it put a tear in his eye. You could tell it was a special moment in his career. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilS Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 45 minutes ago, markavfc40 said: This has knocked the stuffing out of me. I was only 8 when Ron Saunders left the club so during my time of really properly supporting us then Graham Taylor is the greatest manager during that time by a long way. I was lucky enough to be at Goodison Park with about five thousand plus other Aston Villa fans for his last game as manager with us. Not one of us left that ground and all chanted Graham Taylors claret and blue army until he came back out onto the pitch 20 minutes after the game had finished. We knew he was off to manage England but we wanted to salute the man who had given us our pride back and some. I want to salute him again. So thanks for the memories Graham. I will cherish them. RIP You must be of a similar age to me then. GT in his first stint is probably the last time a manager to leave Villa on a high and not under a cloud. The man who bought us God, Yorke and Platt for small transfer fees, probably the best acquisitions in my time of supporting Villa. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpt666 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Hit les hit les over the top ..........**** hell.....!!! Not only a great manager but a great bloke RIP my friend and thanks for the memories 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meregreen Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Saved us when we were in freefall as a club, and with a pretty average team, took us to within a whisker of pipping a world class Liverpool team to the title. Only the best managers can do that. In a sport that can be both brutal and cynical, he showed that nice guys can win. A true gentleman and a great servant of AVFC, who came to this clubs aid in its hour of need. Thanks for the memories Graham. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Heart attack apparently so sad. He was a decent bloke you could tell. Gary linkear spoke so highly about him on motd year ago. Never seen Lineker do that with anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Albrighton Posted January 12, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted January 12, 2017 Very sad news, rest in peace. Echoing what others have said, I'm a bit too young to remember his first spell in charge but I hold him in high regard for what he achieved with the club. From his time at Wolves I heard stories about how friendly and approachable he was and it's nice to hear that others on here also found this to be the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts