Graham Taylor

Dies aged 72 RIP

So sad to hear. Good memories of the town team he played in  R.I.P. Graham

So sad, died young, RIP Graham.

Not much of an age, once again. I was expecting some coverage of him given his former Lincoln connections and their Cup coverage, this is a bit of a shock. Sad news.

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

sad news

Nice guy who never lost his dignity, RIP Graham

rip

RIP Graham started with Town and ended up manager of England.

Played for Grimsby and managed England so he ticked two boxes many could only dream of.

RIP

R.i.p. graham one of the very first players I saw when a young one

Sad news indeed.

RIP Graham.

Sad news. Do I not like that.

Met him at St James Church where he gave a great talk about his career and living down Hainton Avenue. Was a left footed right back if I remember rightly. Seemed a lovely bloke.

He never forgot Town and often mentioned us .....thoughts with his family

What a shame a former Mariner and true football man, RIP Graham.

'Do I not like that'  

Rip graham, seems to me that this bloke was one of the old school gentlemen of the game,honest and said it how it was...got treated shockingly by the gutter press but still had everyone's respect for the manner in which he conducted himself,if there were more like him in the game then it would be in a better place.

Another part of my youth gone. RIP Graham. Graham was an excellent full back. He didn't need to be fast because he was football intelligent and it was obvious he would go into management.

I remember seeing his Watford side trounce Town at BP when he more or less invented Route One tactics with Luther Blissett and Ross Jenkins and later on John Barnes. Graham had read some research by a football fan academic in which every goal for several seasons had been examined. The results showed that most of them came from mistakes following a long ball out from defence. Graham took this to heart at Lincoln and then Watford. He adapted it a bit when Watford went into Europe but he was still in favour of the percentage game even as England manager, hence his choice of McMenemy as an assistant.

He was great to listen to. Very astute and always remembered his roots. He was the son of Tom Taylor who was "Poacher" reporting Scunthorpe games in the Saturday Telegraph.

He was a top man. Showed kindness and generosity to me personally when he didn't need to. Thanks Graham!

RIP Graham. Condolences to his family and friends. Very sad news.

After the Mariners had beaten Bournemouth at Wembley in 1998, Alan Buckley bemoaned the fact that the team had an away fixture at Carlisle just two days later! He said that the fixture list was not compiled by 'football people'.

Alan' s idea of a football person would be someone like Graham Taylor who loved the game and spoke so knowledgeably about it. I was truly shocked to hear that Graham has passed away and feel proud to think that such a good football man was associated not just with Grimsby Town but Lincolnshire football in general. He was a true gentleman; we have lost the ultimate football person. Rest in peace, Graham.

Old School. RIP Graham

Quoted from psgmariner

Sad news. Do I not like that.

Met him at St James Church where he gave a great talk about his career and living down Hainton Avenue. Was a left footed right back if I remember rightly. Seemed a lovely bloke.

He did play a few games at right back but mostly he was on the left,

When  he went to Lincoln from us he had an injury that stopped him playing and he became one of the youngest managers at the age of 28,

He got Lincoln promoted twice and then moved to Watford and the rest is history,

He was a nice person as well.

Very sad indeed. Will be much missed in the game - especially his intelligence and integrity - two traits that are fading fast.

RRFC - were you referring to the work of Charles Hughes?

Quoted from chaos33

Very sad indeed. Will be much missed in the game - especially his intelligence and integrity - two traits that are fading fast.

RRFC - were you referring to the work of Charles Hughes?

Yes Chaos it was Hughes wasn't it? Thinking about it, he was actually an FA coach in the 80s/90s wasn't he? They nicknamed him The Professor because of the all research and books he'd written.

Very sad news. My condolences to family and friends.

Yep, and Charles Hughes was big in the FA for some time. The extensive research he was involved in revealed lots of important facts about the game - eg, that they could barely find an example of a team failing to score if they managed 10 shots on target, or that the majority of goals derived from crosses. Taylor used his work quite extensively in his tactics and made it pay as a manager.

An absolute gentleman who got a load of grief he didn't deserve and dealt with it superbly.

Shocked to hear this sad news. His tremendous success as a manager often overshadowed his excellence as a player. His full back partnership with Jimmy Thompson is easily the best I've seen during all my years of watching Town. Condolences to his family. RIP.

My cousin played in the same reserves side as Graham Taylor many years ago, and it was the same cousin who started my love of Grimsby Town by taking a wooden stool and propping me up in the Main Stand against the fence.

Very sad loss of a true gentleman.

Quoted from chaos33

Yep, and Charles Hughes was big in the FA for some time. The extensive research he was involved in revealed lots of important facts about the game - eg, that they could barely find an example of a team failing to score if they managed 10 shots on target, or that the majority of goals derived from crosses. Taylor used his work quite extensively in his tactics and made it pay as a manager.

Wasn't there also some sort of statistic that showed goals were rarely scored if they came after the end of a move containing more than X number of passes? Hence the idea of whacking the ball forward ASAP and avoiding too much of that pesky passing lark.

Anti-Buckleyball, in effect.

Quoted from Maringer

Wasn't there also some sort of statistic that showed goals were rarely scored if they came after the end of a move containing more than X number of passes? Hence the idea of whacking the ball forward ASAP and avoiding too much of that pesky passing lark.

Anti-Buckleyball, in effect.

Yes, that's what started this conversation. Fast breaks mean fewer defenders. Graham used this theory at Lincoln but more so at Watford. The ball was knocked up to Ross Jenkins who was about 6'6" and he would nod/play it on to Luther Blissett who no-one could catch. This was copied by Wimbledon with John Fashanu in the Ross Jenkins role.

Remember getting his autograph at BP years ago. Lovely chap.

Sad news...RIP

I do remember seeing Watford play against us at BP some years back (after Taylor, I think, possibly Buckley Mk. II era?) and had to laugh at a bald bloke in midfield (Page?) who just whacked the ball up and under every time it came to him. They obviously remained pretty direct after Taylor had left. Don't recall the result of the game, however, just thought it must be rubbish to watch them play.

I don't really recall too much about Taylor but for his ill-fated tenure as England manager. Many pretty disappointing performances back then, to be sure, but certainly not much worse than we've had to endure in recent years!

Allardyce gets a lot of press because of his use of statistical analysis but Taylor was doing it before he was. Watford also made use of good wingers like Barnes and Callaghan. Clever man and it seems a very nice man.

Rip Graham.

some really insightful, educational and genuine, kindly appreciative posts on this thread. RIP

Quoted from acko338

My cousin played in the same reserves side as Graham Taylor many years ago, and it was the same cousin who started my love of Grimsby Town by taking a wooden stool and propping me up in the Main Stand against the fence.

Very sad loss of a true gentleman.

What was your cousins name, I have a photo of one of the reserves sides that had my dad and Graham in.

Sad news indeed, always sad to see a former Mariner pass, RIP Graham and condolences to friends and family.

Very sad news a true gentleman so dignified as Englands coach when the gutter press insulted him personally and ruthlessly made fun of him must have been terrible for him and his family.

The man was bigger than all those tossers put together.

RIP Graham former mariner and all round nice guy not many of them in football these days.

Sorry to hear the news. Was always chipping in with GTFC remarks when he used to doing the punditry work. RIP

Quoted from Maringer

I do remember seeing Watford play against us at BP some years back (after Taylor, I think, possibly Buckley Mk. II era?) and had to laugh at a bald bloke in midfield (Page?) who just whacked the ball up and under every time it came to him. They obviously remained pretty direct after Taylor had left. Don't recall the result of the game, however, just thought it must be rubbish to watch them play.

I don't really recall too much about Taylor but for his ill-fated tenure as England manager. Many pretty disappointing performances back then, to be sure, but certainly not much worse than we've had to endure in recent years!

The England team he inherited was on the way out. He picked some turkeys like Keith Curle and he made some catastrophic errors but he wasn't helped by the attitudes of people like "nice guy" Lineker. Many of the same players went on to perform well for Venables.

I'm sure Graham Taylor hated the disappointing performances more than anyone. He was more than just a manager, he was a football fan and an England fan. You could tell that from his commentaries and interviews. He certainly didn't deserve that turnip rubbish and insults that upset his family. His character came through when he went back into club management and had great success again.

Thought he was a really decent bloke
RIP Graham Taylor

I had the pleasure to gave a chat with him at a Mariners Trust fund-raising evening of which he was the guest of honour. What a charming, friendly and approachable man he was. I'm shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. RIP Graham and I know you'll never be forgotten.

*have a chat not gave.

'Once a Mariner, always a Mariner' - along with Sir Bobby Robson, one of the nicest men in football.

RIP - hope we get to show our thoughts by way of a minutes applause on Saturday.

He will be sadly missed. He and Jimmy Thompson were the two full backs for town when I first started watching them. 100% player and top bloke. RIP Graham.

If only Des Walker would have brought down Overmars outside of the box at Wembley. Or Koeman would have been sent off in Rotterdam.

Dignified semi-final exit, Carlton Palmer does a pizza commercial and Andy Sinton signs for Barcelona.

You were a gentleman Graham; you will be missed.

The length of this thread shows the regard Graham was held in by Town fans. My own personal memory involves possibly the same Trust event Grim Exile talks about. Within weeks of the Trust being "reborn" Graham made contact offering to do a speaker evening. He wouldn't hear of any payment for doing so. On the night the regard his former team mates had for him was obvious. A true scholar of the game and a gentleman.

R.I.P. Graham.

Very sad news indeed. Football has lost one of it's true gentlemen.

I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of years ago at a local pub in Bottesford. He has family in the Scunny area.

I felt a bit awkward approaching him as he was with his family and i didnt want to intrude but just say a quick hello. He soon put me at ease.  We chatted for several minutes about Town, England and football. He had a great fondness for GTFC.

For some he will be remembered for his less than successful time as England manager. I remember him as one of this country's best ever club managers( i am too young to remember his playing days at Town).

I recall the great Lincoln side he built that romped to the Div 4 title in 1976 with a record points. And of course taking Watford from the 4th Division to runners up in the 1st Division in 5 seasons! They qualified for  Europe and later reached the FA Cup Final. Surely one of the greatest achievements of any manager in English football. And to prove that wasnt a fluke his 2nd spell at Watford in the late 90's he got them back to back promotions from the 3rd tier back to the Premier League.

He even guided Villa to promotion and eventually runners up in the old 1st Division before he took the England job. His CV is outstanding when you look at it. I dont think he got the credit he deserved tbh.

A truly lovely guy. He was one of the good ones and his passing is a great loss not only to football but the world in general.

RIP

A man admired and loved by all three of Lincolnshire's main clubs. Says it all about the man for me.

RIP Graham Taylor

All Football League clubs will take part in a minute’s applause this weekend as a mark of respect to Graham Taylor OBE.

Quoted from promotion plaice

RIP Graham Taylor

All Football League clubs will take part in a minute’s applause this weekend as a mark of respect to Graham Taylor OBE.

A fitting tribute. Not many in football would get that.

Sad news to wake up to -72 is young really, condolences to the family another GTFC great says goodbye RIP

Quoted from totalidiot

Rip graham, seems to me that this bloke was one of the old school gentlemen of the game,honest and said it how it was...got treated shockingly by the gutter press but still had everyone's respect for the manner in which he conducted himself,if there were more like him in the game then it would be in a better place.

I couldn't agree more.

No more to add to that other than shocked.

RIP Graham.

Quoted from crusty ole pie

R.i.p. graham one of the very first players I saw when a young one

Same here, very sad news.

RIP Graham.

He is one of the few players from the distant past, who I can still visualise playing; it's as if I watched him last week.

A great servant to football in Lincolnshire and football in General and one of the few ex pro`s who I also enjoyed on commentary.Sad loss to the game and fans of Grimsby and Lincoln will make sure he gets a fitting send off im sure he will have been over the moon to see both Clubs appearing to be on the way back with young managers.

RIP Mr Taylor😒

RIP Graham Taylor

Sad news, one of those football figures, like bobby robson, who was always worth listening to as pundit, commentator etc.

can only echo what has been said below  

seem to recall Lawrie Mac assisted him in the England days; and found this;

http://talksport.com/football/.....gland-managers-death

Sad news regarding Graham Taylor RIP.

Dignified, honest, a lovely bloke and a great manager. These seem to be the things people keep saying. Nice legacy, that. RIP Graham

Thought it was very poor not to mention Graham Taylor's playing time at Grimsby in the pre match tribute!
Poor day all round!

Quoted from chipsandgravy

Thought it was very poor not to mention Graham Taylor's playing time at Grimsby in the pre match tribute!
Poor day all round!

I'm guessing it was some script, probably the same one used at all Football League games.

Seemed that way to me too. I knew when I was listening that someone would bring it up on here.

Quoted from LH

Seemed that way to me too. I knew when I was listening that someone would bring it up on here.

I was surprised and probably would have mentioned it but the course of the game wiped it from my mind.

It probably was a standard script that they had to stick to.  However, the club could surely have added reference to his Town playing days?

The following first minute of the game with the misplaced pass out of play, also set the tone for a sorry day.

Quoted from chaos33

Very sad indeed. Will be much missed in the game - especially his intelligence and integrity - two traits that are fading fast.

RRFC - were you referring to the work of Charles Hughes?

I realised today that I wasn't referring to Hughes but was confused by his first name. Hughes was an FA coach much later on the scene who shared Talylor's interest in the route one tactic.

The chap who did the original research was a wing commander called Charles Reep in the 1950s. His findings influenced Stan Cullis at Wolves and he had a lot of success with the long ball game in England and against European sides. Graham Taylor read the same research and asked Reep to be an adviser.

For anyone interested in football tactics, he is worthy of looking up.

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Reep[/url]

[url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2017/jan/17/david-squires-on-the-life-of-graham-taylor?CMP=share_btn_tw]https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2017/jan/17/david-squires-on-the-life-of-graham-taylor?CMP=share_btn_twp[/url]


[url=https://postimg.org/image/94storgt5/][img]https://s28.postimg.org/z0ck7yin1/image.png[/img][/url]

The cartoon is good and so are the comments. I do find it disappointing that once again his first football team where he learned his trade is not mentioned.

A sad day for a great person.
The way the gutter press treated him was shocking. He was a man of real integrity, always approachable. Someone who i think players always could trust and were prepared to play for. I never went to any meetings where he talked but have a memory of a different kind of incident of a Town match i attended when he was playing.

i think the game had just started at BP and a disabled supporter slowly walking along the side of the pitch with his stick was making his way to where the disabled supporters used to sit in front of the main stand. Suddenly the ball came towards him and hit the poor guy smack in the middle of his face. There was blood everywhere as happens when you have cuts to the face,

Everyone who was watching including me winched im sure. Who was the first person to come to his aid? Graham Taylor came off the field to hold him up until the St Johns people could get to him.

RIP a true gentleman and Town hero