Sir Graham Taylor

[The Left Side]

Unbelievable... sad, sad news, RIP Graham you're a true Villa man

[Billy Walker]

What an absolute gentleman and true football man Sir Graham Taylor was.  He exuded decency and commanded such respect, that, even as a teenager following Villa, I would have been prepared to run through the proverbial brick wall for him.  He was a supreme spotter of talent and man management: the signings of Paul McGrath, Dwight Yorke and David Platt, in context, were three of the finest pieces of business we have done since I started following the club.  He brought back Sid Cowans, too!  There's so many things I could write about him, all positive and all full of the utmost admiration.  A genuinely great man who will be hugely missed.  If any of Sir Graham's family read H and V, I extend my deepest condolences to you.

[mrastonvilla]

Thank You Sir Graham. RIP

[Chris Jameson]

There are some really lovely tributes to him on Twitter, every single one calls him a gentleman. Somebody posted about him giving a player a dressing down for not holding a door open for her when she was a young waitress.

[four fornicholl]

God bless you Sir.

[villan from luton]

Was driving home and heard this terrible news. A true gentleman who took over our club at an awful time and made us great again. I will also never forget Goodison Park in May 1980. Already heard comments on radio and no one had a bad word to say about him it seem. RIP

[john e]

110 replies in less than an hour in the middle of a normal working day,
says it all really

[joe_c]

I have nothing of any particular originality to add to this thread other than to recount how aged 15 I stayed behind after the Bradford game to collect autographs. I was the only one still there when Graham left the ground. He was funny and friendly and gave me a wave as he drove off up Trinity Road. I'd always hoped I'd meet him again.

[castlefields_villan]

Any Villan aged around 40 or older will be most saddened by this - 72 is no age these days and as someone has already asked, had he been unwell ?

Although he always came over so calm and in control, surely all the stress of his time in charge of England and everything else took its toll.  I was just thinking, but for one atrocious decision away to Holland, he would've taken a decent England squad to the 1994 World Cup.

As others have said, he took over at the lowest of low points in 1987 and got us back up at the first attempt, and after a flirt with relegation in 1988/89, he took us to within a whisker of being champions of England the year after.  Like life, football is all about ifs and buts, BUT I wonder what may have happened if that penalty had gone in against Wimbledon ?

RIP Sir Graham - Legend is an over used word in football, but you were a true Villa and football legend - I'll miss listening to you on tv and Radio 5.

[Smirker]

RIP

[Nelly]

Heartbroken to see this news. This hurts more than our relegation by some distance for me.

Thank you for everything you did for Aston Villa, Sir Graham. Rest easy and God bless you.

[VancouverLion]

So very sad. A gentleman if ever there was one & a true Villa legend.

I dread to think where our beloved club would be right now if it wasn't for this man.

RIP Sir Graham Taylor.

[Villa Lew]

When he took over as manager in 87, following our relegation, the club was in a terrible state. Then in a mere 3 tears to take us to 2nd place in the old First Division, was a superb achievement. Who knows what he might have achieve, if the FA hadn't come calling.

RIP Sir Graham

[ktvillan]

RIP SGT.

[Walmley_Villa]

Shocked and upset. Graham Taylor R.I.P.

Arguably the Villa manager who took the club the furthest distance in the shortest time period.

Goodison Park, May 1990.  The greatest ever away day without a trophy at the end of it.  Thank you, Sir.

Summed up perfectly... we should all be eternally grateful for him rescuing the shambles we had become. RIP