Aston Villa blog: Graham Taylor loss hurts deep
When someone from your club passes away it always feels personal...writes Villa blogger Justin Hawthorne.
But when the news broke about Graham Taylor the world seemed to stop for a second. We have lost not only one of our own but one of the true legends of our glorious club, a man who gave us back our pride and gave us all the chance to dream again of glory, when he strolled into Villa Park back in 1987 we were on our knees and had little hope.
What happened over the next three seasons reignited our club and propelled us back to the top of English football once again.
We only need look at the mess we are in now to see what a job he did back then. Not only did we return at the first time of asking but after a season of consolidation we very nearly lifted the title the following season.
During his first and most successful tenure he brought us three of what most fans would tell you are up there with the best we have ever seen in a Villa shirt in Platt, Yorke and the magnificent McGrath he gave us something to really enjoy on a Saturday afternoon.
I only met him briefly once during his second spell when as a friend of defender Alpay, I was invited to the training ground for lunch.
I found myself standing on the side of the pitch alone watching the first team get ready for the game the next day.
It was an amazing experience to watch him at work close up, I remember he would stop play every so often and the lads would all stand like statues and he would go through with them all where they should be and what he expected next
Having listened to many stories since he passed away I can see how he became such a fantastic manager, and after the training had finished I was introduced to him.
I was a bit worried that he might ask why I was there but none of the kind he greeted me like he knew me.
It was only brief but I felt a million dollars.
There are very few people in our history that we can truly say that we are indebted to for the way they influenced our club but Graham Taylor was one of those men
A great man and a really nice bloke as well, I can honestly say we thank you Graham for what you did and may you rest in peace...
