The most successful period in Watford’s history began on this day in 1977, as Hornets legend Graham Taylor shook hands with Sir Elton John and became manager.
Taylor, then just 32 years old, had experience managing in the fourth tier from his time at Lincoln City, and was held in high regard by some of the biggest names in English football.
Weeks before Taylor was appointed, he had been invited to Sir Elton’s Windsor home to discuss the role. The then Watford Chairman had acted on the advice of Don Revie, who was England boss at the time, and presented his vision of top-flight football and European aspirations to Taylor.
Despite an attractive offer from First Division outfit West Bromwich Albion, Taylor took the lower league role with dreams of climbing up the divisions, and was unveiled by Sir Elton at Vicarage Road.
Watford’s greatest ever manager needed little time to settle in, romping to the title for the second time in the dugout, finishing 11 points clear of second-placed Southend United.
Momentum carried on into the next season too as the Golden Boys enjoyed another promotion in 1978/79, and by 1982 ‘Elton John’s Taylor-made army’ had reached the summit of English football.
Sir Elton’s dream came true also, when the Hornets finished second in the top tier to qualify for the UEFA Cup, bringing Europe’s elite to Vicarage Road.
Taylor’s Watford journey lasted until the end of the 1986/87 season, having helped build the club from lower-league strugglers to a mid-table First Division outfit, in addition to an FA Cup final. He departed for pastures new, joining Aston Villa, but the Taylor-Watford partnership would return a decade later as he took the Hornets to two more promotions and a first-ever Premier League campaign in 1999/00.
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Continuing to fly the Watford flag as an ambassador, charity supporter and Honorary Life-President until his passing in 2017, Taylor remains the club’s most successful-ever manager, with his achievements living long in the memory of supporters.
