Graham Taylor RIP

[DJ]

Here’s the match report from Wednesday 9th May 1990 when Graham Taylor took his Aston Villa team to the Grove.

“Graham Taylor took the opportunity to ease David Platt back into soccer in a testimonial at Halesowen Town last night and the England striker responded with a hat-trick. Platt missed the final Football League game of the season on Saturday following a road accident. Villa won 6-1 with Ian Olney also scoring a hat-trick. The match, which attracted a crowd of 3,518, was in aid of the joint testimonial for Mark Penn and the Joinson twins, Lee and Paul. It was Paul who gave Halesowen a sixth minute lead following a cross from his brother.”

The report appeared in the Evening Mail together with photos of John Rhodes “challenging” Paul McGrath and David Platt beating Andy Pearce.

[DJ]

And David Platt against Andy Pearce:

[DJ]

In 1989, Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor swooped to sign Yeltz striker Dean Spink for a reported fee of £30,000 and our club has a framed photograph of that signing. Dean visited us in July 2012 for a pre-season friendly against Solihull and here’s a photograph I took of Dean proudly reminiscing and holding that 1989 photograph. The photograph shows Harry Rudge (HTFC Chairman), Graham Taylor (Aston Villa manager) and John Morris (HTFC Manager) standing behind Dean.

[wednesburystokie]

Fantastic DJ, thank you for sharing that, as a relative outsider I really enjoy looking at history of the club.

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

In 1989, Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor swooped to sign Yeltz striker Dean Spink for a reported fee of £30,000 and our club has a framed photograph of that signing. Dean visited us in July 2012 for a pre-season friendly against Solihull and here’s a photograph I took of Dean proudly reminiscing and holding that 1989 photograph. The photograph shows Harry Rudge (HTFC Chairman), Graham Taylor (Aston Villa manager) and John Morris (HTFC Manager) standing behind Dean.

Great stuff Dave! Before that Solihull friendly I talked to Dean on the pitch and we recalled his brilliant goal against Wellingborough. One of the best ever scored on The Grove.

[pantverdant1]

Nice to see the reaction on the forum,as an England,Aston Villa and Halesowen Town fan I feel privileged to have lived through the Graham Taylor era.
I was first aware of Association Football in 1964 when I saw a grainy image of the F A Cup Final between West Ham United v Preston North End which
started a love affair with the marvellous game.My first visit to the Hawthorns was to see West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United then managed by Don Revie
and I remember gasping as I saw floodlit football for the first time.The Baggies lost two goals to one and Albert Johansen,Billy Bremner and Jack Charlton were in the United line up.My father hated Football but gained a love of the game when he saw the infectious enthusiasm of his son.
The 60's were a great time to be introduced to Soccer.

Graham Taylor re-ignited my passion for Aston Villa after a slump under Billy McNeil,the alternative was a walk to the Grove Recreation ground which I
became aware of in the 70's in an F A Cup tie with Didcot Town and there followed a conflict of interest between my home town club and that of my
late mother.
Graham was the last manager to gain a promotion for Aston Villa,H.Douglas Ellis had persuaded him away from his beloved Watford where he enjoyed great success and guided them to the 1984 Final where they lost to Everton.The press of the day harangued Watford for having a long ball style but the
Taylor plan went on to guide Villa into the first tier,and narrowly miss out on the First Division title; the brand of Football ,was simple and extremely effective.The England manager's job became available and Graham Taylor inherited an ageing side which had performed creditably at the 1990
World Cup,we qualified for the 1992 European Championship Finals and one of those older players objected to being substituted and the loss to
Sweden was the trigger for some salacious and defamatory headlines most notably inThe Sun newspaper.There followed for Graham a brief tenure at Wolverhampton Wanderers who he guided to the play offs but the fans who had abused a series of managers demanded and were rewarded with his head.
A return to Villa followed but never reached the dizzying heights of the first stay.
I never met Graham, but the testimonials and tributes on this site and in the media show him to be a true gentleman who reacted with decorum and dignity at all times I feel he was taken from us a decade too soon. RIP Mr.Taylor.

[KenR]

A great loss to football and more obviously his family. I loved the man and was one of the few TV pundits who I turned the sound up to listen to. As I recall , when he was at Lincoln City as their very young manager (his career was cut short by injury) , he turned down the Albions' job as manager in favour of Watford.
WHAT A MAN, THE GREAT GRAHAM TAYLOR. R.I.P.

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

I'm in touch with Rob Bishop who was the local Evening Mail reporter and followed us on our Wembley journeys in the 1980s. Rob has been on the media staff at Villa Park for over 25 years and has his own special memories of Graham Taylor.
The author Lee Child includes some characters in his thrillers that have Villa connection. Rob himself features as a CIA official in Lee's latest Night School and today has told me that Graham Taylor appeared in The Hard Way.

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

There have been many Yeltz tributes/recollections of Graham over the last 24 hours, this from ex-Chairman Ronald Moseley is worth a sppecial mention "A sad day for football yesterday with the passing away of a true legend Graham Taylor. A man of the highest standard, a true gentleman, a man you could trust. Truth and honesty was the only way Graham knew.
I was privileged to meet Graham on a few occasions mainly during my involvement with Halesowen Town Football Club.
My first experience was one that I shall never forget and will be a lasting memory with me and those involved at Halesowen Town Football Club.
Halesowen Town during the mid to late eighties was an up and coming, lowly rank football side. However 3 Wembley appearances and promotion to the Southern League put Halesowen Town firmly on the map.
A new manager had been appointed around 1986 John Morris. John signed many new players, one a Dean Spinks who was soon noticed by local scouts for his goal scoring abilities.
Following a phone call from Aston Villa they wished to sign Dean Spinks from Halesowen Town. Graham Taylor insisted that he came to Halesowen Town to discuss transfer details. A meeting was arranged and we met Graham and his team in the Halesowen Town Board Room. Noticeably we were very new at this game, not having transferred a player before. We stumbled and bluffed for the first 10 minutes. Alarmingly Graham suggested we adjourn for 10 minutes and we wondered if he had changed his mind as he was speaking he was writing a note on a small piece of paper which he passed to us as he left the meeting. The note stated "This is what you should be asking me for". The note read
The fee, sell on clause, goals scored etc but most of all a friendly at HTFC against The Villa. AND IN BOLD LETTERS THE FIRST TEAM.
How many managers would have been so honest and shown us the way forward? He was true to his word and following the friendly he made sure every player stayed to sign autugraphs.
A true gentleman one that I was privileged and proud to meet. God Bless you Graham RIP. You left your mark on the beautiful game of football.
Ron Moseley"

[KenR]

Thankyou so much for sharing that with us Ron Moseley and Chas. Just totally endorses what a great man he was.