Elton John's second coming was not as impressive as the first and nor was Graham Taylor’s. The rock star was to play another key role in Watford’s history in that he was the main reason Graham Taylor went back to Vicarage Road in 1996 after his harrowing experience with England and his disappointment with Wolves. He still kept in touch with Graham, and also provided regular contact for Steve Harrison, Colin Lee, Steve Perryman and Glenn Roeder when they managed at Vicarage Road.

Elton persuaded Graham to return but while Taylor, in his second term, was to be disappointed at the level of the music star’s attendance at Vicarage Road, he admitted that Elton had been a key element in his return. Graham also worked hard at finding people who would buy out Jack Petchey, who was keen to quit while he was ahead. However, Elton would have no part of paying Petchey for the loans, he had in fact made to the club, which had been left on the books, against Elton’s original intentions.

One day Graham Taylor stood out on the pitch at Vicarage Road before the match with Bury at the end of the season and announced: “Elton is coming home”.

Again it was Elton who encouraged Graham to become manager and Watford gained successive promotions to reach the Premiership. Elton, linked by television, witnessed the Play-Off final.

“I’m just glad Graham has come back into the game because he was very down and thinking of quitting. I thought it would be very good for him to come back to an area where you are going to get compassion, respect and where people love you.”

Elton admitted he had lost his voice for a while, sitting in Seattle and celebrating Nicky Wright’s goal. Later he referred to Graham as one of his dearest friends.

Two years on and Graham left, intending to retire but foolishly, allowed himself to be tempted into a return to the game as manager of Aston Villa. Elton remained the figurehead chairman, and was seemingly delighted when Luca Vialli was appointed Taylor’s successor. Then, when the Vialli fiasco blew up in the board’s face, along with the collapse of ITV Digital, Elton declined to add more money. There were some who were very disappointed that the star left Watford financially adrift, forced into selling the ground in an effort to raise capital.

Elton kept in touch with Vialli and his successor Ray Lewington, while the new chairman, Graham Simpson, steadfastly refused to blame Elton for failing to help the club financially. To a degree that policy paid off because the star helped Lewington recruit Paul Devlin, paying the £150,000 fee. Clearly Simpson’s belief, that there was more to come from Elton, paid off and he actively encouraged Lewington to retain the contact.

As it happened, Lewington, who was not devious by nature, continued to deal with Elton honestly, giving him his appraisal of the situation and opening up about the ever-reducing player budget. Frustrated, Elton told Ray to draw up a list of players he needed with a budget of around £750,000. Delighted, the manager did just that, only for Elton’s management to explain that in practical terms, Elton would be unable to fund such a spree. Ray went back to square one and drew up a modest budget to suit the new financial criteria.

Elton came back and offered to fund the new recruits with a concert at Vicarage Road. Simpson and company were delighted but axed Lewington soon afterwards and announced the concert revenue would be used to pay off the purchase of the ground.

That had not been Elton’s intention and he somewhat pointedly expressed the view when he gave the concert, prompting Simpson to look to increase new manager Aidy Boothroyd’s budget, whereas previously they had trimmed Lewington’s to the bone. So the brief honeymoon between Boothroyd, Simpson, Ashton and the Watford public was in fact inspired by Elton’s remarks.

After justice was done and Simpson and Ashton became part of Watford’s history, Elton continued to talk to Malky Mackay and his Vicarage Road successor Sean Dyche.

Yet, in a sense the Elton John story as far as Watford is concerned, ended with that Play-Off transmission.

The Watford story continued, and he performed two concerts at Vicarage Road to raise funds for the cash-strapped club. But he no longer influenced policy or made the difference he had before and that was his choice. That second coming was the last hurrah, tipping their caps to yesteryear.

There is a natural tendency to want the good times to go on forever and expect those who made it so, to continue along the same infallible path.

But regrettably life is not like that and we appreciate and revere those good times because we have suffered the bad times before and since.

For those who follow Watford, Elton John made a vast difference to all our lives. The fans at Vicarage Road were able to show their appreciation once again when the stand was named after him. I was glad to be able to thank him personally for the part he played in my life. Without Elton John, no matter what his critics might argue, Watford FC is in a better place and that is part of his legacy.

I was close to the heart-beat of Watford in that first magical era from 1977 until 1987. It was just great to be there.

  • Talking of dear, dead days, my wife and I visited Ross Jenkins and his wife Eve last month and on the final afternoon, Ross made a confession. “Do you remember when I won the Golden Boot Award back in 1978?” he asked and indeed I did.

“I am glad you remembered it because I have looked it up everywhere. It was an Adidas presentation for scoring 37 goals and Graham Taylor collected it on my behalf. But there is no mention of me in the list of winners.”

A few minutes later he returned with a presentation box. The box is impressive, with a succession of clasps hinting that the contents might be valuable.

Inside was a three-and-a-half inch long gilt boot. It is gaudy and distinctly unimpressive: “Just too big to hang from a Christmas tree,” Eve commented.

“Perhaps Graham might know,” said Ross, after I had scanned the internet for any mention of Ross picking up a Golden Boot.

Can anyone solve the mystery?

This article was first published in Friday's Watford Observer.