Colin West was on the Carlisle United training ground, putting into practice some of the methods and manners he had learned from Graham Taylor, when the man who signed him for Watford passed away.

It was only when Carlisle's assistant manager returned indoors, and checked his mobile phone, that he learned the news that saddened a football nation.

"My missus found out before me, and so she texted me straight away," West told the News and Star. 

He took part in a hearty minute's applause for Taylor at Brunton Park on Saturday, a ritual repeated at grounds across the country.

"It was such a massive shock. I didn't even know he was ill, if he was at all, and that made it even more of a shock."

Taylor's influence on the game spread widely, and so his death aged 72 last Thursday has been felt in many places.

Tributes have also reflected his warm and friendly nature and it was during his pioneering time at Vicarage Road that West saw all parts of the former manager.

Persuasive but thoughtful; direct but kind: this was the Taylor who became such a significant character over several decades and who was influential at the near outset of West's playing career.

Recalling the time he was lured from Sunderland to Watford as a young centre-forward in 1985, West said: "I'd scored three goals in the [Milk Cup] semi-final against Chelsea but I was then left out of the team because of a tactical change.

"I wasn't playing in the final, which was a little bit upsetting, but Watford had obviously come in for me. I got taken out of one of our reserve games and the manager said Graham Taylor had come to speak to me.

"I had a good chat with him, then spoke to my missus on the telephone. Because we'd just been married a short while, and just moved into a house in the north-east, she wasn't too keen on going.

"I relayed this to Graham and he said to me, 'Look, I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if you didn't allow me to speak to your wife - is if ok if I go and meet her?' So the next day, we all met in a hotel in Sunderland. And within about 10 minutes of him chatting to us, she'd agreed to go.

"That was the effect he had on people. He was just so welcoming, so homely. It was deadline day, so you had to make the decision quickly, and we then got straight on the train and went down. I didn’t have no clothes, no nothing, but I went into Watford's ground, he [Taylor] got me some money from somewhere, and I went into town and got some clothes.

"That was literally how the fella was. He was brilliant."

Watford Observer:

A generous man, but Taylor was also a canny coach and manager - hence Watford's remarkable rise from the fourth tier to the First Division, with an FA Cup final and a UEFA Cup campaign along the way.

Such a path would be written up alongside the game's miracles today. "It's probably not highlighted as much as it should be," West said.

"In terms of who I've worked with he was a bit similar to Graeme Souness, although he [Souness] was a tougher person in terms of his character. But Graham was an honest bloke, too - he'd tell you exactly how it was - and his tactics were similar.

"When we went to Scotland [West joined Rangers in 1986], we never really focused an awful lot on set-plays - it was balls into areas, flood the areas, and we just dominated that division. It was similar at Watford. We played a longer ball but it was so effective, and it was ideal for me, because I played off Luther Blissett, and we had John Barnes and Nigel Callaghan putting crosses in for me.

"He just simplified everybody's job and cajoled us as a group, and we did really well."

West recalls a Watford side with some enviable talent, which Taylor, backed by Elton John, fundamentally helped.

"You massively wanted to play for him. And he had his little ways of getting things across. I remember him saying to John Barnes, and Nigel Callaghan…'when one of you is crossing the ball, I want the other one inside the 18-yard box. If you score, I'll give you ten pounds. If you're not in that box, then you owe me ten pounds.

"It was just something that made them think about the game that little bit more, because there was a little bit of money to be had or lost. You probably don't get little things like that now."

Taylor's personality inspired long-standing loyalty and fondness from many players down the years. "I saw Barnesy talking about him on TV on Saturday and he was exactly right with what he said," said West.

"You might not have seen him for so long, but the next time you do he's so welcoming, comes over and has a chat.

"It must be four years since I last saw him - but I'd wave and he'd be straight across the room to talk.

"I remember, years ago, playing for West Bromwich Albion, getting injured and having to go to hospital. He was the Aston Villa manager at the time, but he still came to see me in hospital. I wasn't even at his club. That tells you everything about him, doesn't it? His relationship with players?"

West was an effective goalscorer under Taylor at Vicarage Road and, while his move to Scotland in 1986 meant it was not a long association, Keith Curle's right-hand man says there is something of Taylor in how he works with Carlisle's players today.

"He was firm when he had to be, but he was so honest, and that's the way I've led my footballing life," West said.

"I'd rather be like that with any players I've been coaching. I'll always tell them the truth, because I think they respect you more by giving them the honest facts rather than telling little porky pies behind their back.

"That’s the way I liked to be treated. And he taught me that. He would tell me information I needed to improve my game, rather than sugar-coat it and let me go away thinking I was better than I was."

West added: "He would do as much as he could for you, try and help you to the max," said West.

"Even if it wasn't working, he'd try something else.

"He wouldn't give up on anyone. I don't think anybody could have a bad word for him, I really don't."