A man who has been a fan of Watford FC for more than 50 years has been remembering how much Graham Taylor did for the club.

Peter Field, 69, of Mount Pleasant, in St Albans, was taken to his first ever Watford FC game back in 1958.

From then on he was an avid fan and his children were even given the chance to be mascots for the Hornets.

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He said: “I wrote a letter to Graham asking if my daughter Rebecca could be a mascot and he replied.

“My daughter managed to become a mascot for the team with just another one. On the day of her being a mascot he gave her and the other mascot a one to one "team talk" before the match - making her feel even more important and a full part of the day.

“My daughter also wrote to Graham after he had visited China and he wrote back telling her that there were "lots of bicycles there" - a further example of the fact that Graham took time out to reach out to the younger supporters.”

Watford Observer:

Back when Mr Field would go watch the games there was no family enclosure and he remembers it used to be quite dangerous.

But Graham was solely responsible for establishing the family enclosure and Mr Field said he felt completely safe from any hooliganism from a minority of the away supporters.

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Mr Field also remembers in 1984 on the morning of the Wembley final he was walking down to meet the coach and noticed the door was ajar to the ground.

He said: “We went in and the team were training on the pitch. Graham and his team were watching near the halfway line. He saw us and came over.

“I thought he was going to tell us to go away but he commented on my children’s flags and rosettes. We wished him well and joined the coach.

“Suffice to say Graham made Watford the foremost family club of the last Century and his ethos has remained with the club today. He was a true legacy.”

Some 30 years after Mr Field’s daughter was mascot both are still season ticket holders in the Rookery.

  • There will be a Book of Condolence in the reception of the Kings Langley Parish Council Offices until February 17.