Memories of Graham Taylor's golden era at Watford on the anniversary of his death

The man who led the Hornets from the Fourth Division to runners-up spot in the First Division, into Europe, their first FA Cup final and who returned to Vicarage Road to achieve promotion to the top-flight for a second time, passed away on January 12, 2017, aged 72.

The Watford Treasury has again been looking through the picture archives and here are eight pictures you may immediately recognise of some of his great achievements during his golden first decade with the Hornets while others you may not have seen for many years.

Elton John brought Graham Taylor to Vicarage Road in 1977

Watford had been a lower league club for their history, except for three seasons spent in Division Two from 1969 to 1972, until Taylor was persuaded to relinquish the managerial reins at Lincoln City and move to Vicarage Road by Elton John in 1977. What followed is, and remains, a football fairytale.

The rise begins: Watford won the Division Four title in Taylor's first season at Vicarage Road

Within two seasons of Taylor's arrival, the Hornets were to be looking forward to playing in Division Two again after achieving successive promotions having won the Division Four title.

Lean on me: The Hornets boss flanked by Sam Ellis and Ian Bolton

Watford initially found it tough in the second tier, but after surviving the first season and building the next - the 1980/81 season perhaps more memorable for stunning League Cup victories over Southampton and Nottingham Forest - the journey to the promised lane was completed when the Hornets were promoted as Division Two runners-up in 1981/82.

The Watford manager is caught on camera as promotion to the promised land of the old First Division is celebrated

A remarkable journey had been achieved in five seasons but it wasn't to end there as the Hornets were also continuing to make headlines off the pitch as well for their pioneering work in the community under Taylor's leadership.

The 1982/83 season remains without equal because Watford's first season in the top flight ended with them beating Liverpool 2-1 on the final day in front of an attendance of 27,173 at Vicarage Road to finish runners-up behind the champions.

Watford finished runners-up in their first season in the top flight. It remains the club's best ever league season to this date

This secured a first ever adventure into Europe, but arguably the pinnacle of that golden era came with reaching the FA Cup final at the end of the 1983/84 campaign, even though it ended in a 2-0 defeat to Everton.

Taylor was to remain at the Vicarage Road helm for three more seasons before he left to join Aston Villa in 1987 and was appointed England manager in 1990.

The love affair continued in 1996 when Taylor returned, initially unsuccessfully as he was unable to prevent the Hornets from being relegated to Division Two. After a season 'upstairs' though, he donned his managerial tracksuit again and another adventure began.

Watford returned to the second tier after winning the Division Two title in 1997/98 before making it back-to-back promotions by beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in a wonderful Play-Off triumph at Wembley.

The return to the top flight was to only last a season and Taylor retired in 2001 before a brief spell back at Villa.

Thumbs up: Graham Taylor with Elton John and the Watford directors

The legendary manager returned to Vicarage Road for a third time as a director and was to serve as chairman between 2009 and 2012.

The Graham Taylor stand and a statue outside Vicarage Road are a permanent tribute to a man whose achievements and place in Watford Football Club history are without parallel and have left so many fans with memories that will never be forgotten.

Joyful scenes as Luther Blissett, John Barnes and Gerry Armstrong are among the players to give their boss a celebratory soaking in the bath