Sir Elton John pays tribute to legendary Watford reporter Oli Phillips

That meteoric rise remains one of football’s great stories which our late sports editor was a key figure in the first chapter of, helping to pave the way for the music legend to become more than a fan by increasing his involvement at Vicarage Road.

Sir Elton has penned this tribute to Oli in Watford’s matchday programme for this afternoon's Championship game against Blackburn Rovers:

As a writer, a fan and a man, Oli Phillips was someone for whom I had great respect, and I was hugely saddened to hear of his passing.

When I first became involved with Watford Football Club in the 1970s, Oli played an integral part of bringing the two parties together and then opening lines of communication. However, I knew all about him before then because, like so many fans, I would look forward to, and then read, his forensic coverage of Watford every Friday.

Oli in the background as Elton John and his then manager Vic Lewis meet Watford chairman Jim Bonser. (Image: The Phillips family)

The Watford Observer always has been, and still is, the place that I would go to read about the club, and in Oli Phillips we were all so fortunate to have someone who took coverage of a local football club to a different level. He was fair, he was insightful and he was thorough. He was a brilliant wordsmith with that rare ability to write match reports with such detail and clarity that you felt you were there – he could craft beautiful features and his Just A Thought columns were among my favourites.

Most of all he was a fan, someone who never pulled any punches when criticism was justified but was equally willing to laud the many great Watford achievements during his writing career. He wore his heart on his sleeve, but it was a heart that always had a place for Watford.

I always enjoyed talking to Oli and being in his company. I trusted him and in return he never printed anything told to him in confidence, and I know Graham Taylor placed such faith in Oli that he told people only to believe stories when they read them in the Watford Observer.

We shared a love of music. I know Oli was a huge fan of Bob Dylan and also Buddy Holly, and we would often talk about new artists we had discovered or reminisce about great tracks from the past. And, like me, Oli was rather partial to a hat too!

He was a big man with a big character and a big heart.

Oli Phillips was one of a kind, and I send my condolences to his wife Ellie, his daughters and his grandchildren. I am delighted that he will be recognised by the club at Saturday’s game with Blackburn, and that some his family will be guests of the club at the game.

Sir Elton John