Memories of Graham Taylor's first Watford Observer interview

Graham Taylor's place in the history of Watford FC and the town is assured after he lifted the club from the depths of the Football League to their highest ever league finish of second in the old Division One and into the club’s first, and only, campaign in European football.

What is widely regarded as the pinnacle of this football fairytale was to be achieved in 1984 when Taylor led the Hornets out at Wembley Stadium for their first appearance in an FA Cup Final.

Graham Taylor's first interview with this newspaper (Image: Watford Observer)

That golden era was to end three years later when Taylor left Vicarage Road to move to Aston Villa but after going on to manage England and Wolves, he returned to south-west Hertfordshire, initially as general manager, before embarking on what was to become another fantastic chapter in Hornets’ history.

Reunited: Taylor shares a joke with Luther Blissett and Elton John after returning to Vicarage Road as general manager (Image: Action Images)

Taylor led Watford to the Division Two title and 12 months later returned to Wembley to lead the Hornets to back-to-back promotions and their first rise to the Premier League after beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in a wonderful and emotional Play-Off Final victory.

Arms aloft in celebration at Wembley (Image: Action Images)

That was the summer of 1999 but today – to mark the anniversary of his passing on January 12, 2017 – we also look back to June 1977 when Taylor conducted his first interview with the Watford Observer after Elton John had persuaded him to swap Lincoln City for a new challenge.

Listening intently while taking a sip (Image: Watford Observer)

Writing in the Official Centenary History of Watford FC, this newspaper's legendary Hornets correspondent Oliver Phillips said: "In his first-ever interview with the Watford Observer, the new Watford boss reflected on the club's past. He acknowledged the Furphy days and also the humiliating experience when he attempted to mark Stewart Scullion almost a decade earlier in a game at Vicarage Road.

In conversation with Ronny Rosenthal and Alon Hazan during training (Image: Action Images)

'They were good days for Watford and I want people in years to come to reflect on the good days and be able to say: 'That's when Graham Taylor was there'.'"

Taking a keen interest in that week's back page (Image: Watford Observer)

The black and white pictures on this page were captured during that interview and feature the new Watford manager taking a keen interest in the back page of that week’s edition.

Hornets fans holding their scarves aloft in memory at Saturday's Graham Taylor Matchday (Image: Action Images)

Ready for a new challenge: Watford's new manager in June 1977 (Image: Watford Observer)

Back in the big time: Taylor talking to Kenny Jackett ahead of Watford's first ever Premier League match against Wimbledon in August 1999 (Image: Action Images)

Two young girls with a farewell message ahead of Taylor's final home match as Watford boss in 2001 (Image: Action Images)

Never forgotten: Graham Taylor waves farewell after his last match as Watford manager at Vicarage Road (Image: Action Images)