LEGENDS of the game have united to pay their respects to Graham Taylor.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were among some of the biggest names in British football to pay tribute as mourners arrived at St Mary’s church in Watford today.
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Former players John Barnes, David Platt and Luther Blissett gathered to say their final goodbyes to their former manager.
Taylor died suddenly aged 72 on January 12 of a suspected heart attack.
Managerial legend Barry Fry was one of the first to arrive along with many current Watford players led by club captain Troy Deeney.
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Former Watford stars Barnes, Blissett, Kenny Jackett, Tommy Smith and Alec Chamberlain were also there to pay their respects as well as Burnley manager Sean Dyche.
Other former Watford greats present included Malky Mackay, Ross Jenkins, Steve Terry and Tim Sherwood.
Taylor made his name at Watford during ten years in charge from 1977 after cutting his managerial teeth at Lincoln City.
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He is regarded as Watford’s greatest-ever manager, returning for a second spell there in the late 1990s.
Songs by Taylor’s favourite singer, Buddy Holly, and his close friend, former Watford chairman Elton John, were played to the crowd as the congregation arrived.
Hundreds of supporters spontaneously started singing “We’ll Meet Again”.
Pictures of the ex-England manager were displayed in the windows of pubs and shops along Watford High Street.
Watford skipper Deeney dedicated the club’s shock 2-1 victory against Arsenal last night to Taylor’s memory.
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Hundreds of Watford fans clapped their former manager’s coffin as it entered the church draped in a Union Jack flag.
Nimrod by Elgar was then played as the congregation entered the church. where some of football’s most famous faces sung hymns Lead Us Heavenly Father, Abide With Me and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer.
Elton John said Taylor was like a brother to him, who lectured him on his drug abuse during their time together.
In a passage read by Match of the Day commentator John Motson, the superstar singer said how much he cherished the England manager’s friendship.
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In his glowing tribute, Sir Elton compared Taylor to his lyricist Bernie Taupin as a postive influence in his life. And he noted that both were born in Lincolnshire.
Reading Sir Elton’s tribute, Motson, 71, said: “Two of the most important people in my life were from Lincolnshire.
“Graham Taylor was so many wonderful things for the community and the game.
“He was like a brother from the moment I first met him in my front room.
“As an influence on my life he equalled my brilliant lyricist.
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“He was fiercely ambitious in his approach to football and the community. And what great things we achieved together.
“We were an unstoppable force of nature. It was like a new family, we were unstoppable. He was passionate about change.
“The last time I spoke to him he was so proud of the club and how it was today.
“We were like Batman and Robin and when he left I missed him. I made some bad decisions, but I had to let him go to Aston Villa.
“But his passion and love of the game shone through.
“Our friendship had been cast in stone and I’m proud of that. I cherished his honesty and kindness towards me which will stay with me forever.”
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Sir Elton then went on to describe how Graham had lectured him on his drug abuse.
Motson read: “He sat me down and gave me a lecture on my substance abuse, he said I was letting myself and the club down.
“What words they were to hear from someone you love.
“But to love someone you have to be honest and open with them and he was the most honest and open of them all.
“Because of him I have Watford etched in my soul. He is a legend in this community and in life.
“Farewell, I love you my friend.”
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Motson also told how England’s World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore was interviewed by Elton just before offering the job of Watford manager to Taylor.
As Motson finished he reminded fans of Watford’s 2-1 win over Arsenal the previous evening, adding: “he picked a good time to go out”, to which the crowd cheered.
One of the hymns, Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us, was also sung at Taylor’s wedding to wife Rita.
Former England footballer Trevor Brooking was among the 400 people packed into the church to say their final farewell to Taylor.
Taylor’s daughter Karen, read a poem The Dash, which she said “summed up my dad”.
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The Reverend John Samways said: “Many will know the exceptional way Graham lived his ‘dash.'”
Taylor’s other daughter Joanna said for her father it was “family first, except on match days”.
She then went on to tell a story about an expensive jacket he accidentally donated to a homeless charity when his daughter took it to a charity shop with a bundle of old coats.
Joanne added: “That was what we loved about our dad.”
Granddaughter Rihanna added: “My grandad was quite a wind-up.
“He would sneak up on us and make us jump.
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“Surrounded by all these women made him feel like he was always in the wrong, like when he put diesel instead of petrol in my mum’s car.”
Grandson Jake recalled playing football with his grandad in the back garden and told how much of an “influence on my love of football and ability to deal with disappointment” he had been.
Current Watford manager Walter Mazzarri was also there along with former Watford player and Villa manager Tim Sherwood, who is now Swindon Town’s director of football.
Former Southampton manager Lawrie McMenemy, who was Taylor’s assistant during his time in charge of the England team, was also present.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers, who Taylor also managed, were represented by first team coach Rob Edwards and fitness coach Tony Daley.
Taylor became England manager in 1990, qualifying for the European Championship in 1992.
But after going out in the group stages and failing to make the cut for World Cup 94, Taylor resigned and went back to club management.
He made more than 300 appearances as a player for Grimsby Town and Lincoln City, before going on to manage Lincoln, Watford, Wolves and Aston Villa.
Born in Worksop, Notts, his lifelong love of football began watching Scunthorpe United.
Taylor also worked as a BBC pundit, working on televised matches and on BBC Radio 5 Live.