p20,21 Jack Meets:SGBGolf_NEW_template 26/02/2009 13:06 Page 20
SGB Sports
Jack Meets . . .
“Never forget where you came from,” said Graham
Taylor when he spoke to Jack Lynes; though justly
proud of his achievements, his passion for ‘the
beautiful game’ is at its peak as he relishes his
ambassadorial role with Precision Training.
W
e are what we are as a result of genetics. But experience and defeat. Playing full-back it is hardly surprising that in three hundred and eighty
in particular, early happenings, play an important part of nine League games he is only able to claim three goals, but he was forced to
what we become. How much influence our teachers have retire as a player due to a hip injury in 1972. He is now able to forgive the
may often be under-estimated. As we spoke, I wondered about former International, aware that he was then in his last days as a Professional,
Graham Taylor’s early teachers. Mr. Harry Fell, for instance, who looked for ‘losing it’ and causing a disabling injury in anger.
after the football team and whose call from the sideline, whatever the After only ten years playing ‘for real’ and just 28 years old, Graham was fully
state of play, “Come on you boys!” still rings clearly in his ears. And committed to staying with the game. So having acquired his coaching
Mrs. Holmes, whose occasional disciplinary slap on the thigh (short qualifications and then after having been one of 24 pros playing for Lincoln, he
trousers were the rule of the day in the third year) was more than became Manager of the remaining 23. In his first 11 games they drew nine and
enough to maintain order. Graham met fellow pupil Rita at his lost just two. Managers today are accorded less patience by their directors, let
Grammar school when he was 13. They married alone the team supporters. Then came the ‘best ten
seven years later and have two daughters, Joanne years of his life – so far’ with Watford and Elton John
and Karen. as owner. At the height of their success and only the
In the Lower Sixth his leadership potential was second professional club chosen to go to China,
recognised and as a Prefect he was in line to become following a pre-tour visit to the Chinese
Head Boy the following year. But he had the urge to Ambassador’s residence and maybe just a little
become a professional footballer. Word about his inebriated, Elton and Graham found time for a little
ambition soon went the rounds and summoned to ‘Jock’ carol singing. I would love to have been a fly on the
McIver, the head master, he was to receive the ‘biggest wall when the occupier answered the door and saw
rollicking of his life’. His schooling, he was told, would be who was singing, or attempting to sing ‘Once in
wasted. Not to be side lined Graham’s mind was made Royal David’s City’! From the 70’s through to the
up and with parents somewhat wary but fully supportive, 90’s he became a well-respected and successful
he made his debut in the first team of Grimsby Town Manager of Aston Villa, Wolves and Watford, taking
(2nd. Division) in 1962 earning £10.00 a week in the the latter all the way from Fourth Division into the
summer and £12.00 weekly in winter. Compared to the First Division and Europe. As to Aston Villa under his
£8.00 a week including extra shifts that his brother-in-law guidance they went from runners up to the top and
was earning at the steel works, that was very acceptable. he was an obvious choice to be the England Manager
We could not resist considering current pay of when Bobby Robson left the post to join PSV
Professional footballers and to suggest that, even taking Eindhoven. With still a year left of his current contract
into consideration their relatively short playing life and the the new job was possibly the worst kept secret in
risk of injury making such even shorter, it is well beyond football, which he described as a “delicate situation”.
what is reasonable, even obscene, fairly summed up our When he did finally become England Manager,
thoughts. Graham reflected the contrasting moods in the overseeing their first 12 games undefeated, with the
dressing room “pure ecstasy” after a win (as was his first thirteenth when playing at home to Germany at
match when they beat Newcastle United 2 – 1) and the Wembley, beaten 1 – 0 there was not exactly
“gloom and despair” which pervaded the room after a euphoria. There is a rule among journalists that ‘dog
20 SGB SPORTS FEBRUARY 2009
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