IN YOUR CORNER!

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A "Taylor Made Army" with a heart of pure gold 

Ordinary players achieved the extraordinary, gave their all every time they crossed that white line. That is what being "Taylor Made" meant.

How better to explain the meteoric rise of  Watford Football Club  than to understand the thinking of one man.  Graham Taylor OBE. More than one of the greatest manages, he was a man who created bonds that meant  on and off the pitch those who worked at Vicarage Road (players and staff alike) were as one family. 

Graham was also a man for whom discipline,  respect and integrity were every day values - ones he expected his team to uphold always.   

Graham Taylor was a big supporter of our Armed Forces and The  Royal British Legion, for whom he cycled to Paris fundraising and personally donated to The National Arboretum. 

Graham shared the values that those who serve uphold.  He developed his Clubs and players  in such a way that discipline and respect were deeply embedded.  In the same way that  success was  not centred on individuals but on team performance.   A team, a Club , a community were all as one. 

It is only natural that this ethos is his great legacy - one which former players strive to uphold. 

The Former Players Club cic was created as Graham wished, to provide a platform that brought "the lads back together" .  Recreating that family spirit and sense of purpose, watching out for each other.  An identity that is lost when a player retires. 

It does not matter where that player has gone on to, or where they spent their playing days,  it is a movement that they can be part of, or turn to when they need. 

Throughout his life he had tremendous respect and admiration for all members of the armed forces.

He took part in the Royal British Legion Pedal to Paris in September 2010  helping to promote the event so that it reached its £500,000 target (raising over £5000 individually). 

In 2013,  Graham was back on the bike again for the Royal British Legion launching the Pedal to Paris in London with Miss England Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge. 

Graham also supported and attended numerous functions connected with the British Legion and the NMA as well as visiting wounded service personnel in hospital.

As a true family man himself he always felt sincere emotion for the loved ones left behind too, shedding tears for their heartbreak.

He had visited the NMA several times during the time that he lived in the Midlands and when he passed away his Graham's family chose the National Memorial Arboretum as we knew that this was an organisation that meant so much to Graham.

Luther Blissett OBE,  or  "Luther" as football fans know him... an icon of the game.

Captaining the team behind "The Former Players Club  Luther  is Honorary Life President of Watford FC and is their all time record goal scorer and appearance maker as well as their first full England International.   Luther was the first black footballer to score wearing the three Lions

 (a hat-trick!) and was twice the Golden Boot winner. 

  Luther continues to inspire. 

He was named Watford's Favourite Son by former Club Chairman Sir Elton John, due to his tremendous popularity off the pitch not just his success on the pitch. The people's player, who from the age of 16 was influenced by the tremendous mentoring of the great Graham Taylor.

Luther  went on to play for AC Milan, AFC Bournemouth before eventually joining Graham Taylor's  Coaching team and then becoming Watford's first team coach. Luther also coached strikers for Harry Redknapp : "Luther was of those players that changes the attitude of a football club. He was a great trainer he’d been to Italy, he had played for England –  he had a different work ethic to the rest.  He taught the players about eating right, and coming  in with the proper attitude."

Since fully retiring from the professional game Luther has continued to use his personality and lived experiences to become an influential anti discrimination champion.  He is a popular motivational Speaker and strong Charity campaigner for causes such as mental well being, prostate cancer, dementia and the Armed Forces and Veterans. 

"I founded  the Former Players Club cic to make sure the values Graham taught us as players could still be championed in the community.  And that we as players were still in each others corner wherever we are in life. 

And importantly to unite our former Golden Boys through that.   We could still have each other's backs !

When you lose your team (through retirement or inury)  you also lose yourself.  Your identity is suddenly gone .  Talking with veterans, many of whom are football fans it is a shared loss.  Perhaps that is why being a football supporter unites us, a shared passion and kinship. 

But must we never forget one thing. Especially when you consider the money and celebrity that football now attracts.  Real heroes do not wear football boots. 

Graham once said " it is fantastic to see the nation’s game playing its part in helping our servicemen and women return to civilian life."

Being able to help those from our Armed Forces to understand ways to deal with  mental challenges, to look after their wellbeing and to regain team spirit is a real mission for me.