Vicarage Road name stand after Graham Taylor

A stand at Vicarage Road will be renamed from next season in honour of Graham Taylor, Watford FC have announced. The Rous Stand will be renamed in honour of Taylor’s achievements across two spells as manager at Vicarage Road. An official re-naming ceremony will take place towards the start of the 2014/15 campaign – while stadium signage, systems and other items will be updated throughout the close-season. CEO Scott Duxbury said of the club’s move: “It’s always been our intention to honour one of the club’s greatest servants and renaming the Rous Stand is hugely appropriate. “We intend to permanently reserve two seats, for Graham and his wife Rita, within the directors’ seating area in a stand which already contains The Sir Elton John Suite. “Both men are synonymous with a special time in the club’s history, so we feel this is a fitting tribute.” Graham Taylor said he was honoured that Watford would seek to recognise his time at the club in this way. He added: “As everybody is very well aware, I spent a big part of my working life at the club and as part of the town and its community. What we created, among the success on the field of play, was a very special feeling – the memories of which have always remained with me. “It will certainly feel strange coming to future Watford home matches and sitting in a stand named after myself, although it’s something that myself and my family can take immense pride in. So I would thank everyone at the club most sincerely for this wonderful gesture.”