Graham Taylor began to draw the curtain on his Watford career in April 2001, taking to the Vicarage Road dugout for the final time against Tranmere Rovers on this day 22 years ago.

In the same week that Watford made their most recent change to the club badge, making ‘Watford’ upper case at the top of the crest, and three years to the day since Steve Palmer lined up in goal to complete his impressive array of squad numbers, Tranmere came to town as Taylor’s last visiting opponents in Division One.

Supporters held back tears around the stadium as Watford’s greatest ever manager walked out of the tunnel to the applause and cheers his career greatly deserved.

The matchday programme was chock full of tributes and well wishes, from Sir Elton John’s entertaining recounts of the greatest years in club history, to memories shared by club staff and partners.

Taylor’s programme notes were packed with emotion too. The manager named 120 of his favourite matches, talked fondly about off-the-pitch events he regularly attended, and closed with a heartfelt thank you that included a familiar ‘keep smiling’.

“What I really like about looking back on my time at Watford is that it makes me smile and I have such a wonderful warm feeling,” said Taylor.

“Thank you all and time has certainly flown by since Rita, myself and our two girls Joanne and Karen made that journey from Lincoln in 1977. It was, of course, a journey that changed our lives and what a wonderful time it has been.”

Over 750 games, GT delivered a meteoric rise through the divisions in two successful spells as manager. Having reached the First Division and an FA Cup final in the 1980s, and established a tightly-knit and talented group which overcame the odds and became the only Watford side ever to play in Europe, Graham Taylor’s achievements couldn’t fit in a programme.

Nor could supporters express their gratitude in a single afternoon, as the boss led his Hornets side from the technical area in a back-and-forth encounter with the Super White Army. The game itself wasn’t one for the memory books, but Taylor’s most expensive-ever signing, Allan Nielsen, scored an excellent late header to ensure the game ended 1-1 at The Vic.

The loudest cheers of the afternoon came during the lap of honour, Taylor showing his appreciation for the undying support of the Watford faithful. Red and yellow cards were held aloft in the Rookery End spelling out 'thank you', with Taylor’s family watching on lovingly from the stands. An emotional speech followed from the great man, before he was presented with a champagne bottle of a size worthy of his stature.

His reign as manager came to a close but the Graham Taylor legacy continues to this day, six years after his passing. The committed work in the Watford area and surrounding community which started in the 1970s with Taylor in charge was something he never stopped supporting, leaving Watford fans around the world with a story to tell of the club’s greatest ever.