Graham Taylor: Train serving Wolverhampton named after former Wolves and Aston Villa boss
A train serving Wolverhampton will be named after former Wolves and England boss Graham Taylor, it has been announced.
The London Midland Class 350 train will be ‘Graham Taylor OBE’ for its entire working life.
It will also serve Watford and Aston, where Taylor managed football clubs, as well as Wembley Central and Lichfield Trent Valley, which is near St. George's Park where England train.
Taylor managed Wolves from March 1994 to November 1995.
He almost led them to promotion in his one full season in charge, with Wolves losing in the play-offs to Bolton, and is widely regarded as having been one of football's gentlemen.
He died on January 12 of a suspected heart attack.
Steve Helfet, head of West Coast services at London Midland, said: “Graham played such an influential role at football clubs across the length and breadth of the country.
“The train will be fitted with a commemorative name plate and will be running past many of the locations that were so important in Graham’s career, both on the West Coast main line and in the West Midlands.
“We hope that passengers travelling on this train in the future will take a few moments to remember Graham, a true football hero.”
The train operator will be holding an unveiling ceremony at Watford Junction station on June 2.
The ceremony, being held on Platform 10 of Watford Junction station, will include short speeches and music performed by a string quartet.
After the ceremony, signed football memorabilia used in the unveiling will be auctioned for charity.
The proceeds from the auction will go to the Troy Deeney Foundation, which supports Garston Manor School, a specialist school for autism, learning difficulties and speech and language.
Representatives from all of Graham’s former clubs have been invited to the train naming.
Scott Duxbury, chairman at Watford Football Club, said: “London Midland’s respectful suggestion about Graham was put to his family for approval and we’re delighted they accepted this offer.
“Alongside other planned tributes, this gesture is a mark of just how widely Graham’s work and warm personality were appreciated across our town.”
