Football community gathers for funeral of Graham Taylor

Sir Elton John has paid tribute to Graham Taylor as a "genius from Lincolnshire" who took him to "the stars and back" as Watford manager.

In a speech read on his behalf by football commentator John Motson at Taylor's funeral, Sir Elton compared the manager who led Watford from the fourth division to the first and to an FA Cup final to his famous lyricist.

"It's odd that two of the most important people in my life Bernie Taupin and Graham both hail from Lincolnshire," Sir Elton said.

The singer said Taylor was "without doubt like a brother" and "a man that I befriended and loved from the first day that we met at my house in Windsor", although he accepted the pair made "an unlikely twosome from the outside".

"It was a partnership so binding and enjoyable that equalled my relationship with my brilliant lyricist.

"(We were) fiercely ambitious, revolutionary in our approach to a football club and its community. ... As chairman and manager we were Batman and Robin."

Sir Elton's speech also revealed Taylor had lectured the singer on his substance abuse that "shook me to my core".

"Graham was the most open and honest man I ever met," he said, adding that he had "no airs or graces" but was "just a genius from Lincolnshire".

He ended: "He is a legend in this community, in football and in life."

• Graham Taylor: A life in pictures

Thousands of Watford supporters have gathered in the town to pay respects to former England manager Graham Taylor at his funeral.

• Graham Taylor: A life in pictures

Graham Taylor's special quality as a manager was "putting people first" before the football, Watford legend Luther Blissett has told ITV News as he arrived at the funeral of his former boss.

Blissett also joked that the current team's 2-1 victory at Arsenal on Tuesday night - the first win over the Gunners in England's top division since 1988 - was influenced by the club's most celebrated manager.

"If there's anything that shows that he's still with us - that game last night," he said. "If there was anybody who influenced the game last night it was Graham."

• Graham Taylor: A life in pictures

Leading figures from English football have arrived to pay their respects to ex-England manager Graham Taylor in Watford as Hornets fans turned out to honour the club legend.

The former Watford and Aston Villa boss died suddenly last month of a suspected heart attack at the age of 72.

• Graham Taylor: A life in pictures

Thousands of people are expected to turn out to join leading football figures in paying their respects to Graham Taylor at the ex-England manager's funeral.

The former Watford and Aston Villa boss died suddenly last month of a suspected heart attack at the age of 72.

Several streets will be closed in Watford ahead of the 1pm service at St Mary's Church before a private family committal later in the day.

• Graham Taylor: A life in pictures