A new road in Lincoln is to become a lasting tribute to one of the city’s best-loved footballing icons.
Graham Taylor Way is one of two new roads which run through a development of 88 homes off Ingleby Crescent, on the Ermine estate. The other will be called Imp Close – a reference to Lincoln City Football Club’s nickname.
On Monday 22nd October, Graham Taylor’s friends and family will join representatives from City of Lincoln Council, Lincoln City Football Club, Waterloo Housing and Lindum for a street naming ceremony at the site.
Graham’s widow, Rita Taylor will plant an oak tree at the entrance to the development and will unveil the new street signs which bear her late husband’s name.
The ceremony will also mark the completion of two years of building work at the site, which has seen construction of 14 one-bedroomed flats, 4 one-bedroomed houses, 34 two-bedroomed houses, 28 three-bedroomed houses and 8 four-bedroomed houses.
The homes were built by Lincoln construction firm Lindum on behalf of Waterloo Homes, which provides social housing and affordable homes across the Midlands and Lincolnshire.
Anthony Riley, Director of Development and Operations at Waterloo Housing said: “We are extremely proud, that by working in partnership with City of Lincoln Council and our development partners, Lindum Construction, we have been able to deliver high quality, much needed homes for local people in the City.
“This has been a great project and we are absolutely delighted that part of the development has been named after the great Graham Taylor and indeed the Lincoln City Football Club in recognition of their contribution to the City. Waterloo are very much looking forward to continuing working in partnership with City of Lincoln Council into the future to provide more new homes for the City.”
City of Lincoln Council will take ownership of 74 homes on the site, which it will offer to people on its housing waiting list.
Councillor Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing at City of Lincoln Council, said: “We have been working with Lindum Group and Waterloo Housing on a significant new build development programme which, by the beginning of next year, will have seen more than 170 new council properties fill a housing void in the city.
“On Monday, we will not only be celebrating the development of these properties, but we will be remembering the late Lincoln City FC player and manager, Graham Taylor, through the naming of a new street in his honour on a new Ermine development.
“The introduction of the properties on the newly named Graham Taylor Way is just part of a wider new build programme by City of Lincoln Council as we work toward the Vision 2020 target of 400 new council and affordable homes by 2020.”
Football club chief executive Liam Scully, vice chairman Roger Bates and a number of former Imps who played under Graham are expected to attend the ceremony on Monday.
In a statement, the football club said: “Lincoln City Football Club are proud to be able to play a small part in what is a wonderful new housing development for the City. To have one of the football club’s and City’s greatest ever sporting icons honoured in such a way is a fantastic honour.
“Graham is remembered fondly by everyone at the football club and for Lindum, Waterloo Housing and the City of Lincoln Council to come together and name the new development after him, it serves not only as a lasting legacy for his work at the football club both as a player and a manager, it’s also an indication of the positivity he brought to the whole City and its people.”
Director of Lindum Construction, Simon Gregory, added: “It is great to honour Graham Taylor in this way and I’m sure all the people who worked on the project will be proud to have helped achieve what we see now on this fantastic estate of new affordable homes, which are well spaced out and have nice gardens.
“Lindum Construction would like to thank all the specialist trades involved, from groundworkers to bricklayers and roof tilers to decorators, as well as Lincolnshire Highways and the planning officers to mention a few.
“In total, we have had 400 people work on this site, all of whom have earnt good wages which will be spent in the local area and benefit the local economy.”
