Former West Ham United midfielder Graham Paddon has died aged 57
19.11.2007
Graham Paddon - a member of the 1975 FA Cup-winning side - has died aged 57
at his home in Norfolk.
The Manchester-born midfielder spent three years at West Ham United between
1973 and 1976, making 150 league and cup appearances and scoring 15 goals.
West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley, a former team-mate, paid tribute to
his friend. "Graham was one of the nicest people you could meet," he said.
"At the time I was breaking into the first team, he was an established
player having signed from Norwich. He was a terrific player and every West
Ham fan will remember his cultured left foot. He will be sorely missed."
Paddon was best known for his midfield partnership with Billy Bonds and
Trevor Brooking, playing a key role in the 2-0 defeat of Fulham in the 1975
triumph at Wembley before earning a runners-up medal in the European Cup
Winners' Cup the following year. En route to the 4-2 final defeat by RSC
Anderlecht in Brussels, Paddon scored a stunning 30-yard goal in the 2-1
semi-final first leg loss at Eintracht Frankfurt. He then helped the club
win 3-1 in the home return for a 4-3 aggregate success.
West Ham United assistant manager Mervyn Day played with Paddon in both the
1975 and 1976 finals. He said: "As a member of the same side as Graham, I'll
remember his dynamism, the balance he brought to the side but, above all
else, the ferocity of his left foot in shooting practice. My heartfelt
thoughts go out to his family at this sad time."
Paddon leaves behind his wife Sandra and three children - Guy, Jenny and
Heather. Either side of his time at the Boleyn Ground, Paddon had two spells
with Norwich City - making 340 appearances- while he also played for
Coventry City, Millwall and the US side Tampa Bay Rowdies. As a coach, he
worked for Stoke and Portsmouth and he also acted as a scout for Liverpool,
Derby County and Leicester City.
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Former Hammer Paddon dies at 57 - BBC
Former Norwich and West Ham midfielder Graham Paddon has died suddenly at
the age of 57. Paddon spent the majority of his career at Carrow Road,
making 340 appearances and scoring 37 goals in two spells. During the
1973-74 season he moved to West Ham and helped them stave off relegation,
and in 1975 he played in the FA Cup final win over Fulham. City players will
wear black armbands for Saturday's game with Coventry, the club where he
began his career.
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Graham Paddon - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 19th November 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Former Hammer Graham Paddon has died at the age of just 57. Manchester-born
Paddon died suddenly at his home earlier today. He spent three years at West
Ham under both Ron Greenwood and John Lyall during the 1970s and went on to
make 151 appearances in claret and blue. Greenwood signed the midfielder
from Norwich City in 1973 for £170,000. He went on to play in West Ham's
most important games of that period including the 1975 FA Cup Final and the
1976 Cup Winners Cup Final before rejoining Norwich following West Ham's 1-0
defeat at Carrow Road in November of that year. Paddon will probably be best
remembered by Hammers fans for the 30-yard screamer he scored against
Eintract Frankfurt in the away leg of the Cup Winners Cup semi-final which
proved vital to United's progression to the final. Born in 1950, Paddon
began his professional career with Coventry City. After making just five
appearances for the Sky Blues, Ron Saunders paid £25,000 to take him to
Norwich in 1969. Paddon was part of the City side that won promotion to the
(old) First Division for the first time in their history in the 1971/72
season. He joined the Hammers a year later in a cash plus player deal that
saw Ted MacDougall sign for City.
After returning to Norwich in 1976, Paddon went on to make a total of 350
appearances for the club before departing for Millwall in 1981, having also
spent some time in the US playing in the now defunct NASL with Tampa Bay
Rowdies alongside other aging English pros such as Rodney Marsh. After only
five games for Millwall, Paddon went to Hong Kong where he ended his playing
days with Eastern AA. Brief spells in coaching with Portsmouth, Stoke and
Derby were to follow.
KUMB's condolences go to Graham's partner and three children.
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Hammers FA Cup winner Paddon dies at 57 -Daily Mail
Last updated at 15:50pm on 19th November 2007
Graham Paddon, who won the FA Cup with West Ham in 1975 and also played for
Norwich, Coventry and Millwall, has died suddenly at his Norfolk home at the
age of 57. The midfielder is best remembered for his time with the Canaries,
for whom he played 340 games in two spells between 1969 and 1981, scoring 37
goals. Paddon also spent time in the USA with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and had
spells as assistant manager at Portsmouth and Stoke, becoming caretaker
manager of the latter in 1989. He also scouted for Derby and Oldham. Former
Norwich team-mate Dave Stringer told the club's official website,
www.canaries.co.uk: "He was a terrific player and was a member of the team
that won promotion to the First Division for the first time. "He scored some
fantastic goals and was also a bit of a fashion icon at the time as well."
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Norwich to pay tribute to Paddon - teamTalk
Norwich have confirmed they will wear black armbands against Coventry on
Saturday following the death of their former midfielder Graham Paddon.
Paddon, who died at the age of 57, enjoyed two spells with the Canaries,
between 1969-73 and 1976-81, scoring 37 goals in 340 games. He was a member
of the promotion-winning side of 1971-72 and was also in the team which made
it to the League Cup final in 1973. Former team-mate Dave Stringer said: "He
was a terrific player and was a member of the team that won promotion to the
First Division for the first time. "He scored some fantastic goals and was
also a bit of a fashion icon at the time as well."
Despite spending most of his career with Norwich, Paddon's biggest success
came with West Ham where he won the FA Cup in 1975. He made a total of 150
appearances for the Hammers, also turning out in the Cup Winners' Cup final
of 1976. Paddon finished his career in Hong Kong with Eastern AA and went on
to coach at Portsmouth and Stoke.
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