Graham Paddon, who died on 19 November, 2007, was a left-winger who enjoyed success with Norwich City and West Ham United during the 1970s.

He was known for his sublime left foot, impressive long throw and a mane of golden blond hair.

Mr Paddon was born on 24 August, 1950, in Manchester. He began his career at Coventry City but was quickly snapped up by Norwich manager Ron Saunders for £25,000 in October 1969.

He made 340 appearances for the Canaries during two spells, scored 37 goals and was instrumental in them gaining promotion in 1972 and reaching the League Cup final the following year.

After joining West Ham for £170,000 in 1973 he played in 150 games and scored 20 goals. He was a key member of the team that beat Fulham in the 1975 FA Cup final and reached the semi-final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup final the following year.

He later said that this time, playing alongside the likes of Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard senior and Trevor Brooking, was the highlight of his career: "We achieved so much in a short space of time and West Ham are undoubtedly the best club I played for."

He rejoined Norwich for £110,000 in November 1976 and became captain in his final season. Then, after leaving English football in 1981, he had spells in America with Tampa Bay Rowdies and Hong Kong where he played for Eastern AA.

In 1985 he joined the coaching staff at Portsmouth, became assistant manager at Stoke City in 1989 and returned to Pompy as Jim Smith’s number 2 in 1991. Smith was sacked in 1995 and moved to Derby County where Paddon joined him to work as a scout.

"He had the most fantastic left foot," recalled Duncan Forbes, his captain at Norwich. "He didn't need to get very far over the halfway line before he looked up and unleashed a shot at goal. It was superb.

"And he had a huge long throw. We used to practise moves at the old training pitch at Trowse. He would take the throw, I would flick it back with my head and there'd be someone coming in behind to score. But I suppose it was the left foot which made him famous because it really was so very good."

He added: "Sometimes as his captain I had to have a little word with him, about something or other, but whereas some players might answer you back, Graham didn't, he just did what was asked of him. He was such a lovely lad, quietly spoken - just a real nice guy and a real good footballer."

Former West Ham team-mate and fellow Cup-winner Alan Taylor said: "He is rightly regarded as a Norwich City great, but he was also instrumental in two major successes at West Ham. He scored a superb goal in the Cup Winners Cup semi-final away leg at Eintracht Frankfurt which got West Ham to the final. It was a hell of a goal.

"When I went to West Ham he was one of the senior professionals and someone I looked up to. He always helped people like me, Billy Jennings and Keith Robson. When I first went there I was a young lad coming from Rochdale in the old Fourth Division and you needed players like Graham to look after lads like us and teach us the right way to do things."

Mr Paddon died at the age of 57 at his home in Norfolk. He was survived by his partner, Sandra, and children, Guy, Jenny and Heather.