Graham Paddon
Encyclopedia
Graham Charles Paddon was an English
footballer
who played as a midfielder.
, scoring one goal, before signing for Norwich City
in October 1969 for £25,000. He played with the promotion
winning team of 1972, and the team that reached the 1973 League Cup
Final.
After 290 League appearances and 25 goals for the Canaries, Paddon joined West Ham United
for £170,000 in 1973. He made 150 League and cup appearances and scored 20 goals in his three years at West Ham, featuring in the FA Cup Final
of 1975 and the European Cup Winners' Cup
Final of 1976. He also played in the Charity Shield match against Derby County
at the beginning of the 1975–76
season. In 1975, West Ham sent him on loan to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
.
Paddon rejoined Norwich for £110,000 in November 1976, and later played in the United States
with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. On his return to England, he had a spell at Millwall
where he made 5 League appearances and scored one goal. He finished his career in Hong Kong
with Eastern AA
.
In August 1985, Paddon joined the coaching staff at Portsmouth
, working under Alan Ball. He moved to Stoke City
to become Ball's assistant in October 1989. After Ball had been sacked in February 1991 Paddon was given the role as Caretaker manager up until the end of the 1990–91 season. Stoke finished in 14th place in the Third Division which was unfortunately for Paddon Stoke's worst ever league finish. He returned to the south coast to work as Jim Smith
's number two in the spring of 1991. In March 1995, the pair were sacked. Paddon later worked as a scout
for Derby County
, again under Jim Smith.
Paddon died at his home in Norfolk on 19 November 2007.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a midfielder.
Career
Paddon made five League appearances for Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, scoring one goal, before signing for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in October 1969 for £25,000. He played with the promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
winning team of 1972, and the team that reached the 1973 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Final.
After 290 League appearances and 25 goals for the Canaries, Paddon joined West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
for £170,000 in 1973. He made 150 League and cup appearances and scored 20 goals in his three years at West Ham, featuring in the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
of 1975 and the European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
Final of 1976. He also played in the Charity Shield match against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
at the beginning of the 1975–76
1975-76 in English football
The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their...
season. In 1975, West Ham sent him on loan to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
.
Paddon rejoined Norwich for £110,000 in November 1976, and later played in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. On his return to England, he had a spell at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
where he made 5 League appearances and scored one goal. He finished his career in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
with Eastern AA
Eastern AA
Eastern Athletic Association is a football club and now plays in Hong Kong Third Division "A" League. It was a very successful team especially in the 1990s and was given the name 'Eastern Dynasty'. Eastern had originally competed in Second Division League during 2006/07 season and demoted to Third...
.
In August 1985, Paddon joined the coaching staff at Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, working under Alan Ball. He moved to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
to become Ball's assistant in October 1989. After Ball had been sacked in February 1991 Paddon was given the role as Caretaker manager up until the end of the 1990–91 season. Stoke finished in 14th place in the Third Division which was unfortunately for Paddon Stoke's worst ever league finish. He returned to the south coast to work as Jim Smith
Jim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
's number two in the spring of 1991. In March 1995, the pair were sacked. Paddon later worked as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, again under Jim Smith.
Paddon died at his home in Norfolk on 19 November 2007.
Career statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
24 February 1991 | 18 June 1991 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | |