Paul Lagan, a loyal FWA member and Chelsea correspondent, passed away at the beginning of May week after a short illness . His funeral will be at South London Crematorium, Rowan Road, Streatham, SW16 5JG on Monday June 2, starting at 12 noon.
Gerry Cox, his friend for over 40 years, pays a special tribute to the man who was much loved and respected by his colleagues.
The press box at Stamford Bridge is one of the smallest and most cramped in the Premier League, and would usually be packed tight for Liverpool’s visit to Chelsea on Sunday May 4.
On that day, however, there was one empty seat, with flowers and memories marking the spot where Paul Lagan would normally sit. It was poignant for those of us who knew him well.
Paul covered Chelsea for over 25 years, most of them sitting in the back row of the press box alongside Simon Johnson, his great friend and fellow Blues aficionado.
His death onMay 1st, just a week after his 66th birthday, prompted an outpouring of love and grief from those who knew him over the years. One constant theme in the hundreds of messages, on social media and to his family and friends, was about how warm and welcoming Paul was to those new to the business, young journalists for whom the media room and press pack could be otherwise intimidating.
Paul would always take time to say hello, offer help and encouragement and share his encyclopaedic knowledge of Chelsea FC, both men’s and women’s teams. He was covering the women’s game long before it was fashionable, at club and national level. David Gerty head of women’s football communications for the FA, sent the following message: “Our love to everyone impacted by Paul Lagan’s tragic passing. He was someone we loved hosting in our press boxes and we know the Lionesses meant a lot to him. A chat with Paul could take you in many different directions but you’d always end up back to his beloved Chelsea (hopefully last night’s success gives him reason to smile). He will be sorely missed by us all and the thoughts of all of our team are with everyone impacted.”
Marc Skinner, manager of Manchester United’s women’s team, took time out of his press conference that week to send “heartfelt love to Vicky, Danny and Jake, his family, and all of you [media] as well.”
And Sonia Bompastor began her press conference ahead of Chelsea’s game against Tottenham by saying she was shocked by the news and “our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Enzo Maresco offered condolences to Paul’s family and friends immediately after Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Liverpool.
Paul was highly respected at Chelsea. When Jose Mourinho was uncharacteristically coy about saying the phrase “Big Balls” in a press conference after a Chelsea win at Crystal Palace a few years ago, he asked to borrow Paul’s notepad and pen so he could write the words, which our man proudly held up for the rest of us.
Players and managers over the years trusted Paul because he was a good old-fashioned journalist who earned their respect and protected his sources – and although he loved Chelsea football club, it did not deter him from being critical when necessary.
Chelsea Lookback put this montage together:
Paul was a proud member and loyal supporter of the FWA, always encouraging young reporters to join the association and rarely missing the Footballer of the Year dinner. He was often on our table, and as a teetotaller, would be the man we’d turn to the next day for the most reliable recollections of the night before.
He was a loyal friend. I’d first met Paul playing non-league football in the early 1980s and over the next decade or so we played together in some half-decent teams, winning and losing cup finals and title-deciders, always helping each other out. I considered myself a ball-playing midfielder – i.e didn’t tackle or run too much – but Paul did that for me, a willing runner who was super-fit, Pimlico’s equivalent of Ngolo Kante. He would regularly run the London Marathon in its early years, not signing up formally but just turning up at the start line and joining in.
We once played a pre-season friendly in Battersea Park in baking heat, and when a depleted team arrived for their match immediately after ours, he volunteered himself – and me – to make up the numbers. He lasted the full 90 minutes, not surprisingly.
He passed on his love of football and Chelsea to sons Danny and Jake, and I am sure they will keep the Blue flag flying high.
It will be tough for us on Sunday, seeing an empty seat where Paul used to sit, and of course it will be immensely difficult for Vicky, the boys and all his family and friends to cope without one of the good guys.
Life goes on, but it won’t be the same.
RIP Paul.