One of the most colourful club managers in English football from the 1970’s and 1980’s John Bond died on Wednesday aged 79.

Bond – always dapperly dressed and often seen smoking a cigar – was known for his teams pleasing football style and was instrumental in turning unfashionable Norwich City into an established First Division (now the Premier League) side in the 1970’s.

He took them to the 1975 League Cup final where they lost to Aston Villa.

His impressive work at Norwich earned him a more high profile managerial post at Manchester City – where he replaced the equally flamboyant Malcolm Allison – in 1981 and took them to that season’s FA Cup final against Spurs.

City led in the final thanks to Tommy Hutchinson but the same player was to head past his own ‘keeper which gave Spurs a fortunate replay – the London club were to make no mistake in the replay winning 3-2 with Argentinian Ricky Villa scoring one of the best goals ever seen in the final.

The honeymoon didn’t last as Bond resigned during the 1982/1983 season and while he went onto coach other clubs he never enjoyed such a high profile or success again.

As a player Bond played over 400 games for West Ham United, winning the FA Cup with them in 1964.

His son Kevin, who played under him at Bournemouth, Norwich and Manchester City, has become a successful coach forming an effective partnership with Harry Redknapp, though, their spell at Spurs came to a surprise and abrupt end at the end of last season.