Former Norwich City and England defender Maurice Norman has died at the age of 88. 

Mulbarton-born Norman, or ‘Monty’ as he was widely known, made 35 appearances for the Canaries before joining Tottenham where he was part of the great success under Bill Nicholson. 

As a centre-back he helped Spurs win the league and FA Cup double in 1960-61, the FA Cup again in 1962 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963. 

He was also capped 23 times by England and included in squads for both the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. 

Norman then suffered a broken leg in November 1965 that ended his playing career, aged 31. 

He started out at City as a 17-year-old whilst still working full-time on a farm near Bracon Ash. 

The Pink Un: Former Norwich City defender Maurice Norman has died, aged 88Former Norwich City defender Maurice Norman has died, aged 88 (Image: Archant)

In an interview with the EDP in 1998 he said: “I was working full time and training Tuesday and Thursday evenings with Norwich City. There were times when I’d play for Norwich, miss the last bus back and have to walk the five miles back home. I’d be feeding pigs at midnight. 

After 35 first team appearances in a Norwich City career interrupted by National Service he was transferred to Tottenham, a team of household names for £28,000. 

“I didn’t have time to think about it. I was on the train and playing on the Saturday,” he said. 

“I had hardly ever been to London and just wondered what the devil happened to me. I remember all the faces in the dressing room. All those stars, people like Danny Blanchflower, and I was completely overawed. 

“I did not think I should be in the same dressing room as those people.” 

Norman suffered a badly broken leg at the age or 31, forcing him to eventually retire. He became a petrol pump attendant before owning a wool shop in Frinton, Essex, in partnership with his wife, Jaqueline. He went on to become a landscape gardener before retiring in 1998. 

Tottenham described Norman, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014 and more recently cancer, as "one of our all-time greats" and a "gentle giant", and added: "We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Jacqueline, children Michael and Johanna, grandchildren Daniel, Zara, Clark and Rebecca and great grandchildren Zakary and Joshua at this sad time."