A sports journalist who blazed a trail for women’s football coverage has died aged 66.

Tributes have been paid to Paul Lagan, who spent 25 years as sub-editor on the South London Press.

Paul, pictured, also ran Capital Football, an online match reports and news service covering all London’s clubs.

A regular in the press box at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge ground, he died on 1 May, a week after his 66th birthday, after a series of medical complications in hospital.

In an obituary, Tim Harrison wrote: “Stamford Bridge press box regular Paul Lagan, who has died at 66, was one of the earliest journalists to treat women’s football on a par with men’s, even at a time when the girls’ teams were amateur, crowds numbered dozens and mainstream news outlets barely acknowledged the sport’s existence.

“Paul rarely missed a Chelsea men’s or women’s match, home or away, travelling to games by car, ankle-deep in chocolate bar wrappers and soft drink cans.”

Tim added: “Behind his trademark weary expression and grouchy exterior was a warm, mischievous personality and a dazzlingly witty sense of humour. He could light up a post-match press conference with a penetrating question which would leave everyone – managers included – in fits of laughter, but which got to the heart of why a team had performed well, or badly, on the day.

“As a writer he was a fans’ fan, reporting on how twists and turns at Chelsea FC would impact supporters.

“He was first in line to condemn above-inflation season ticket price hikes, or criticise fixture timetable clashes between men and women, arguing that it went against the Blues’ ‘one family’ concept.

“He encouraged young wannabe journalists to break into the industry by writing for his website, giving them their first bylines and allowing them freedom to express opinions without restraint; a rarity in the digital era.”

Paul is survived by wife Vicky and two sons.