After travelling from Cornwall each weekend to watch Norwich City at Carrow Road, 38-year-old Steven Taylor would often leave £200 behind the bar for charities chosen by the Brickmakers pub.
Now, after losing a nine-week fight with bowel cancer, the Sprowston-born navy technician has left £10,000 for the pub to distribute among its chosen charities.
He joined the navy at 17 and was completing his petty officer training after repairing helicopters for more than 20 years.
Fellow fans are hoping to hold a minute's applause at the match against QPR to remember Mr Taylor, who was 'genuinely kind' with an impressive knowledge of Norwich City.
His sister, Sharon Taylor, said after the cancer was diagnosed it spread 'very quickly'.
'It didn't really have any symptoms,' she said.
'He had stomach pains and went to the force doctor.
'They thought it was gall stones but after more tests they said it was cancer of the bowel.
'Within a week it had spread to the stomach and intestines and was at Stage Four. It was that quick. The hospital tried everything they could, including chemo.
'Because he was so young, they threw absolutely everything at it but it was spreading too quickly. After two weeks they stopped the chemo because it was making him worse. The cancer was so aggressive.'
Mr Taylor was told he had two weeks left and spent his last days at home in Norwich before passing away on August 7.
'He knew, but he pushed it behind him,' added Ms Taylor. 'He was still quite cheerful.'
'He would consistently go on about football and facts but people didn't find it boring because he was so genuine with it. He would always stop and take the time of day to talk to someone who needed help.
'He was genuinely kind to everyone. He was an avid reader and was never seen without a book. He was the only person who would walk into a bar with a book under his arm.'
Nev Townsend, chairman of the Forces 2 Canaries group, said Mr Taylor was 'very popular and very sociable'.
He added: 'It just stunned us all when the news broke that he had been diagnosed.'
Fans are planning to begin a minute's applause on the 38th minute of the match against QPR this evening.
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