Former Norwich City player and coach John Benson died at the age of 67 after a short illness.

Born in Arbroath in 1942, he began his career with Manchester City before playing for Torquay and Bournemouth and spent just over a year with the Canaries as a player, making 37 appearances and scoring once.

He was one of John Bond's first recruits when he took over as manager in December 1973, signing from Bournemouth.

Benson, who had been captain when Bond was manager at Bournemouth, played in both full-back positions for City but also briefly deputised in the centre of defence for Duncan Forbes.

His last match for City was probably the most memorable – a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the League Cup semi-final, first leg at Old Trafford in January 1975.

Two weeks later, he returned to Bournemouth as player-manager but was back at City in 1979 as youth team coach and scout.

In October 1980, when Bond quit Norwich to become Manchester City manager, Benson followed him as assistant. City chairman Sir Arthur South had wanted Benson to succeed Bond.

After managing Manchester City and Burnley, followed by overseas coaching jobs, Benson returned to Norwich in 1994 and had a spell as administrative assistant to manager John Deehan, then assistant to caretaker boss Gary Megson in 1995.