What was previously called the Centenary Hall, a matchday hospitality area and non-matchday events location inside the Shed End Stand, will now be known as the Canoville Suite.

A fine footballer in his time, a skilful winger with pace and the ability to beat an opponent, Paul is also defined by his indomitable spirit and the way he also beat a series of major challenges during his life, including some that threatened to take that life.

For many years now Paul has used those experiences to help other people, including in partnership with projects run by the Chelsea Foundation, such as equality lessons in schools using examples from his life to deliver important messages on respect and diversity, and discussion sessions in prisons. Through his own foundation, he works with schools and youth organisations to promote confidence, well-being, diversity and resilience.

Earlier this year, Paul was in a critical condition in hospital after complications set in following an operation, but his against-the-odds recovery was the latest of the big obstacles he has cleared which have included cancer, homelessness, drug addiction, his career ending prematurely due to injury and, most famously, racism within the game of football.

As the first black player to be selected for the Chelsea men’s first team, Paul endured prejudice that extended to abuse from a considerable proportion of those at games to support Chelsea and from within his own team.

The exemplary fortitude he showed then, pursuing his football dream despite often facing adversity alone, was the same strength crucial in more recent times when in hospital. Parallels could even be drawn with his bounce back from critical illness and turning around a 3-0 half-time deficit away from home, as Chelsea did in a big cup-tie at Sheffield Wednesday in 1985.

Paul came on at the break and scored within seconds before netting again to put the Blues 4-3 ahead. Even though that match ended in a draw, a follow-up replay was won in the final moments when his corner was headed in by Mickey Thomas. By that stage his name was sung by the fans and it remains his most famous game in a Chelsea shirt, challenged by our first game back in the top flight at Arsenal earlier that season, and a 6-1 win against Swansea in the cherished promotion year the season before.

Paul played a big part in that special campaign, and against Swansea completed a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge at the end of the ground where the new Canoville Suite is located.

The entrance stairwell and area in the Suite will tell Paul’s history with words and images, and Chelsea’s wider diversity story will be in the rest of the Suite, with a celebration of other ground-breaking players for whom Paul paved the way at the club.

On having part of Stamford Bridge named in his honour, Paul said: ‘The love I have for the club is hard to put into words. It became such a big part of my life that at one stage when I was going through my toughest challenge with my health, it was the one thing that I held onto that kept me going.

‘I knew I had unfinished business and that being part of Chelsea’s future as well as its history was my destiny. I am so proud that the club has honoured me in this way and I can’t wait to start repaying them for it, supporting Neil Bath and his team at the greatest academy in world football, and with my work going into schools and telling vulnerable kids “keep going, you can do it!” And finally of course, my role as an ambassador for club that I love so much, the club where the Canoville Suite will now forever tell the story of a journey that led to Chelsea FC becoming one of the most successful clubs for players of colour in the history of the English game!’

Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck added: ‘When the club was considering where at Stamford Bridge both Paul and his legacy should be honoured, we decided the suite that will now bear his name was the place, as it is within the stadium and with the widest view of the pitch where he made history.

‘We were all hugely concerned that Paul may be lost to us earlier this year and therefore delighted that such an important story as his with Chelsea continues. We are never surprised by the spirit and resilience he shows.

‘There are the parts of Paul’s story that made headlines, but there have been quieter contributions too with Paul working with us behind the scenes and away from the pitch on important projects.

‘Paul is also part of our hospitality team of former star players who work as hosts at Stamford Bridge on match days, and when he now walks through the Canoville Suite as part of that role, we hope it brings a special smile to his face.’