Paddy Long was a Yorkshireman, and a relative of Bobby Smith, the Spurs and England outside centre-forward. He joined Hayes from Walton & Hersham in September 1969, having previously played for Maidstone, Barking, Carshalton Athletic, Epsom & Ewell (1972/73, 5 appearances), Fulham and Wimbledon. He had been selected for the Great Britain Olympic Squad for Mexico in 1968, but did not go. He was with Hayes for two seasons, in which he made 98+1 appearances and scored 14 goals from wing-half and inside-forward. He was known for drinking a pint of milk at the end of every game. He joined Dulwich Hamlet in summer 1971.

Died at the tragically young age of 44 and a memorial match was held for him at Kingstonian at the start of the 1985/86 season.