It was very sad to learn of the death of former West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City star Cyrille Regis who died earlier this week at the all too young age of 59. Regis was much more than just a talented footballer and became a symbol for the fight against racism in Britain at a time when things were in danger of getting out of hand. He had dignity and grace and he played a significant role in changing people's attitudes with his skills on the pitch and his dignified stance off it.
He made a lasting impression during his years at West Brom from 1977-84 at a time black players were still relatively rare. He became one of the most potent centre forwards in England, scoring 112 goals in 294 games for the Baggies. However no trophies came his way until he moved to Coventry City, picking up a Cup winner's medal after Coventry upset Tottenham in the 1987 final.
His goal-scoring was less productive at Coventry, notching 47 goals in 238 appearances, but his performances were still impressive and he was voted the club's player of the year in the 1986-7 season. He went on to experience short spells at Aston Villa, Wolves, Wycombe and Chester before his retirement at 38.
But it was at West Brom where Regis really made his mark. Baggies scout and former star Ronnie Allen, spotted him playing for non-league side Hayes and signed him up in 1977. They were taking a risk as he was an unknown quantity and was still working part-time as an electrician. But he didn't let them down.
Along with two other black players -- exciting winger Laurie Cunningham and defender Brendon Batson -- they became widely known as the "Three Degrees" after the black American group. It was the first time a top flight club had fielded three black players and a statue of the trio is expected to be unveiled in West Bromwich in the coming months.
At away games the trio invariably had to run the gauntlet of right wing extremists, the National Front. Batson recalled: "We would get off the coach at away matches and the NF would be right there in your face. We would get to the players' entrance and there would be spit on my jacket or Cyrille's shirt."
Inside the grounds was another experience. "The noise and level of abuse was incredible," Batson said. "But it was such a regular occurrence, you almost got used to it."
West Brom became one of Division One's most exciting clubs at that time, finishing third in the league in 1979 and fourth in 1981. They gained a reputation for playing entertaining football at the Hawthorns, spearheaded by Regis and Cunningham who went on to become the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid. He was tragically killed in a car crash in Madrid in 1989.
West Bromwich Albion's Cyrille Regis in 1978. PHOTO: AP
It was after Cunningham died that Regis became an evangelical Christian and religion was to play a big part in his life.
Regis scored some brilliant goals in his time at Albion, many from outside the box. He was particularly adept at latching on to a ball around the half-way line, surging towards the goal and letting fly from 25 yards with an unstoppable screamer. He was the sort of centre-forward every manager and every fan dreamed of.
Reflecting on his time with the Baggies Regis said: "I had some great years at Albion but there is just a little sadness that we didn't win anything."
Despite his success he had to regularly suffer boos, bananas and the most hurtful racist bile from rival fans, although the more abuse he got the better he seemed to play. Manager Ron Atkinson recalled an away game at Leeds where Regis suffered dreadful abuse from the home spectators. However, he went on to score two superb goals and at the final whistle the Leeds fans actually gave him a standing ovation. "In full flow there wasn't a better sight in football," Atkinson said. "He was the best centre-forward I ever had."
It is ironic that this trio should be at the West Brom at the time when Atkinson was manager as he was later fired from his television job for racist remarks off-air. However, concerning the Three Degrees, Atkinson recalled: "They could have been yellow, purple with two heads so long as they could play and were good lads -- which they were."
Regis was the third black player to be capped by England, behind Viv Anderson and Cunningham. However, his international career never really took off, winning only five caps. It was after his England debut in 1982 that smoldering racial issues came to the fore when he was sent a bullet in the mail. The accompanying letter carried the following chilling message, with words cut out from newspaper headlines: "If you put your foot on our Wembley turf, you will get one of these through your knees."
Regis binned the letter, but kept the bullet as a reminder of to what lengths people full of hatred might go to because of his skin colour.
The influence Regis had on the English game is reflected in the widespread tributes to him from people in football. Former England star Gary Lineker commented: "He was not only a brilliant footballer but a giant of a man." In a similar vein, Alan Shearer said: "What a man. What a centre-forward."
Former England striker Andrew Cole called Regis "my hero, my pioneer, the man behind the reason I wanted to play football."
Regis was a true trailblazer and a credit to the sport.