Albion Outlook: West Brom fans pay their respects to Cyrille Regis

Pat Frost

What did £5,000 get you in the 1970s?

Unbelievably, it got you Cyrille Regis.

His home debut in the League Cup versus Rotherham was followed by a league debut and a wonder goal.

“Nice one Cyrille, nice one son, nice one Cyrille, let’s have another one!” rang around The Hawthorns.

He was the most iconic footballer ever to wear the famous stripes.

I was lucky enough to be at Old Trafford for the famous 5-3 win and the commentary for Cyrille’s goal will stay with me forever.

Cyrille scored goals we could only dream of – against Norwich in the Cup and Southampton away on a Good Friday.

When he returned to The Hawthorns in the old gold and black, he still got a standing ovation – that was how highly regarded he was.

Shearer, Cole, Deane, Kamara, to name but a few, have all paid their respects.

Cyrille was known worldwide. He helped pave the way for today’s black players, inspiring them to want to be like him. He was an icon.

Cyrille will be missed by the football community in every corner of the world.

He had time for anyone who wanted a chat, a photo, or an autograph.

Thanks for the memories big man... rest easy.

Paul Chappell

While I was never fortunate enough to see him play live, I was fortunate to grow up in an Albion household and be regaled with stories about Cyrille and his prowess.

There are a very select few players for any club that instantly obtain respect and legend status regardless of whether or not you saw them. Regis, Bomber, Astle all obtained this.

His loss will be felt for weeks to come by everyone associated with him and the Albion and it makes me proud to say i support ‘his’ club.

He will never be forgotten.

RIP Cyrille.

Shaun Harrison

In 1977, on a cold damp night, I stood and watched a raw, but powerful and talented teenager make his debut for Albion.

A League Cup match it was against the red and white stripes of Rotherham United.

I recall John Wile, our then captain, throwing him the ball when we had won a penalty.

Of course, I am on about big Cyrille and undoubtedly he smashed it in – then a legend was born.

He was a man whose persona and charm was as powerful as his muscles.

In the game, very few obtain cult status based on honour as well as talent, but Cyrille Regis was definitely one.

May he rest peacefully...

Clint McCormick

SEEING the number of tributes to Cyrille Regis confirms he wasn’t just a great footballer, but a great man.

Unfortunately I only met him a few times, but he always had time for the fans.

He’s a player most fans who have been going since he played talk about regularly still four decades on.

The footballing world is a sadder place without you.

RIP

Alistair Jones

I really don’t know where to start.

Cyrille was the where my love for Albion stemmed from.

Yes, my dad took me to the games, but it was Cyrille that really lit the blue touch paper.

I remember the iconic goal of the season against Norwich, exaggerated in my own imagination where I still see two defenders being dragged through the centre circle by our powerhouse No.9, before he unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner.

He was simply breathtaking to watch.

As a four-year-old kid, I couldn’t wait for the next match, my Dad sneaking me under the turnstile (sorry to the club!) to watch him.

I remember sobbing when I heard we sold him to Coventry – it was the first time I realised that this was what happened in football, but I was absolutely gutted.

I had the pleasure to meet him on a couple of occasions, once where he did an event at my local pub.

He was supposed to do an hour, but stayed until closing, reminiscing about his time at Albion, Wolves, Villa and Coventry.

We were his club, and he knew it, but he crossed the divide of all the rival clubs with dignity, which I don’t think any other player has done, and that shows the sort of man he was.

Ben Hadlington

It’s been such a sad week, not for just our club, but for the footballing world.

As tributes flood in from clubs, players, managers and fans, it shows what an amazing man Cyrille Regis was.

Only being 24 I wasn’t given the opportunity to watch him play, but from everything I have read and videos I have watched over the years, it looks like I missed out on witnessing one of the greatest players to grace the Hawthorns turf!

If you were to pick a player that most epitomised what it required to be a Baggie, Regis would be the first name on many fans’ lips – courage, desire, passion, determination and someone proud to wear the stripes.

He got knocked down so many times because of who he was, but he showed that it didn’t matter if you were black or white, we all deserved the same opportunity.

In that, he changed the way the game was and was accepted for being the most caring, kind and fantastic footballer.

He will always live on in the club’s history and will never be forgotten.

My thoughts are with his family and friends during this very difficult time.

Ian Goffe

I have lots of fond memories of watching Cyrille Regis and the other members of the Three Degrees playing exciting, sometimes mesmerising football, the way it should be played; we will score one more than you!

But perhaps my fondest memory was the 5-3 victory at Old Trafford in December 1978. The match had it all, including the very audible chants and boos every time Cyrille, Laurie and Brendon touched the ball. This was not missed by the commentator (I think it was Gerald Sinstadt).

Cyrille should have had a hat-trick that day and it was only the tremendous form of Gary Bailey that prevented it. At 3-3 the game was finely poised and so it was fitting, some may say fate, that Laurie should score number four with a mesmerising run and Cyrille number five, slipping his marker and finishing with a sledgehammer shot into the roof of the net, to win the game and silence all the morons who chose to boo these players because of their colour.

RIP big man, your contribution to the beautiful game will never be underestimated and most certainly never forgotten.

Alan Foster

Having read the articles this week the memories came flooding back from those games, especially the Middlesbrough game on the Saturday. I watched the game from the Rainbow Stand and sat next to an elderly gentleman, whom I had never met before.

When Cyrille smashed in that goal we both grabbed each other and the tears rolled down our faces with joy.

I cannot explain the feeling that day, but it just seemed we had witnessed the start of something very special and how right we were.

I also remember the day we played the Villa at Villa Park, (I was in the Holte End with a friend who supported Villa).

We got in early and a few of the Albion players came out to warm up, and a few bananas were thrown onto the pitch, Cyrille picked one up and ate it, the whole stadium stood up and cheered him, he was brilliant.

I had the pleasure of meeting Cyrille a few times, he once helped raise funds for the football club I used to run, and even took the time to come to a fund raising event.

Cyrille was a very humble, genuine nice man. My eyes are watering as I write this, we will miss him.

Sarah Rudge

ON Monday, we were hit by the desperately tragic news that one of our most beloved former players had passed away.

Cyrille Regis was not only an icon on our football field, but he was an icon of the sport. It’s difficult to find the words to try and explain what he meant to us Albion fans in particular.

An outpouring of emotional tributes have awashed social media, which only reaffirms just how loved he was by football fans throughout the country.

He scored 112 goals in over 302 appearances for us, but he was much more than just a goalscorer, he was a fantastic person.

Changing the face of football and supporting campaigns against racism, he was a true gentleman of the game who inspired a generation.

He was a role model to all young footballers with his support, enthusiasm and words of encouragement.

“This is my club and it’s very special to me,” is how Cyrille described Albion and, on behalf of all of our fans:”You were our player and our friend and you shall always be very special to us.”

Rest in Peace Cyrille and take care of Laurie for us, you shall both forever remain in our hearts.