Express & Star

Blast from the Past: Brains, brawn and brilliance of Big Cyrille

His death was met with an outpouring of grief that sent English football into mourning.

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The Express & Star was full of praise for Cyrille Regis following Albion's victory over Wolves in 1981

Joseph Masi recalls one of Big Cyrille's most memorable performances for the Baggies in a 3-0 win over Wolves at The Hawthorns in the First Division back in December, 1981.

The West Midlands is still coming to terms with the shock passing of Cyrille Regis last week – a man who undoubtedly transformed the game for the better.

Emotional tributes have flooded in for the striker who was a pioneer both on and off field.

Regis’ achievements in combatting racism whilst also being an integral part of one of Albion’s greatest ever teams will never be forgotten.

That is the great man’s legacy.

It was achieved, in part, thanks to a string of outstanding performances on the pitch.

And one of those arrived on December 5, 1981, when his brilliance led to the Baggies securing a thrilling 3-0 victory over Wolves.

The Molineux men had gone 544 minutes without conceding a goal before they capitulated at The Hawthorns.

A 50th minute goal from Regis put the Baggies on their way to their first home derby win since 1972.

Clive Whitehead doubled their advantage in the 85th minute before Regis thumped home another just moments later.

It’s was Regis’ tenth goal in nine games and his sixth in his last five outings.

And in the following Monday’s Express & Star, journalist Eddie Griffiths left readers in no doubt as to who was the star of the show.

His report read: “The futility of putting a welterweight to stop a heavy when the big man is using his brawn, brain and brilliant fire power was made obvious in a one-sided derby at The Hawthorns.

“Cyrille Regis proved this with a splendid performance against a Wolves side made to look very much second best.

“The duel between a man providing constant reminders he could be a World Cup force for England in Spain next year and a defence who had not conceded a goal in five previous matches was won in the second half.

“Regis, the burly Albion leader, flattened the courageous threat of Peter Daniels and Mick Matthews and ultimately won the battle with George Berry and Joe Gallagher.

“The comparison between Regis and Andy Gray as World Cup material was never on because Gray was unable to get the service he needed.

“Whenever Gray and John Richards attempted to do anything the found their way blocked by the superb Albion partnership of Brendon Batson and Derek Statham.

“That partnership gave Regis the platform to provide the magic to win the game – with the striker producing two wonderful finishes.”

They didn’t know it at the time but Albion would go on to complete a league double over their local rivals that year.

Goals from Regis and Derek Monaghan saw them secure a 2-1 win at Molineux. And those victories and goals proved crucial at the end of the campaign.

Wolves were relegated out of the First Division along with Leeds and Middlesbrough after finishing second-bottom.

Albion narrowly survived, finishing just four points above the drop.