February 14th: Today’s Feature

February

Cyrille Regis MBE

(9 Feb 1958 – 14 Jan 2018) was a professional footballer who played as a forward. His professional playing career spanned 19 years, where he made 614 league appearances and scored 158 league goals, most prolifically at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City. Born in French Guiana, Regis also won five caps with the England national team.

Early life

Regis was born on 9 February 1958 in Maripasoula, French Guiana, the son of Robert Regis, a labourer from Saint Lucia and Mathilde Regis, a seamstress. His father moved to England in 1962, with the rest of the family, including Cyrille, following a year later.

Cyrille grew up in Harlesden, located in the Borough of Brent, and attended Cardinal Hinsley Maths & Computing College. At primary school, Regis said that he was a much better cricketer than footballer. “I was an outdoor child. So I just wanted to play cricket outside, and I played much more cricket back then because football was just another sport I did without any real passion”.

After leaving school, Regis trained as an electrician, earning a City and Guilds diploma; he continued to practise the trade until his move into professional football. He was a cousin of the athlete John Regis.

Club career: Non-League

The 1975–76 season saw Regis move to Athenian League club Molesey, for whom he scored around 25 goals during his one campaign for the club. He was then approached by Boreham Wood, but did not join them. Instead he went on to join semi-professional Hayes of the Isthmian League, signing on 7 July 1976.

Regis was spotted by West Bromwich Albion's chief scout Ronnie Allen, who recommended that the First Division club should sign him.  With the Albion directors unsure of paying a four-figure fee for such a young, unproven player, Allen offered to fund any initial payment from his own pocket, so sure was he that Regis would make it in the top tier of English football. The transfer took place in May 1977, for an up-front fee of £5,000, plus another £5,000 after 20 appearances.

West Bromwich Albion

Shortly after bringing Regis to Albion, Allen took over as team manager, following the resignation of his predecessor Johnny Giles. Regis made his first team debut in a League Cup match against Rotherham United on 31 August 1977, scoring twice in a 4–0 win.

Three days later Regis made his league debut in a 2–1 victory over Middlesbrough. Again he found the net, taking the ball from the halfway line to the penalty area before scoring with a right-foot drive. Middlesbrough's David Mills, who later became a teammate of Regis at Albion, described it as "a goal of sheer brilliance”.

Regis also scored in his first FA Cup match in January 1978, helping Albion to beat Blackpool 4–1.  A few days later, Albion appointed a new manager, Ron Atkinson. Ronnie Allen had departed in late December to manage the Saudi Arabia national team and John Wile, the club's captain, had acted as caretaker manager in the interim. Whilst a West Bromwich Albion player he played in a benefit match for Len Cantello, that saw a team of white players play against a team of black players.

During his career, Cyril also played for:

Coventry City

Aston Villa

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers

Chester City

International Career

Regis's dual French and British nationality made him eligible to play for either the English or French national sides, but it was England that he chose to represent.  He made his England under-21 debut on 19 September 1978, in a

2–1 victory over the Denmark under-21s in Hvidovre. 

Despite winning five caps for the full England side, Regis never played the full 90 minutes for his country at senior level; he played as a substitute three times and was himself substituted twice.  He made his international debut on 23 February 1982 in a 4–0 win over Northern Ireland in the Home International Championship at Wembley. Regis came on as a substitute for Trevor Francis in the 65th minute. 

His final international appearance for England was in 1987 against Turkey at Wembley, which ended in an 8–0 win for the home side, where he came on for the last 20 minutes. He was the third black player to be capped by England at the highest level after Viv Anderson and Laurie Cunningham.

Personal life

His younger brother is former player Dave Regis, and his nephew is Jason Roberts.

Regis became an evangelical Christian after a car crash claimed the life of his friend and former teammate Laurie Cunningham in 1989. He and Cunningham had been involved in a similar crash two years earlier. After retiring from playing, Regis worked in a variety of coaching roles before becoming an accredited football agent with the Stellar Group Ltd. He was the uncle of footballer Jason Roberts, for whom he acted as an agent, and cousin of sprinter John Regis.

Cyrille Regis received an honorary fellowship from the University of Wolverhampton in 2001, recognising his outstanding contributions to the sport. This prestigious accolade highlighted his remarkable career and his impact on the football community. Three years later, in 2004, Regis was voted as West Bromwich Albion's all-time Cult Hero in a BBC Sport poll, where an impressive 65% of the votes were in his favor. This recognition solidified his status as a beloved figure among the club's supporters.

In that same year, West Bromwich Albion organized a poll as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations to determine the club's 16 greatest players. Once again, Regis's exceptional skills and achievements secured him a place among this esteemed group. This acknowledgment showcased his significant contributions to the club's rich history and further solidified his legacy as one of their most revered players.

Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Regis and his wife Julia demonstrated their commitment to philanthropy. In 2007, they embarked on a visit to Ethiopia to support water-related projects in collaboration with WaterAid. This initiative showcased their dedication to making a positive impact on communities in need. By lending their support to such a vital cause, Regis and his wife exemplified their compassion and desire to improve the lives of others.

Regis's influence extended beyond his time at West Bromwich Albion. In the 1986/87 season, he was honored with the Coventry City London Supporters' Club Player of the Year award while playing for Coventry City. This recognition highlighted his exceptional performances and the admiration he garnered from both fans and fellow players. Additionally, his name consistently appears in high rankings in legend polls for the club, further solidifying his status as a revered figure in Coventry City's history.

In 2008, Regis received yet another prestigious honour when he was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday Honours. This recognition from the British monarchy underscored his significant contributions to football and his positive influence on the community. Regis's achievements both on and off the field have left an indelible mark on the sport and continue to inspire future generations of players.

Death and legacy

Regis died of a heart attack on 14 January 2018. He was 59 years old.

The under-21 match between England and Romania at Molineux on 24 March 2018 was designated the Cyrille Regis International in tribute. England won the match, 2–1.

On 28 July 2018, two of Regis' former clubs (West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City) played in a friendly match dubbed the 'Regis Shield'; West Bromwich won 5–2.