Forty years on since Giles led West Brom
When Johnny Giles came to Albion, he cannot have known how the Baggies would change his future, nor how he would change theirs.
Yet today, on the 40th anniversary of his appointment, Giles remains bonded to the club both emotionally and geographically.
And a generation of Albion supporters remain indebted to him for sowing the seeds of the club's rise from the doldrums.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Hawthorns faithful were in thrall to a swashbuckling team that became one of the club's most legendary under the stewardship of Ron Atkinson.
Had it not been for Giles and one pivotal season, though, it might never have happened.
Giles was an unlikely Albion legend, linked intrinsically as he was to Leeds.
Yet his contribution on the field and off it made him an enduring Hawthorns hero in the space of just two years.
Giles said: "I didn't know West Bromwich at all, but from the minute I got down here the people were fantastic with me. And I'm still living in the area now.
"There were a couple of people who were great, showing me around to look at houses and things like that, and they are still close pals.
"I'd been at Leeds for 12 years and I was 34 when I came down here, so moving the family over was a big thing."
Things did not click instantly for Giles and Albion, however, after he was chosen as their first ever player-manager to take over from Don Howe, who left the club in the Second Division.
He said: "I had always had the feeling that I wanted to be a manager. I had been player-manager of the Ireland team before then, so I had some experience.
"But we had a poor start and that was entirely down to me. I made too many changes and I wasn't playing well myself. So I will always be grateful to the fans, because they stuck with me.
"Eventually I got a settled side together and I started playing better, and by the end of the season I believe we were the best side in the Second Division.
"We only got promoted in third place because we had started so poorly, but by the end we were better than that."
Giles' first full season in charge culminated in a now legendary game at Oldham, with thousands of Baggies fans decamping to Boundary Park.
They knew victory would seal a return to the top tier after three seasons away.
Tony Brown netted the only goal of the game and the Baggies' team coach, pursued down the motorway by legions of delighted supporters, returned to the West Midlands to celebrate.
And, after a slow start, Giles' performance on the field played a key role in taking them to a top-three finish.
He said: "One of the first things I told the lads was 'all I can do is try my best.'
"I added 'there will be times when I play well and times when I'm not so good, but I will always try my best and that's all I can ask of you.'
"My final game for Leeds was in the European Cup final and I had a decent game then, so I wasn't in the worst form. Once I got over that poor start at Albion I think I did my bit on the field.
"I know some of the lads weren't sure what to make of me because they had played against me for Leeds and I'd let them know what I thought a few times.
"But they gave me a chance. People like John Osborne, who I'd heard could be difficult, Ally Robertson, John Wile and Tony Brown, who is a legend, were fantastic.
"We had Len Cantello and Bryan Robson coming through and we brought in Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham. We had some great players and it was a great time."
Don't miss Johnny Giles' column in tomorrow's Express & Star.
