Cyrille Regis ‘An on-pitch idol who became my friend’ - Chris Green

The author, who would later write the star's autobiography, watched in awe as the striker netted twice on his debut in a League Cup clash with Rotherham.

Green had a new footballing hero. But what he didn't know at the time was that he would go on to strike up an incredible friendship with the forward.

"I loved Cyrille Regis," said the former BBC Radio 5 Live presenter.

"I didn't just love him as a footballer for the Albion, I loved him as a man for his strength of character.

"I was actually stood on the terraces the day he made his debut and it really was 'Roy of the Rovers' stuff.

"There was this teenage striker scoring two goals and immediately I had a new hero.

"When I started working as a journalist I was told it was dangerous to meet your heroes. But that didn't apply to Cyrille.

"We hit it off straight away, stayed in touch and he would help me out with programs I was making.

"If I wanted to speak to someone for a show, I could ring Cyrille and he would try and help because that is the kind of person he was.

"He was a great footballer but he was also a great man."

Green said it was Regis' strength of character that impressed him whenever he saw the striker play.

"All fans love a centre-forward who is a bit special and Cyrille certainly was that," he continued.

"No matter who he played for, he always seemed to score on his debut. He just had that character.

"But you also cannot ignore the racist abuse he had to withstand from the terraces.

"I was a similar age to him and I used to look at him and think 'how are you coping with this' because it really was vicious.

“But he was so strong mentally. There are not many people who could handle what he had to handle. But he did and remained a gentleman throughout.”

It was in 2008 that Green and Regis first started talking about the footballer's autobiography - which they would call 'My Story - The Autobiography of the First Black Icon of British Football.'

"I actually text Cyrille and after it was announced he had been awarded an MBE and jokingly said 'when are we writing your book," Green added.

"From that point we worked on it quite intensely and became even better friends.

"Cyrille was very good at opening up to me. He had gone through some tough times and had lost the money he had made in football in a messy divorce.

"But he knew I wouldn't judge him. It became more and more clear that we both share a similar outlook on life.

“It was a real pleasure working on his book, not just because of the stories but also because Cyrille ahad a fantastic sense of humour. He was a very funny man."

Green admitted Regis' death has hit in hard.

"As soon as I heard the news my head started spinning," he said.

"Even now I can't believe I am having this conversation. It’s just so unexpected.

"I was completely unprepared for it. Both my wife and I are truly devastated. It's a very difficult time."