'Superstar' Cyrille Regis praised for life on and off the pitch
“Cyrille was a superstar of the day, but he was a man of the people.”
Stars from across the sporting world have paid tribute to footballing ‘pioneer’ Cyrille Regis at an emotional service celebrating a remarkable life.
It was not just Cyrille’s prowess on the pitch that was hailed by those who attended the service at The Hawthorns today - but his humility and grace as a man.
Cyrille, 59, was described by his former boss Ron Atkinson as ‘a phenomenal footballer and an even better bloke’.
Former Liverpool and England star John Barnes called Cyrille ‘an ambassador for humanity’.
And that praise for the former Albion, Wolves, Villa and Coventry forward’s character was a recurring theme from all those who took the time to share memories of him.
Among those at the service were Brighton boss Chris Hughton, Cyrille’s nephew Jason Roberts, and ex-England stars Barnes, Dion Dublin, Carlton Palmer and Viv Anderson.
Albion fan and broadcaster Adrian Chiles also attended, as did club legend ‘Super’ Bob Taylor, Baggies and Wolves striker Don Goodman and soul star Beverley Knight - who performed during the service - as well as Chris Kamara and Dwight Yorke.
John Barnes heaped praise on Cyrille’s personality - saying it even outshone his skills as a striker.
Barnes said: “Cyrille was a fantastic footballer but the greatest quality a human being can have in my opinion is humility - and he for someone who was such a great person, he had humility in abundance.
“He was a normal person and a friend to everyone. As much as a he was a great footballer, a trailblazer and a pioneer his greatest quality was his humility.
“He was an ambassador for humanity. The way he was as a person far superseded what he was as a footballer - and he was a great footballer.”
Big Ron, who managed Cyrille at Albion, said: “From a football point of view Cyrille would always be the number nine in my best ever team - and I was lucky to have some terrific front players.
“And as a person he was a great bloke. He was a phenomenal footballer and an even better bloke.
“He didn’t go out of his way to fight any crusades but he [changed football] by being what he was, a role model to everybody. He conducted himself the right way both on and off the field.”
Brighton manager Chris Hughton said: “I think Cyrille was somebody who went about what he did in his own way. He wasn’t a screamer or a shouter or an over-aggressive man.
“But he was a player and an individual everybody looked up to. That’s the measure of the man - very dignified in everything he did and had a huge presence about him.
“The turnout speaks volumes.
“He leaves a lasting legacy because he played in a very difficult era for black players and had a big impact on the lives of those black players who followed him.”
Sky Sports presenter Chris Kamara played in that same era as Cyrille and said the striker had blazed a trail for others to follow.
Kamara said: “He was an icon to so many players. It goes to show what people thought of him with the amount of people who turned up. What a man, what a legend.
“I know what he went through, but it was difficult for Cyrille because he was scoring goals .
“To withstand abuse in the way that he did and handle it the way that he did shows the measure of the man.”
Broadcaster Adrian Chiles said Cyrille became his first hero after he saw him at The Hawthorns back in 1977.
Chiles, aged 50, said: “This has been surreal because it makes you confront your mortality - and for somebody like me it takes me back to my childhood, which just seems like yesterday.
“Cyrille was my first hero and I thought he was indestructible so it makes you realise we are all mortal.
“He transcended football. There have been so many footballers across the world but very few you can name that transcend the game.
“Pele probably did, Bobby Moore did, Beckham did in becoming a brand. So did Gazza in some way - but Cyrille stood for something else, beyond the game.
“It’s a privilege to have known him.”
Soul star Beverley Knight said: "I thought the service was tremendous. I thought it was fitting, celebratory and poignant.
"Cyrille transcended the sport massively - he managed to unite Villa fans, Coventry City fans, Albion fans, Wolves fans.
“I'm a Wolves fan stood in the Hawthorns. That says it all. He was a titan."
Bob Taylor, who followed in Cyrille’s footsteps as an Albion striker and Hawthorns favourite, said: “From a personal point of view Cyrille was my coach when I was here, he was a mentor for me - and he was a friend.
“Anybody you speak to will tell you that he was an ambassador on the football pitch and an ambassador off the football pitch.”
Don Goodman, who represented both Wolves and Albion like Cyrille, added: “Quite simply he was a boyhood hero of mine.
“My father came to this country in the 1950s and loved his sport, and he adopted West Bromwich Albion as the team he would follow because of the Three Degrees.
“As I got to know Cyrille through my links with West Bromwich Albion I came to know what a great man he was.
“Not just because he stood up in the face of racism but because he was an all-around good fella.
“This man was a superstar of the day, but he was a man of the people.
“He always had time for everybody - that’s the thing that stands out more than anything for me. No matter who they supported, no matter what race, colour, creed they were.
“He always had time for people. That is testament to the man - not the footballer.
“Whilst I will miss the footballer, it’s the man that I’ll miss the most.”
