Cyrille Regis, former England and West Brom striker, dies aged 59

Former England and West Brom striker, Cyrille Regis, has died at the age of 59.

He began his career at West Brom, went on to play for Coventry City, Aston Villa, Wolves and Wycombe Wanderers, before finishing his career at Chester City. He would make five senior appearances for the England team.

In 2008, Regis was appointed an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for his services to the voluntary sector and football.

Speaking in 2008, after receiving his MBE, he said: "You go as far back as being born in French Guyana in a little town called Maripasoula and coming over to England.

"It just shows you that dreams can be fulfilled if you have the drive and support of people around you."

The Professional Footballers' Association announced the news on Monday morning and wrote in a tweet from its official account: "A true gentleman and legend, he will be deeply missed. Our sympathies to his family and friends."

Former England centre back Rio Ferdinand also paid tribute to Regis. He tweeted: "A great man. Helped set the foundation for others. Always remembered."

His career

Regis won five caps for England between 1982 and 1987, having been one of the stars of the Baggies team between 1977 and 1984.

He scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for Albion before moving on to Coventry, winning the FA Cup with the Sky Blues in 1987.

He did not come through the youth ranks with a professional club and was instead spotted playing Sunday morning football by the chairman of Surrey non-league club Molesey.

West Brom signed him for £5,000 in May 1977 and he made a spectacular start, scoring twice in a League Cup tie against Rotherham in September of that year.

Along with Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson, who joined Albion in 1978, the trio of black players were nicknamed 'The Three Degrees'.

He was voted the PFA Young Player of the Year for 1978.

Regis represented England at under-21 level and won his first senior cap in February 1982 against Northern Ireland.

His final cap came against Turkey in October 1987.

After his stint at Coventry he also played for Aston Villa, Wolves, Wycombe and Chester before ending his playing career in 1996.

‘Three Degrees’

In the 1978-79 season, West Brom became the first English club to field three black players, under then manager Ron Atkinson.

Regis, alongside Laurie Cunningham (who would later join Real Madrid) and Brendan Batson.

They would become an inspiration for thousands of black children.

Atkinson, who named them ‘Three Degrees’ after the famous Motown band, said of them: “They could have been yellow, purple, and have two heads," he says, "So long as they could play and they were good lads - and they were."

After his playing career

Regis worked as an agent for the Stellar Group after his retirement from the game, and the agency's chief executive Jonathan Barnett released a statement to Press Association Sport on Monday.

"Cyrille was a wonderful person to work with and his death has left everyone in the company and the players he represented with a great sense of sadness," Barnett said.

"Our deepest condolences go out to Julia and all of Cyrille's family and close friends.

"Cyrille was a pioneer in British football and hugely respected by everyone in the game. He was a role model to his young clients and a genuinely lovely man."

The statement from Stellar also praised Regis for his "passion, determination and integrity, especially in the way he would champion the careers of up and coming players".

Additional reporting by the Press Association