After moving to England at the age of five from French Guiana to join his father, Cyrille Regis found himself playing more cricket than football growing up in London. But, as the years went on, Regis focused his time and energy on football.
Growing up just three miles away from Wembley, not even he could predict that he would pull on the Three Lions shirt five times during his illustrious 21-year career.
It was at West Bromwich Albion where he would truly make his mark on the English game, after coming from non-league football to sign for First Division Baggies for a reported £10,000 transfer fee.
The forward had a debut to remember, netting twice in a 4-0 League Cup win over Rotherham United, before making his league debut three days later against Middlesbrough at the age of 19.
A true pioneer for Black footballers, he played alongside Lawrie Cunningham and Brendan Batson during his time at the Hawthorns, with the trio nicknamed the ‘Three Degrees.
Regis scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for the Albion and also played for Aston Villa and Coventry City in the English top-flight, winning the 1987 FA Cup with the Sky Blues.
He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2008 for his services to the voluntary sector and to football.