Cyrille’s legacy

CYRILLE Regis was much more than a terrific striker, this outstanding player was also a role model for black footballers.

With the likes of West Bromwich Albion team mates Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson, he smashed through race barriers in the 1970s when disgusting monkey chants could be heard on the terraces.

The untimely death of the England international at 59 is a moment to pay tribute to a towering figure as well as mourning his death.

Many of today’s players and society as a whole owe a debt of gratitude to a pathfinder who challenged prejudice, making the world a better place.