Cyrille Regis (born 9 February 1958) is a former English footballer. February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Career

Born in Maripasoula, French Guiana and moving to England in his youth, Regis started work as an electrician, playing for amateur team Hayes in his spare time. Spotted by Ronnie Allen, he joined First Division club West Bromwich Albion in 1977, where, under maverick manager Ron Atkinson, he teamed up with fellow black players Brendon Batson and Laurie Cunningham. Maripasoula is a town in French Guiana. ... Hayes F.C. are an English football club based in Hayes, Hillingdon in the London Borough of Hillingdon. ... Ronnie Allen (15 January 1929 - 1 June 2001) was an English footballer. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ... West Bromwich Albion Football Club is an English football club that was formed in 1878 by workers from Salters Spring Works in West Bromwich (then in Staffordshire, now part of the West Midlands). ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Ronald Frederick Big Ron Atkinson, born 18 March 1939 in Liverpool, England is a British former football player and manager. ... Brendan M. Batson, MBE (born February 1, 1953) was an English association footballer. ... Laurie Cunningham (March 8, 1956 - July 15, 1989) was an England international association footballer, the first black player to represent England in a competitive football match. ...

It was very unusual for an English club to simultaneously field three black players. The Three Degrees, as they became known, in reference to the contemporary vocal trio of the same name, challenged the established racism of English football and marked a watershed that allowed a generation of footballers to enter the game who would previously have been excluded by their ethnic background. (There was still enough residual racism, however, that Regis, Cunningham and Batson (and Luton's Ricky Hill) were selected for far fewer internationals than many felt their talents warranted.) The Three Degrees are a female Philly soul and disco vocal musical group formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... An African-American man drinks out of the colored only water cooler at a racially segregated street car terminal in the United States in 1939. ... Ricky Hill is a former English footballer, coach and manager. ...

Interestingly, after Atkinson's famous on-air use of the word "nigger" [1], Regis defended his mentor, suggesting that the word is less significantly offensive to people of that age.

A strong and fast traditional centre-forward, Regis was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 1978 and went on to win five England caps. Regis was also an FA Cup winner in 1987 with Coventry City, where he 'scored' a fine header before it was disallowed. At the end of every English football season the members of the PFA, the players union, vote on which of its young members has played the best football in the previous year. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Cap (sport). ... The FA Cup - this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip. ...

After leaving Coventry in 1991, he was transferred to their arch-rivals Aston Villa and partnered Dalian Atkinson in the 1991-92 season. But he left at the end of the following season after being forced-out of the side by new signing Dean Saunders, and signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He had little success at the Molineux, with first-team opportunities restricted by the strength of the Steve Bull - David Kelly strike partnership. His stay at Wolves lasted a single season before he joined Wycombe Wanderers. Aston Villa Football Club play at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England. ... Dalian Atkinson (born 21 March 1968 in Shrewsbury, England) is an English footballer who played at centre-forward. ... Dean Saunders (born 21 June 1964 in Swansea) was a Welsh footballer and was a prolific forward. ... Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. are a Wolverhampton-based football club playing at Molineux. ... Molineux stadium is the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., who are currently members of the Football League Championship. ... Steven George Bull (born 28 March 1965) is an English footballer who had a long and successful career with Wolverhampton Wanderers. ... David Kelly (born 1965) is a retired footballer. ... Wycombe Wanderers Football Club are an English football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, currently playing in Football League Two. ...

After one season with The Chairboys, he was on the move again, this time to Chester City Cyrille Regis played his last game in February 1996, aged 38, and retired from professional football nine months later, having never made a full recovery from an injury suffered in a match with Chester. Chester City Football Club is an English football club from Chester, currently playing in Football League Two. ...

Later career

Since retiring from playing, Regis has worked in a variety of coaching roles before becoming an accredited football agent with First Artist Corporation. A sports agent is a person who, for a fee, procures and negotiates employment and endorsement deals for an athlete. ...

Bibliography

• Matthews, T (2002) Smokin' Joe: Cyrille Regis - 25 Years in Football ISBN 1-904103-09-X
• Bowler, D & Bains, J (2000) Samba in the Smethwick End: Regis, Cunningham, Batson and the Football Revolution ISBN 1-84018-188-5

External links

• Page at Hayes F.C. with photographs
• The Black Presence in Britain