20 Facts About Cyrille Regis

1.

Cyrille Regis, MBE was a professional footballer who played as a forward.

2.

Cyrille Regis's professional playing career spanned 19 years, where he made 614 league appearances and scored 158 league goals, most prolifically at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.

3.

Cyrille Regis's father moved to England in 1962, with the rest of the family, including Cyrille, following a year later.

4.

At primary school, Cyrille Regis said that he was a much better cricketer than footballer.

5.

Cyrille Regis was a cousin of the athlete John Regis.

6.

Cyrille Regis was then approached by Boreham Wood, but did not join them.

7.

Cyrille Regis was spotted by West Bromwich Albion's chief scout Ronnie Allen, who recommended that the First Division club should sign him.

8.

Cyrille Regis later became the first Coventry City player to score a winning goal at Anfield, in their first ever league win there in November 1989.

9.

Cyrille Regis made over 40 appearances in his first season for Villa, and finished as the club's leading league goalscorer, joint with Dwight Yorke.

10.

Cyrille Regis's stay with Wolves only lasted for one season, during which time he made 22 appearances, scoring twice.

11.

Cyrille Regis ended his professional career by playing in the Third Division with Chester City.

12.

Cyrille Regis scored seven times in 29 league appearances, helping Chester finish 8th, before retiring due to injury in October 1996.

13.

Cyrille Regis played in two further matches for the B team in 1980.

14.

Cyrille Regis played in the away legs of both the quarter-final and semi-final, where England lost to East Germany.

15.

Cyrille Regis came on as a substitute for Trevor Francis in the 65th minute.

16.

Cyrille Regis was the third black player to be capped by England at the highest level after Viv Anderson and Laurie Cunningham.

17.

Cyrille Regis became an evangelical Christian after a car crash claimed the life of his friend and former teammate Laurie Cunningham in 1989.

18.

Cyrille Regis was the uncle of footballer Jason Roberts, for whom he acted as an agent, and cousin of sprinter John Regis.

19.

Cyrille Regis was awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Wolverhampton in 2001.

20.

Cyrille Regis was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 Birthday Honours.