Black armbands and a minute’s applause at all Premier League grounds this weekend to honour the great Cyrille Regis, who died this week, aged just 59. Cyrille was plucked from obscurity in 1977 and suddenly found himself, alongside Laurie Cunningham and Brendan Batson at West Brom. Affectionately nicknamed The Three Degrees, they were three of only four black footballers playing in the top flight, and the racist abuse they suffered was unimaginable. But instead of getting angry, Cyrille responded in the best possible way – by sticking the ball in the back of their net, time and time again. I saw him play many times at Loftus Road, where he was welcomed rather than abused. Maybe because the ground is in Shepherds Bush, between Notting Hill and Harlesden, home to big black communities. Or because Cyrille himself was brought up in Notting Hill, then Harlesden and we all knew he was a secret QPR fan.
Nice one, Cyrille.

- Are you watch...26th Apr 2015
- Lutfur Rahman...25th Apr 2015
- This afternoo...24th Apr 2015
- When did Mumm...23rd Apr 2015
- Call the midw...22nd Apr 2015
- Wonga losing ...21st Apr 2015
- Combined age:...20th Apr 2015
- Private Passi...19th Apr 2015
- It's Record S...18th Apr 2015
- More like The...17th Apr 2015
- Have you seen...16th Apr 2015
- David Cassidy...12th Apr 2015
- It all starte...11th Apr 2015
- Barry Manilow...10th Apr 2015
- Portobello? ...8th Apr 2015 prev next