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.

- So good, it's...7th Sep 2014
- My mate John ...5th Sep 2014
- Sad about Joa...4th Sep 2014
- To the lighth...2nd Sep 2014
- People sharin...1st Sep 2014
- Nicked for sp...30th Aug 2014
- "Yo' Bitch!!"27th Aug 2014
- I find myself...26th Aug 2014
- Lord Attenbor...25th Aug 2014
- Did your pare...24th Aug 2014
- How to buy a ...22nd Aug 2014
- Twelve A stars.21st Aug 2014
- To Mike Smith...20th Aug 2014
- Lunch with Ma...18th Aug 2014
- Back to the B...17th Aug 2014 prev next