Cyrille Regis recalls career crossing boundaries

He was recognised as football's first black icon according to the enticing tagline on his new book, My Story – and it's true.

Cyrille Regis MBE lives up to the title of 'icon' – let alone 'black icon'. Born in French Guiana in 1958, Regis came to England in 1962.

He worked as an electrician while playing football for non-league club Molesey at the start of his career.

Hard graft, early mornings, lots of late nights and, later in his professional career, serious drinking sessions, were all part and parcel of the game then.

As well as a tiny pay packet in comparison to today's superstars.

Best known for his time at West Bromwich Albion, he had spells at Coventry, Aston Villa and Wolves.

Throw in five caps for England as well and you're hit by an impressive footballing CV.

The striker notched 82 goals in 237 appearances for the Baggies as well as partnering Keith Houchen as part of Coventry City's 1987 FA Cup winning team.

The man forever recognised as a Baggies cult hero, took time out to speak to the Express & Star after giving an after-dinner speech at the White Eagle Club in Stafford.

The 53-year-old was one of the first black footballers to play at the top level, a statistic which drew the wrath of many.

He soon became part of the infamous Three Degrees, a term coined by manager Ron Atkinson for Regis and teammates Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson in response to the singing trio popular at the time.

But it was a tough start as a professional.

"Some of the racist abuse was horrible – banana skins, monkey chants and all that," he said.

"It was not just myself, Laurie and Brendon who were professionals and black. There was a general sea change with more black footballers but I think people focus on the three of us.

"It was fantastic to be given my chance in football – managers looked at players like me and Cunningham and said 'yes, they can play."

Current Notts County manager and former England international Paul Ince often mentions the lack of black managers in the game.

Regis concurs: "It's a gradual process – it didn't all happen at once with more black players playing professionally. It takes a while as race crosses blue collar and white collar boundaries."

The four-course dinner jacket evening at the Polish Club was also a chance to auction items in a bid to raise funds for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice and for Brocton football club.

Regis also told his story to the 200-plus guests.

"One of my best friends – Laurie Cunningham – died in a car crash in 1989. I thought that as footballers we had everything. But when he died that made me think there was something missing in my life, and that I wanted to know what happened when you died.

"I gave my life to the Lord. It's changed my life in many ways."

An example of this was an end to excessive drinking habits: "I don't get drunk any more" he added.

Regis – who is the uncle of the Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts – is a football agent as well as an ambassador for Christians in Sport who support sportsmen and women with a Christian faith.