Express & Star

Family of Cyrille Regis thank fans for 'precious' tributes

The family of Cyrille Regis has thanked everyone who has paid tribute and promised to read every 'precious' comment.

Published
Cyrille Regis.

A Baggies legend who also played for Wolves and Aston Villa, Regis died in the early hours of Monday morning from a suspected heart attack aged 59.

Yesterday, thousands of tributes from the world of football and beyond flooded in for Regis, a player who helped break down barriers for black footballers and transcended the sport.

This morning, his family used his Twitter account to express gratitude for the support.

"Thank you for the love & support you have shown us," they said. "Every comment & tribute is so precious to us & we will be sure to read every one of them.

"We appreciate the calls & messages, we ask that you bear with us whilst we try to come to terms with losing Cyrille. The Regis Family."

Today, Baggies head coach Alan Pardew added his own tribute.

“I imagine my reaction when I heard was the same as everyone’s – I just couldn’t believe it,” said Pardew.

"My thoughts and sincerest condolences go to his family. For someone of my generation, Cyrille was Albion and he remained an absolute legend in the game.

“I hope he saw The Hawthorns on Saturday as he would have liked to remember it, with the stadium rocking and the team and fans as one.

"That was what Cyrille was all about and this club and its supporters will certainly miss him."

Regis played for Albion, Coventry, Wolves and Villa and following his retirement, he became an agent with Stellar Group.

Stellar is one of the biggest football agencies in the country and looks after hundreds of players including high profile ones like Gareth Bale and Joe Hart.

Stellar Group chairman Jonathan Barnett said: “Cyrille was a wonderful person to work with and his death has left everyone in the company and the players he represented with a great sense of sadness.

"Our deepest condolences go out to Julia and all of Cyrille’s family and close friends.

“Cyrille was a pioneer in British football and hugely respected by everyone in the game. He was a role model to his young clients and a genuinely lovely man.”