West Brom hosting Coventry City in pre-season friendly to celebrate Cyrille Regis

The Baggies will face the Sky Blues, the club which Regis won the FA Cup with in 1987, on Saturday, July 28, in their final warm-up game before the Championship season starts.

The two clubs will be competing for the inaugural Cyrille Regis Memorial Trophy in honour of the iconic striker who died aged 59 in January this year.

It is hoped other West Midlands clubs will contest the trophy in years to come.

The legendary forward was a close friend and mentor of Albion head coach Darren Moore, who has helped organise the memorial match together with the Regis family.

"It's a real honour," said Cyrille’s widow Julia. "I think Cyrille would be slightly embarrassed and amused by the attention but that speaks volumes about who he was, understated.

"In our grief we have taken great comfort by the love everyone has shown and continues to do.

"It promises to be a great day, a fun day, and we're excited to be a part of it.

"We certainly look forward to more teams from the West Midlands becoming engaged in this and we'd also love to see grassroots teams involved."

Regis’s death in January shocked the whole of the footballing world, but it was felt most keenly in the West Midlands, where he spent most of his career.

Not only did Regis play for Albion and Coventry, but he also turned out for Aston Villa and Wolves.

“It promises to be a great occasion and a pre-season friendly which is a special tribute match,” said Moore.

"It's a day of celebration for all midlands football and hopefully The Hawthorns will be packed full of supporters enjoying a game which means a lot to everyone.

"Both us and Coventry will be going at it hammer and tongs a week before our respective seasons start.

"I hope fans will come down in great numbers, back the lads and create a super atmosphere to head into what we hope will be a positive season."

Regis was one of Albion’s pioneering black players of the late 70s and early 80s who, alongside Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson, helped break down racial barriers.

He also spent seven successful years at Coventry, and lifted the FA Cup with them in 1987.

Coventry Chief Executive Dave Boddy said: “We are delighted to be paying tribute to Cyrille in the inaugural Cyrille Regis Memorial Trophy.

“The impact Cyrille had on the two clubs, football as a whole and wider society cannot be underestimated, and we are sure it will be a special occasion at The Hawthorns.

“Coming a week before the season begins, it will also be a good test for Mark Robins’ side and a chance for our supporters to see the team in action before the season gets underway and pay tribute to Cyrille too.”

The Baggies will be announcing details of tickets at a later date. It is the club’s first pre-season friendly at The Hawthorns in four years.

Albion are also visiting Barnet, Swindon Town, Aberdeen, and Barnsley during pre-season.