Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Risso on January 15, 2018, 07:59:46 AM
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Have just seen on Twitter he’s died at the age of 59. 🙁
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Fuck, how sad, seemed a true gentleman, done a great job for us too. R.I.P.
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Blimey, that’s no age is it. RIP.
I saw him quite a few times in our local pub, he always looked as fit as a fiddle.
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Now reported on BBC. Met him while the kids were getting autographs at Bodymoor Heath. A lovely man, excellent footballer and role model. Condolences to all close to him.
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RIP. Shame, really good guy
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Oh, that's a shit. Was a good egg.
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Fucking Hell. RIP.
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My mother's pin up picture and all time favourite player. A total Villa fan from 1907 to 2000 she had seen a few. Sleep on Villa hero.
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Dreadful news. What a player, and a great man too. RIP
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Bloody Hell, shocking
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Cyrille in full flight, in whatever shirt he was wearing, was a sight to behold. A great player and one of the good guys.
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One of the few footballers I’ve met in person, spent 10 minutes talking to me
about cars, he was a genuinely nice guy. RIP Cyrille
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Footballing Gent and Fine Player.
RIP Big Man
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A great free transfer by BFR in his first season with us. Not long back I was discussing with someone on here how we had both sat near him at Wembley in 1994. There was a lot of talent in West Midlands football in the late seventies and early eighties and 'Big Cyrille' was right up there with the best.
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Very sad news RIP Cyrille
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Shocking, unbelievable. Loved him in his prime at West Brom and more so when he joined us he was simply unstoppable. A brut of a man on the football pitch and when I met him in person at a function a few years ago a gentle giant. RIP big man.
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RIP Big Cyrile
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The wife and her family knew him and his family. They’re all gutted, he was a lovely bloke apparently, although that seems obvious even if you didn’t know him. He was absolutely adored by the black community in Handsworth where his kids went to school, such a great role model.
Great player, still can’t fathom why BFR didn’t take him with him to Man Utd, he would have been great for them.
RIP Cyrille.
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Shocked by that news. RIP Cyrille
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Heard the news on the radio driving into work, shocked and saddened at the death of the big man.
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Terrible news. Met him in a club in Manchester in 1980 after he had played for England v USA game at Old Trafford. Lovely guy to talk to, who seemed genuinely interested in other people. RIP Cyrille.
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incredibly sad news...RIP Cyrille
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The wife and her family knew him and his family. They’re all gutted, he was a lovely bloke apparently, although that seems obvious even if you didn’t know him. He was absolutely adored by the black community in Handsworth where his kids went to school, such a great role model.
Great player, still can’t fathom why BFR didn’t take him with him to Man Utd, he would have been great for them.
RIP Cyrille.
I think Albion dug their heels in after already losing Robson and Moses to BFR and United. It is a well used phrase but how many caps would he have won if he was playing in this era?
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Of his goals I remember the chip Vs Forest in 92 and the volley Vs Oldham. There was also a rocket Vs Southampton at home he absolutely fired into the North Stand goal. This was the season I had my one and only season ticket so him and Yorke were the two stars of that side, the nucleus of which finished second in the premier league the next year.
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So sad to die so young....a real legend
Rest in peace Big Man
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Of his goals I remember the chip Vs Forest in 92 and the volley Vs Oldham. There was also a rocket Vs Southampton at home he absolutely fired into the North Stand goal. This was the season I had my one and only season ticket so him and Yorke were the two stars of that side, the nucleus of which finished second in the premier league the next year.
The one I remember most for us was in the game when we came from two down to win 5-2 at Spurs. And the iconic goal of the season for Albion against Norwich in the cup. I think he got a couple of good ones at Hillsborough in the quarter final when Coventry won the cup.
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Goal scoring debuts for Dalian and Cyrille in my favourite away day ever.
God Bless them both.
Cyrille was a ground breaker at the Albion - massive respect to him for everything he did for Midlands football.
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The goal against Forest, I think, is being shown again and again on SSN.
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Of his goals I remember the chip Vs Forest in 92 and the volley Vs Oldham. There was also a rocket Vs Southampton at home he absolutely fired into the North Stand goal. This was the season I had my one and only season ticket so him and Yorke were the two stars of that side, the nucleus of which finished second in the premier league the next year.
The one I remember most for us was in the game when we came from two down to win 5-2 at Spurs. And the iconic goal of the season for Albion against Norwich in the cup. I think he got a couple of good ones at Hillsborough in the quarter final when Coventry won the cup.
I loved his flying header against Coventry on the last day of the 1991/92 season.
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Can't think of another player in my lifetime who was so widely respected by West Midlands fans. What a force!
God bless him
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You couldn't help but like Cyrille. Great footballer and a great person.
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Really sad. One of the good guys.
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Very sad news this....will always remember his diving header at Hillsborough in Big Ron's first game. A genuinely good bloke and professional. RIP
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There must be very few players that pretty much every Midlands football fan will be able to say they had fond memories of, but he was one of them. RIP and thanks, Cyrille.
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Very sad news one of a few players loved by both Villa and Albion fans. Will always be remembered by all footie fans for this goal he scored for Albion against Norwich, which was named goal of the season for 81/82 on MOTD. RIP Cyrille
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Shocked and devastated I don't usually remember all the games but I can still remember big Cyrille's header in that game against Sheff Wed RIP big man.
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Shocking news. An iconic player in the West Midlands and will probably be looked back on as a bit of a pioneer after what he and other black players had to contend with when he was starting out.
As others have said, he did a good job for us for a few seasons towards the end of his career and always came across as a decent man.
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How many other players have played for 4 West Midlands clubs? and have been loved by the fans of each of them? Says it all for me
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"The cherry, on the icing, on the cake (1:36)" RIP Cyrille.
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I once had the pleasure of meeting Cyrille. A very pleasant bloke and a true gentleman. RIP
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A tremendous striker and a fine gentleman, he was a hero of my youth. I remember his battle against racial discriminations in football and his distinctive shirt with the monogram WBA, much better than the current one.
(http://www.blackpresence.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Cyrill.jpg)
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RIP and condolences to his family.
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Oh dear, only just seen this. A real rough diamond of a footballer when he first broke through with the Albion but anyone who knew the least bit about football would have seen the massive potential. As others have said, one of very, very few players that have been respected by supporters throughout our area no matter who he was playing for.
I never met him but my story is that the editor of our local paper did a piece on him and his career one week. It was an interesting piece except that he totally omitted the fact that he played for Aston Villa!
I was having lunch with Mrs S a week or two later in the local hotel while he was there with his Mrs. I waited until he'd finished and confronted him about his omission. He said 'yes, but he didn't play much'. I said 'what? He made sixty-odd appearances reaching double figures in his goal tally, hardly insignificant'. 'I didn't realise'. Was his response, some research eh?
Rest in Peace Cyrille, you were a groundbreaker.
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"The cherry, on the icing, on the cake (1:36)" RIP Cyrille.
Spurs 18th in the table and Cambridge and Southend above Wolves in the second tier!
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How many other players have played for 4 West Midlands clubs? and have been loved by the fans of each of them? Says it all for me
I agree. When you also consider how he also helped break down racial barriers in the game you realise what a fine human being he was.
RIP Cyrille.
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There really are few footballers that transcend the rivalry of West Midlands football and are loved by all set of fans. A truly wonderful player and a member of a West Brom team that I had a huge amount of grudging respect for.
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Really sad. I've met him and his wife a few times as they are good friends with my wife's family.
His wife is an extremely charming lady - very sorry for her
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"The cherry, on the icing, on the cake (1:36)" RIP Cyrille.
Spurs 18th in the table and Cambridge and Southend above Wolves in the second tier!
Both Blues and Albion in the 3rd division.
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What terrible news. Great, iconic player and seemed to be a lovely man. Used to see him in the King Arthur pub in Walsall when I first started sneaking into pubs, would have been around the time he left Villa for Wolves. He was always so friendly to anyone who'd come and approach him, even blatantly underage spotty Herberts.
He seemed indestructible, such a huge presence.
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He seemed indestructible
Brendan Batson was the chairman of the boys' team I played for in the late 70s and he invited us all to the Albion's training ground at half term to meet the team. This was Big Ron's classic Albion team of Regis, Cunningham ( both dead now, Jesus...), Robson, Batson etc. They had all just finished training and Regis was walking around without his shirt on - I've never seen a body like it, massive muscles, looked like a Greek/Roman statue. Incredible.
And a top fella, signed all our autographs and answered all our stupid questions
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Awful news, terrific centre forward, pace, power, good in the air, great finisher what would he have been worth in today's market. Loved seeing him in Villa's colours. Just dreadful, we've had a very sad last 18 months.
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RIP Cyrille and the thoughts go to your family, a true giant and gentleman.
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That is awful news. :-(
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Such sad news. Tells you how much he was respected locally. Had free tickets to the Baggies when they played Coventry. Big Cyrille was playing for them, scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 thumping and got a standing ovation from everyone. A true pioneer.
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'Absolutely dreadful news about Big Cyril. I was fortunate enough to witness him in his pomp - and my word, he was one helluva centre forward. My condolences to those he now sadly leaves behind. :(
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Very sad news, RIP.
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Can't think of another player in my lifetime who was so widely respected by West Midlands fans. What a force!
God bless him
This, all day long. Cracking player for the Albion and did us proud in his short spell at Villa Park. Above all, a great man on so many levels.
RIP Big Man. You'll be missed.
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I was totally shocked when I heard the news this morning ..... I echo everything said about the guy - the level of abuse he and other black footballers took was an absolute disgrace, but he rose above it and let his football do the talking - I will always remember his superb goal for the Baggies up at Old Trafford - RIP Cyrille- you will be missed by many
It has been an awful 48hrs ...... I knew the girl (Cassie) who was murdered in the TUI shop in Southport on Saturday - that really knocked me sick
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Just a great talent and a gentleman. Cannot believe his loss at 59.
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Awful news. An icon of midlands football gone too soon.
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Huge loss. Cyrille was bestmates with my Godfather. To say that side of the family are devastated today is an understatement.
Had the honour of being around him quite a bit when younger and just echo what a top guy he was. Cyrille sorted me out comp tickets for both Wembley games in 2000 (pre having an ST so couldnt get hold of one)
Top top man and an absolute gent.
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Very sad news. Far too young.
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Such a sad loss. I recall Cyrille being spotted on the concourse at Wembley in 94, and then paraded around on some bloke's shoulders to a chorus of 'Nice One Cyrille'. A great talent, and a great bloke.
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R. I. P Big Cyrille. Proper old school forward and a true gent by all accounts.
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What a terrible thing to wake up to. Haven’t read much about this but was he ill? He was so young, such a powerful man. Goodness me. A Midlands football legend. Terrible news, and thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him.
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I remember seeing him before he signed for olbion in non league football. Big shock the news he’s passed away RIP big man
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Really nice gentle giant and nothing was ever too much trouble for him - physique of a bull and pace and power to spare.
IIRC he did not come into the pro game until around 26 - unheard of nowadays
I also remember that as he was such an Adonis that at the time was Bo Derek not hinted at being interested - or is my mind tainted by time?
Thanks for everything Big Cyrille
Ugo
Dalian
SGT and now him - shocking
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I remember seeing him before he signed for olbion in non league football. Big shock the news he’s passed away RIP big man
Hi Wittonwarrier - I am trying to get a message to you but the system does not recognise the user name - can you accept personal messages elsewhere?
regards
VCTM (Clive)
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I can see him now, at WHL when we won 5-2 in the game mentioned by Damo, standing on half way like a collossus repelling all attempts to take the ball from him, white shirted players bouncing off him, a masterclass in holding the ball up.
Despite his former employers we seemed to take him into our hearts almost immediately
helped by that goal at Hillsborough of course, something that seems almost unimaginable today.
RIP
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Very sad news and far too young.
As others have said one of the very few players to gain respect from fans of several Midlands clubs.
A good Villa player, an Albion legend and seemingly a very decent man.
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:( sad day. RIP Cyrille.
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Very saddened to hear this news earlier today. I met Cyrille a couple of times, the one I remember was when he was a guest speaker at a church function in Streetly. My mum knew one of the members there and asked us along to this event in 1991 (while he was playing for us).
A lovely, lovely man to talk to, indeed I spent about ten minutes talking about a game (I can't remember who it was against but he was so easy to socialise with.
In fairness, he probably had his best days with West Brom (and Coventry) a few years before we signed him, but he still did a job for the short time he was with us. You can't help but wonder why he didn't win more England caps.
RIP Cyrille
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I don't know about Bo Derek being interested in him but my mother certainly was.
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Awful news. Met him at a Villa player of the year thing way back and he was an absolute gentleman with time for everyone. Very proud that he played for Aston Villa.
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Terrible, RIP Cyrille
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Very sad news, RIP Cyrille
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Danny Kelly tweeted this earlier:
#RIPCyrilleRegis. THIS is how massive Cyrille was back in the day. On the cover of the @NME, when that meant you were as big as Bowie.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTlN-GOWkAIiafB.jpg)
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Such sad news.
Smokin' Joe will always be in my football memories as a kid. Brilliant when he signed for us and although it was towards the end of his career it was special to see him play for us. Had the pleasure to meet him once at a book signing and he was a pure gent.
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Dion Dublin was on R5 earlier, crying his eyes out. Very emotional indeed.
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Dion Dublin was on R5 earlier, crying his eyes out. Very emotional indeed.
Brian Deane too.
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R.I.P.
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He nearly ran me over once. We were away at West Ham and I had gone for a tootle around the ground with our kid before the game (I was probably about 12).
Anyway, as we stepped away from the ground onto Green Street I was saved from certain death by a West Ham fan who dragged me back onto the pavement as a vehicle hurtled round the corner.
The vehicle in question was the Villa team coach. Clearly Cyrille wasn't playing as it was only him and the driver on there. Cyrille was clearly using it as auxiliary taxi and directing the driver on where he wanted to go.
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Like the previous losses of Ugo and Dalian it just makes you realise how fleeting it all can be. Give your kids more hugs and kisses, tell your friends and family you love them more often. You just don't know when your time is up.
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Has Big Ron commented yet? He must be devastated.
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Once again, very, very sad news.
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Proper legend of Midlands football.
Very sad loss.
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Has Big Ron commented yet? He must be devastated.
He was just on 5live, said he was the best striker and man he ever worked with.
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Not only a great player for many teams, and obviously very decent human being, he was also trailblazer and pioneer for the progression of black players.
Some of the vile, disgusting stuff he endured would have broken many men.
So many people today owe so much to him.
RIP Cyrille.
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Great memories of his time with us. he was such an athlete, i almost felt sorry for any defenders up against him, and i used to make a point of looking at them at corners.
It seemed more often than not they would end up on the ground like skittles and he would just get on with the game.
Looking at some of the videos of his goals for West Brom and Coventry , he was a lot more than just a strong centre forward his finishing was sublime at times.
RIP Cyrille, and thanks for the memories.
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This must be similar to the shock and sadness I remember my fathers generation had when Gerry Hitchens passed away in the early 80's.
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Another of the few that deserve the title Professional Footballer. I was fortunate enough to talk to him, albeit briefly, in the pub/wine bar in Mere Green (Flints?) during the time he was playing for Coventry City. I can remember even now, 25 years or more later how impressed I was with his humility.
Others with better memories than mine will vouchsafe that he was welcomed to Villa Park when he signed as although he had worn the strip of a couple of our local rivals we recognised that he would do a great job for us.
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Perhaps the most iconic British player of his era. He was a brilliant centre forward, and a very impressive man. A trailblazer for black players in British football. Hard for younger fans to appreciate how unusual it was to see three black players in a team.
When he signed for Villa, my baggies mate had to take his poster down from over his bed. I used to wind him up that Cyrille had his most successful league season with us when we finished runners up in ‘92.
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I didn't realise Jason Roberts was his nephew.
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Too young to go. A gent and a fine footballer.
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Terrible news RIP
That's 4 of Big Ron's 1991 summer signings gone too soon (Big Cyrille, Ugo, Dalian, Mad Les).
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Can't think of another player in my lifetime who was so widely respected by West Midlands fans. What a force!
God bless him
RIP Cyrille Regis. What a huge loss.
Perhaps the most iconic British player of his era. He was a brilliant centre forward, and a very impressive man. A trailblazer for black players in British football. Hard for younger fans to appreciate how unusual it was to see three black players in a team.
When he signed for Villa, my baggies mate had to take his poster down from over his bed. I used to wind him up that Cyrille had his most successful league season with us when we finished runners up in ‘92.
Thank you, Cyrille.
People like you don’t come along very often.
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Met Cyrille at a church in Birmingham. Every bit the gentleman his reputation spoke of. RIP
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Great memories of his time with us. he was such an athlete, i almost felt sorry for any defenders up against him, and i used to make a point of looking at them at corners.
It seemed more often than not they would end up on the ground like skittles and he would just get on with the game.
Looking at some of the videos of his goals for West Brom and Coventry , he was a lot more than just a strong centre forward his finishing was sublime at times.
RIP Cyrille, and thanks for the memories.
There have been a number of clips of his early days at West Brom shown on TV today. What struck me when watching them was that unlike many of his contemporaries playing 40 years ago, his physique, strength and pace meant that he would have probably been able to play in the modern day game.
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The world is a poorer place without Cyrille Regis in it.
For some reason this match is always the one I think of when I think of Cyrille Regis and his playing career with us: https://youtu.be/VrJANwX8YJ8
As much for his header on for Daley's wonder goal as the goal he himself scored.
It's also quite poignant to note now that the late Les Sealy kicks upfield to the late Cyrille Regis :-(
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I was showing my lad the video of the 3-2 win at Sheffield and Cyrille's first goal for us.
Some many emotions came back of what an incredible day that was but very sobering to realise that only one of our goal scorers that day is still alive.
RIP Big C.
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(http://thumb.ibb.co/dKr9xR/FF957149_C3_CD_4015_B1_A0_9916_FA8_DE26_B.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dKr9xR)
Wembley Stadium (http://imgbb.com/)
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RIP Cyrille and thoughts are with your family.
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I remember The Holte going mental for his goal against Cov.
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BBC TWO pays tribute to the late Cyrille Regis with a special re-screening of Blacks v Whites: How Football Changed A Nation".
BBC TWO WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17th 11:15pm
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I remember The Holte going mental for his goal against Cov.
He rolled back the years with that goal against Norwich, wow... a few great strikes in there.
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I’m truly shocked by this. So young. Although not with us for long he was one of my favourites in that period. It was fabulous looking back at those goals what a time to be a Villa fan RIP
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Cyrille was a great player and it's a shame we didn't see him at Villa earlier. He scored in the first 3 games Mrs Exeter ever saw - Oldham, Sheffield United and Coventry - to the point that she claimed that he only scored for her. A great man lost far too soon.
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If you get the chance watch the Villa season review 1991-92. It’s hard to underestimate how fantastic Cyrille was for us that season despite his advancing years. And I’d say he acted as a great mentor for the emerging Dwight.
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If you get the chance watch the Villa season review 1991-92. It’s hard to overestimate how fantastic Cyrille was for us that season despite his advancing years. And I’d say he acted as a great mentor for the emerging Dwight.
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Looks like there will be no country-wide tribute to Big Cyrille this weekend, upsetting quite a few people.
I'm not surprised, the ignorance of this area and it's football heritage extends well beyond the fans of the game as we have seen on so many occasions.
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Looks like there will be no country-wide tribute to Big Cyrille this weekend, upsetting quite a few people.
I'm not surprised, the ignorance of this area and it's football heritage extends well beyond the fans of the game as we have seen on so many occasions.
Breaking news on Sky, a minute's applause will now be held at all Premier league games.
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Looks like there will be no country-wide tribute to Big Cyrille this weekend, upsetting quite a few people.
I'm not surprised, the ignorance of this area and it's football heritage extends well beyond the fans of the game as we have seen on so many occasions.
Breaking news on Sky, a minute's applause will now be held at all Premier league games.
Bloody hell. Excellent stuff.
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R I P big Cyrille ,was a pleasure to see you play
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Not that many people have a high opinion of talksport but if you can put that aside for a short while, they're repeating the "my sporting life" show with Cyrille this Sunday at 2.00. There's a lot of rubbish on that station, but Danny Kelly (who's talking to Cyrille on the show) is excellent.
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I was attending the farewell to 60's captain Alan Deakin when I heard the shock and sad news of 'C'-
there were mourners at Alan's service that were visibly shaken and upset to lose a member of the football
family so suddenly and before his time. I was fortunate to have met Cyrille several times (his son played in a
junior club I coached) - at a Xmas lads v dads match 'C' volunteered to kick off and his resulting volley on the
junior pitch struck the unsuspecting granddad keeper full in the face, breaking his specs and cutting his nose....
everyone except 'C' were in hysterics who duly ran to the injured guy and apologised and rendered first aid.
Several years later I bumped into him at Bodymoor Heath and he was the one that recalled the incident.
What he, Brendan Batson and Laurie Cunningham achieved in the late 70's was remarkable, they richly deserve
the accolades they have received.
My thoughts are with his family, close friends and ex-colleagues - RIP big fellah