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