Cyrille Regis RIP

[larbert toffee]

sky have just interviewed Ron Atkinson on Cyril Regis

I know Big Ron cocked up big time with his infamous comment which he has since paid dearly for but he was instrumental in giving black players an opportunity, indeed he was the manager at WBA when Regis,Cunningham and Batson where first displaying their talents so it is therefore not unusual Bryan that BR would be interviewed regarding Cryille as he would have known more about him than most,indeed the type of guy Regis was he was the first to support Atkinson at the time the story first broke.
Also with reference by another poster as to whether there is recognition at every ground I think Cyrille's contribution to football should be marked at every weekend game in Britain, if not we as Evertonians should feel privileged that we have the opportunity to play WBA and are able to mark the occasion in a suitable and dignified manner as we always do on these occasions.

 

[1874]

Legend, and was a great role model for black players who at the time were suffering dogs abuse. He played for 4 West Midlands clubs, and was loved by all of them. RIP, Cyrille.

 

[1874]

Big Ron is another legend in the game. A proper old school footballing man.

 

[LEONARD]

A fantastic player, and a lovely man by all accounts.

Sad to see him pass away at such a young age.

 

[ToffeeDan]

You didn't need to be told but here you are:

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/january/everton-confirm-regis-tribute/

 

[1874]

Don't expect anything less from a club like Everton. If it weren't for the villa, I might of been a toffee myself.

 

[artetas_biggest_fan]

sky have just interviewed Ron Atkinson on Cyril Regis

No one individual did more for black players in the English game than Ron Atkinson. It's a shame what he said (and no doubt he has used the term before, he just got caught on the mic), but his actions over many years dwarf that.

Good to see there will be a Premier League wide tribute (should have been given the green light from the get go).

 

[Deleted member 28206]

No one individual did more for black players in the English game than Ron Atkinson. It's a shame what he said (and no doubt he has used the term before, he just got caught on the mic), but his actions over many years dwarf that.

Good to see there will be a Premier League wide tribute (should have been given the green light from the get go).

Really? What exactly did he do? And you are wrong by the way.

That absolutely epitome of “ some of my best friends of black”, institutional racism.

 

[scratchnsurf]

Really? What exactly did he do? And you are wrong by the way.

That absolutely epitome of “ some of my best friends of black”, institutional racism.

I suppose what he did was actually put black players in his team - looked beyond the colour of their skin and judged them on their ability as footballers.

Of course, being manager it was in his interest to have the best players in his team but given the scarcity of black players making it to the top at the time, it would seem that he went further than plenty were prepared to do at the time.

Of course, his later actions were a disgrace but they're the 2 sides of the same coin and both should be considered for those who want to judge him.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

I suppose what he did was actually put black players in his team - looked beyond the colour of their skin and judged them on their ability as footballers.

Of course, being manager it was in his interest to have the best players in his team but given the scarcity of black players making it to the top at the time, it would seem that he went further than plenty were prepared to do at the time.

Of course, his later actions were a disgrace but they're the 2 sides of the same coin and both should be considered for those who want to judge him.

I wont bring it up here, RIP CR.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

Solid big old fashioned centre forward
Brilliant for the baggies
How much he'd be worth nowadays anyone's guess
Him and big Bob starred down there
Throw in cheeky Trev (Francis )
Must've been something in the water back then

 

[Milk]

"We stood on his shoulders" Dion Dublin

Says it all really.

 

[peteblue]

R.I.P.....

 

[goodisonopheliac]

I mainly knew him as a Chester City player, but for black players he was a pioneer. Wasn't he one of the first to play for England? Ian Wright, Yannick Bolasie and loads of other younger black players look up to him. And he must have had so much crap thrown at him as well, in a time when there were very few black players in the English game.

RIP.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I mainly knew him as a Chester City player, but for black players he was a pioneer. Wasn't he one of the first to play for England? Ian Wright, Yannick Bolasie and loads of other younger black players look up to him. And he must have had so much crap thrown at him as well, in a time when there were very few black players in the English game.

RIP.

It really was atrocious back then. I remember my first Everton game against Notts Forest in 1977. Every time Viv Anderson touched the ball the 'N' Word and monkey chants rang round the ground*. No-one was reported for it back then. There were no UEFA sanctions

Icredible level of courage, determination and dignity shown by Cyrille Regis, Anderson and the other black players at the time.
They wanted to play football and nothing was going to stop them.

*That was the reality at every ground in the country every match