Jason Roberts and John Barnes lead 尊敬の印s at Cyrille Regis 記念の service
Jason Roberts and John Barnes led the 尊敬の印s to Cyrille Regis after an emotional 記念の service at The Hawthorns.
Former West Brom striker Roberts, Regis’ 甥, あられ／賞賛するd his uncle as a humble 巨大（な）.
Ex-Albion, Coventry and Aston 郊外住宅 striker Regis died suddenly earlier this month 老年の 59 and a 私的な family funeral was held on Tuesday.
His 未亡人 Julia and the family then travelled to The Hawthorns where West Brom hosted a public service to celebrate the former England international’s life.
Regis was a 開拓する after 苦しむing racial 乱用 during his professional career, which started at Albion in 1977, and is credited with 覆うing the way for a 世代 of 黒人／ボイコット players.
Roberts paid a 深く心に感じた 尊敬の印 during the service and then again afterwards.
He said: “I’ve been surprised since the start at how he was so universally loved and how his 衝撃 was more than just as a footballer. He was able to 部隊 people around 問題／発行するs.
Jason Roberts, 甥 of Cyrille Regis, paid 尊敬の印 to his uncle at The Hawthorns. (マイク Egerton/PA)
“He did it in a manner which painted him as a leader but it was never anything which he sought. That was the human he was.
“He had time for everyone and made them think they were the only person in the room. His 約束 and love for his family is why so many people have been 衝撃d by his loss.”
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Barnes was also joined by Chris Hughton, Chris Ramsey, Les Ferdinand, Ron Atkinson and Dwight Yorke.
Fans in the （人が）群がる stand in 前線 of a 旗，新聞一面トップの大見出し／大々的に報道する 描写するing Cyrille Regis during his 記念の service at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. (マイク Egerton/PA)
“The big gest compliment I can 支払う／賃金 him was that he was a superstar but a humble superstar,” said Barnes. “He was an inspiration to a lot of 黒人／ボイコット players.”
Brighton boss Hughton 追加するd: “Today’s very much abut Cyrille the man. Cyrille played in an 時代, the same 時代 as me, where it was very difficult for 黒人／ボイコット players.
“As 時代s go on, the modern day player who does not have to experience what Cyrille went through, can 反映する on what he went through and the 遺産／遺物 he left behind.”
Regis’ funeral cortege left The Hawthorns at 8.45am on Tuesday with the 現在の Albion squad and 経営者／支配人 Alan Pardew giving it a guard of honour.
Around 1,800 were at The Hawthorns for the pubic service where singer Beverley Knight sung Going Up Yonder.
Former Baggies team-mate Brendon Batson paid a personal 尊敬の印 to the congregation.
Atkinson, who managed Regis at Albion and 郊外住宅, also said afterwards: ?“If I was 選ぶing my best every team he would always be my number nine. ?He was a 広大な／多数の／重要な bloke, he was a phenomenal footballer but an even better bloke.”
Regis was also an スパイ／執行官 with the Stellar group and chairman?Jonathan Barnett paid his own 尊敬の印.
“He was a 巨大（な） who did so much for football, so much for 黒人／ボイコット people, and so much for humanity,” he said.
