Cyrille Regis MBE

Has a fairly nice ring to it don't you think?

About nine years ago, while working for another publication, I wrote a fairly long and rambling comment piece bemoaning the fact that one of Albion's Greatest No 9s had never been honoured.

This, I argued, was not just because of his 112 goals in 302 games for Albion during a wonderful seven year period. Or even because he scored 205 goals in 741 over a career spanning 19 years. Or because he'd managed to play for four West Midlands' clubs with distinction, winning an FA Cup with one and collecting five England caps along the way.

Nor was it because honours were handed out to all sorts - 'entertainer' Jimmy Tarbuck, girl's barber Nicky Clarke, Steven Gerrard (presumably for services to Liverpool, rather than England), be-quiffed snooker player Terry Griffiths and Zara Phillips (for being the Queen's granddaughter perhaps?). Surely his time should have come by now.

There were many reasons.

Since then he has prompted one of my colleagues to consider naming his son after him, until the wife compromised and agreed to use 'Cyrille' as the middle name instead.

You see, Cyrille was much more than a footballer. To a legion of footballers growing up in the late 1970s and early 80s he was the inspiration, the role model.

Clyde Best came before him. Others followed. Viv Anderson was an unglamourous right-back, as was Cyrille's team-mate Batson. Cunningham was a genius but, by all accounts, a shy character away from the field. John Barnes was yet to emerge. And Garth Crooks...well, he was busy perfecting his uncanny ability to bore managers to tears in the time it takes to ask one pompous question.

Cyrille was an explosive centre-forward. Kids wanted to be him, fathers were proud he played for their club. When bullets were being sent to him through the post from racists, he was inspired to score goals. When fans threw bananas at him from the pitch, he tried that extra bit harder. When fools at Upton Park or Goodison made ape noises at him, he'd make them look like monkeys by scoring the winning goal. He didn't need to fight or talk back. He had his football.

Read a Q and A with Dion Dublin or Ian Wright, to name but two. Q. Who was your boyhood hero? Answer, Cyrille Regis.

Ex-managers speak highly about him, former team-mates remain mates with him and defenders are probably pleased he retired.

Off the field he's a gentleman and a friend. He was one of the first non-family members to ask about my daughter when she was born and, on one occasion, agreed to rearrange his entire evening to meet up, just so he could sign a book for my wife's grandfather, an avid Coventry fan. It was no trouble.

And his name still carries a great deal of weight in the game. He's a successful agent and refers to Albion as 'we' or 'my club'. In truth, Albion and Coventry fans have always 'honoured' him in their own way for his services to their clubs. He remains well thought of everywhere he's played.

Cyrille celebrated his 50th birthday this year - 30 of those were devoted to football.

He should have had his date with the Queen a long, long time ago.

Finally he will. For services to football.

Congratulations.