Cyrille Regis dead: Former England footballer dies from suspected heart attack, aged 59

West Bromwich Albion great scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for the Baggies and helped change the face of game as a leading black footballer in the 1970s and 1980s

Former England international Cyrille Regis has died after suffering a suspected heart attack, aged 59.

The ex-footballer, who scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for West Bromwich Albion, also turned out for Coventry City and Aston Villa in the top flight, as well as playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wycombe Wanderers and Chester City in the later years of his career before retiring in 1996.

A statement on Monday morning from the West Bromwich Albion Former Players Association read: “It is great sadness that the FPA announce the death last night from a heart attack of one of the Club’s great legends Cyrille Regis. Our sincere condolences go to his family friends and colleagues. RIP Big Man.”

Regis was a pioneer for black footballers in Britain and played alongside Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson during his time at the Hawthorns that helped change the face of the game when it came to racial equality, despite the trio being racially abused by opposition fans on numerous occasions in the late 1970s.

A statue of the three players was erected in West Bromwich in 2014, and at the time, Regis said: "We were part of that first generation of black players in this country and I'm sure that if you ask any second generation player they will tell you they were inspired by Laurie. That's why the statue will be so important."

Having been born in French Guiana in 1958, Regis won his first England cap in 1982 in a 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland, with his fifth and final appearance coming in 1987 in an 8-0 win over Turkey. Regis was the third black player to be capped by England, following in the footsteps of Viv Anderson and Cunningham.

He was appointed an MBE in 2008, and returned to West Brom as coach before going on to become a football agent.

Regis made 297 appearances for West Brom before joining Coventry, Aston Villa, Wolves, Wycombe and Chester (Getty)

Regis became a born-again Christian after his close friend Cunningham was killed in a car crash in 1989, with the pair involved in a another serious car accident just two years before Cunngham’s fatality.

His younger brother is former striker Dave Regis, who played most notably for Stoke City and Notts County during a well-journeyed career in the 1990s, and his nephew is the former West Brom striker Jason Roberts.

Regis (far left) attends a memorial service for his close friend Cunningham ahead of Leyton Orient vs MK Dons in 2013 (Getty)

Regis will be remembered fondly at West Brom, having been named the club’s all-time Cult Hero in 2004 in a BBC vote in which he gained 65 per cent of the poll, and he was also named by the club’s supporters as one of their greatest 16 players in a poll that was organised as part of the club’s 125th anniversary in the same year.

Regis was the third black international for England following Viv Anderson and Laurie Cunningham (Getty)

He is also a fan favourite at Coventry due to his seven years with the Sky Blues, with his picture on display at the Ricoh Arena as part of the club’s 30 greatest players since the War.

He is survived by his wife, Julia.