Honorary degree dedicated to ex-Coventry City's Cyrille Regis by team-mate Brendon Batson on anniversary of death - The Coventry Observer

Honorary degree dedicated to ex-Coventry City's Cyrille Regis by team-mate Brendon Batson on anniversary of death

Coventry Editorial 17th Jan, 2019   0

A FOOTBALL legend and race campaigner paid an emotional tribute to former Coventry City striker Cyrille Regis a year on from his death at Warwick University.

Brendon Batson OBE was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters for his contribution to football.

He was presented the accolade days after the one-year anniversary of Cyrille’s death and joined others in the city in paying tribute.

Team-mates Batson, Regis and Laurie Cunninghan were part of ‘The Three Degrees’ at West Bromwich Albion who together were seen as pioneers of black participation in professional football.




Mr Batson, after saying how proud and flattered he was to receive the award, paid tribute to his late friends.

He said: ““Well at times like this, it was only a couple of days ago it was the first anniversary of Cyrille’s passing and it’s still a shock to us. We love Cyrille.


“Not just as a team mate but as a friend. We just didn’t realise how loved he is universally.

“Laurie was killed 30 years ago this year in a car crash in Madrid, so I do look back on it and I think, wouldn’t it have been great if we were all still together.

“Life’s not like that, we know that.

“But I’m a better person for having met them and when I played with them as teammates we were good friends off the pitch as well.

“Laurie tragically was 33, Cyrille was only a year ago and I miss them. I miss them both.

“They are part of my journey, so I share this with them because they are part of my journey.”

Mr Batson retired in 1984 after a successful career, also representing Cambridge and Arsenal FC.

He was offered a job at the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) where he is still involved now as a trustee.

Sky Blues legend Cyrille Regis MBE, died last year on January 14, aged 59.

Regis, a former striker and FA Cup winner at Coventry City, passed away following a cardiac arrest.

The former England international joined the Sky Blues in 1984 and appeared 238 times for the club, scoring 47 goals.

He also had a prolific spell at West Bromwich Albion, a team he played for 241 times, and also donned the shirts of Aston Villa, Wolverhampton, Wycombe and Chester.

Of his many highlights at the Sky Blues, Regis was part of the 1987 FA Cup winning side that defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 at Wembley in front of 96,000 fans.

The Coventry Observer called for a special memorial service in his honour to be held at Coventry Cathedral, a request which was granted.

A Coventry City spokesperson said on Tuesday: “Today is one year since Sky Blues legend Cyrille Regis sadly passed away.

“Our thoughts today are with his family, friends, team-mates and everyone who knew Cyrille #PUSB”

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