SYNOPSIS

This is the inside story of Britain's first black football superstar. Cyrille Regis was a centre-forward with power and influence. The power was in his forceful style of play and as a scorer of spectacular goals. His influence was the impact he made upon thousands of black British youngsters who sought to follow in Cyrille's footsteps and the huge contribution he has made to black British culture.

Spotted playing non-League football in London, Regis was signed by West Bromwich Albion in 1977. With his all-action style and powerful shooting, he quickly established himself as a firm favourite at The Hawthorns.

Regis was an icon of his era - the first black British player (alongside his West Brom team-mates, Laurie Cunningham and Brendan Batson) to makes waves in top-flight English football, to smash the glass ceiling that had held black Britons back in sport.

It is a story tinged with fame, celebrity and tragedy. The fame was becoming a popular international footballer; celebrity of being associated with the real Three Degrees - the American soul singing trio; and tragedy of Cyrille losing his close friend and team-mate Laurie Cunningham, who died at the age of just 33.

His autobiography - in which Cyrille reveals his own candid version of events for the first time - is an inspiring story of a real life, rags-to-riches football legend - of a good guy who overcame obnoxious hatred and ignorance to reach the top of his profession, and who has carried on giving long after hanging up his boots.

For the record, Cyrille Regis scored 87 goals in 238 appearances for West Bromwich Albion, and made the first of his five England senior appearances in 1982. He moved to Coventry City in 1984 where he scored a further 47 goals and became an FA Cup winner in 1987. Spells with Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers followed, and he also played in the lower leagues for Wycombe Wanderers and Chester City, before his 19-year professional career ended in 1996, with an overall tally of 159 goals in 608 matches.

After a short period spent as reserve team coach at West Brom, Cyrille became a football agent, a profession which provides him with the opportunity to advise young players who recognise not just his name but his contribution, achievements and standing in the game.

Cyrille continues to keep giving: his charitable work has included visits to Ethiopia on behalf of the charity Wateraid; he is also president of the Midland Junior Premier Football League - a youth development programme for school-age Midlands-based non-League players.

Aged 50, Cyrille was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Queen's birthday honours list and duly collected his award on 4 November 2008. To many people, it was fitting recognition for a man who has made a profound impact on British sport and the socio-cultural development on Britain's black community.