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Leamington Letters #140: Cy-rille! Cy-rille!

15/1/2018

8 Comments

 
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There are few sportsmen for whom my admiration extends beyond their skills and athletic ability. In fact, there are many whom I am sure I would positively dislike outside the football field, the baseball diamond, the cricket square. We would have nothing in common beyond the fact that they possess a talent I'm in awe of.
 
As fans, we seldom get the opportunity to put this proposition to the test. We don’t meet our sporting heroes, so they remain heroes. Even when we read of some particularly egregious behaviour or political opinion, they are still superstars. Our memories are of that superb goal, that home run or no hitter, that exquisite cover drive.
 
The exceptions prove the rule: Ali, David Ortiz, Garfield Sobers, Learie Constantine, Brian Clough, Romario.
 
To this off-the-top-of-my-head list, I wish to add the name of Cyrille Regis MBE.
 
Together with Laurie Cunningham and Brendan Batson, Cyrille was instrumental in achieving acceptance for black players in British football. When ‘the three degrees’ first played together, some season ticket holders at The Hawthorns sent back their tickets in protest. But the football that they played, and the way that they played it, appealed to the vast majority of fans, whatever their club allegiance and in so doing contributed immeasurably to defeating racism and bigotry on the terraces.
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So I was over the moon, Brian, when Bobby Gould signed him for the Sky Blues in 1984. He played seven years and more than 200 games for Coventry and his strength and elegance and goals made him an instant favourite. But it was not solely that wondrous talent. He was, on and off the field, a perfect gentleman.
 
I heard Ian Wright quoted this morning: “My generation of black players were like Malcolm X. But Cyrille was Martin Luther King”.
 
I know this from personal experience. I met him socially only after he had moved on from the City. He would meet up from time to time with his City team-mates in Wilde’s, where he stood apart. Not literally – he would be as much part of any conversation as anyone else present; but his demeanour marked him out.
 
He was tall, slim, always well-dressed and very good-looking (when I introduced him to Jill, she looked up at him and said “No wonder my husband worships you!”).
 
He had that air of self-confidence and calmness which the rest of us  envy. He knew who he was and was content to be what he was.
 
He was a gentleman and a gentle man.
 
I am privileged to have seen him play the beautiful game so beautifully, and proud to have known him, if only a little.
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RIP Cyrille. Thank you.
 
Today from the every smith vaults: Many years ago, my friend Neil Bevan introduced me to the Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock. It turns out that Warlock was a Satanist, sadist and shit of the first order, but this suite is exquisite. It is a piece I play often and I thank my friend for his 'heritage track'.
8 Comments
marcus
15/1/2018 04:44:00 pm

One could extrapolate the same thought to other 'heroes' working in other spheres. Musicians, writers, artists., for example. Suspect you could name more than I can. Do you want to start a thread?

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StephenP
15/1/2018 05:09:44 pm

A-ha! Of course the obvious one is already mentioned - Warlock. Not at all someone with whom one would wish to be friends. Although Delius was a friend apparently. But classic example of what Max is talking about - remarkably talented, expert on early music, good writer etc etc. But an unmitigated shit! PS Very sorry to hear about Cyrille Regis - a good player.

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Derek
15/1/2018 05:53:21 pm

Regis was one of the greats, and his record would have been better had he played under managers who appreciated his strengths. Yes, he was tall, strong, fast. But he was not a traditional centre forward. He made as many goals as he scored. Should have been capped loads more times than he was. And I say this as a supporter of neither West Brom nor Coventry City. Nice tribute.

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Nick
15/1/2018 06:03:45 pm

A legend.

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MarkL
15/1/2018 10:24:58 pm

I have never understood this need for sportsmen and women to be also role models. They do what they do and are well rewarded for it. Why should they also be expected to lead exemplary lives in every respect? We are all sinners as someone once said. But if they do lead exemplary lives, despite the temptations and opportunities of superstardom, then it should be acknowledged and applauded. This post, together with many others, has done so.

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Allan
15/1/2018 10:32:53 pm

Great quote from Ian Wright. And on Martin Luther King Day too.

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SimonG
16/1/2018 08:16:22 pm

You don’t have to be a football supporter to admire his skill, courage and tenacity. Great man gone too soon.

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Ann
16/1/2018 09:50:52 pm

I love your tribute. I'm not a big sports fan - especially football which I haven't much watched since the 1966 world cup final - after that it was all downhill;-) Cyrille is one of the names I remember though..... You use the phrase 'a gentleman and a gentle man' - I have used that phrase only a few times for men I have known but you are the first person other than me that I know to have used it - some people just fit right into that description don't they.... xx

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    Max Smith

    European writer, radical, retiring restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 60-something (pretty close to 70-something) husband, father, step-father, grandfather and son. Resident in Leamington Spa, England.

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