FORMER West Brom and Coventry forward Cyrille Regis has died, aged 59.

Regis won five caps for England between 1982 and 1987, having been one of the stars of the Baggies team between 1977 and 1984.

He scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for Albion before moving on to Coventry, winning the FA Cup with the Sky Blues in 1987.

The Northern Echo: Cyrille Regis, far left back row, celebrates winning the FA Cup with Coventry in 1987

The Professional Footballers' Association announced the news on Monday morning and wrote in a tweet from its official account: "A true gentleman and legend, he will be deeply missed. Our sympathies to his family and friends."

Regis was born in French Guiana in February 1958 but moved to London with his family at the age of five.

He did not come through the youth ranks with a professional club and was instead spotted playing Sunday morning football by the chairman of Surrey non-league club Molesey.

West Brom signed him for £5,000 in May 1977 and he made a spectacular start, scoring twice in a League Cup tie against Rotherham in September of that year.

Along with Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson, who joined Albion in 1978, the trio of black players were nicknamed 'The Three Degrees'.

He was voted the PFA Young Player of the Year for 1978.

His widow Julia has described her late husband as a "role model" and "a very precious treasure" after his death at the age of 59.

The death of the former West Brom and Coventry striker has sparked glowing tributes to a man who blazed a trail for black footballers in Britain.

His wife Julia said in a statement: "Cyrille and I were soulmates. He was the perfect man for me and we had a wonderful life together. He was a beautiful man and a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.

"Losing him has turned my whole world upside down, it is a void that will never be filled.

"I have been moved by the many messages of support and condolences I have received and the kind things people have said about Cyrille as a person and a professional.

"He came into football the hard way and never lost his passion for the game. He was a role model for so many because he always treated everyone he met with kindness and respect.

"The world has lost a very precious treasure."