Former West Brom boss on the 'important day that changed everything' at The Hawthorns

Megson, 66, took charge of Albion in March 2000 following a torrid season under Brian Little in the second tier, where there had been just one victory since the end of November.

Prospects looked bleak when the Baggies hierarchy turned to former midfielder Megson, who aged 40 at the time, had some experience having managed Norwich, Blackpool, Stockport County and Stoke.

The new boss built on a caretaker victory overseen by Cyrille Regis and Allan Evans with a win in his first game at the helm at former club County courtesy of Lee Hughes' early winner.

The next few weeks were hardly smooth with a run of three narrow defeats before the rot stopped with a trio of draws, including the remarkable 4-4 Hawthorns classic against Bolton, which swung this way and that until the death.

But the Baggies lost at neighbours and rivals Walsall in April, leaving huge work in the final three fixtures. Two wins and a draw would follow, including the final-day 2-0 success over champions Charlton. 'Super' Bob Taylor scored three of Albion's four goals in those wins to save the club from dropping into the Second Division at Walsall's expense, as the Saddlers lost at Ipswich.

Twenty-five years on from that great escape - the first first of a couple in that era - Megson said: “That day 25 years ago was so important to the future of West Bromwich Albion, both for the club itself and the fans, who were absolutely fantastic when we really needed them against Charlton.

“If things hadn’t gone right for us, it would have made the following season so difficult in every way – not least in terms of the players we’d have been able to recruit.

“Winning that game and staying up changed absolutely everything for West Brom, and it was to set us up for everything that followed over the next few years.

“It was a great day for all of us, and one that would shape everything that happened next at The Hawthorns.”

The following season - in his first full term at the helm - Megson led Albion to the First Division play-offs after a sixth-placed finish but a two-legged defeat followed against Bolton, who went on to claim promotion in Cardiff.

Nobody of blue and white stripes persuasion needs reminding what happened the following campaign, when a storming unbeaten run of seven wins from eight to see out the campaign sealed automatic promotion, with Wolves in third narrowly missing out. It was, of course, Blues who joined the Baggies in the top tier via the play-offs.

The Premiership proved tough for Megson and his charges and relegation followed. But Albion boinged back with the repeat trick of second in 2003/04 as Megson's two promotions earned his place in club history.

Megson was dismissed in October 2004 after 221 games at the helm and a win rate of 42 per cent. He went on to manage Nottingham Forest, Leicester, Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday. Nobody has since managed more games for Albion and you have to go back to Vic Buckingham in the 1950s for a lengthier stint.

His time at The Hawthorns was not quite finished. He returned as Tony Pulis's assistant head coach in 2017 and served a two-match caretaker stint - two draws - in the Premier League that November before Alan Pardew's appointment.

'An evening with Gary Megson', hosted by Chris Lepkowski, takes place at Hockley Social Club in Birmingham on Wednesday night, May 28. Doors open at 6pm and tickets are still available at £12 each. They are available here.