Comment: Cyrille Regis and the Three Degrees deserve to be honoured in the right way

Statues, stands and other ways of honouring the legendary striker have all been mooted by fans understandably eager to reflect the impact he had on both Albion and football as a whole.

A petition set up by supporters group Albion First with 3,700 signatures has been handed to the club, requesting that they fund a permanent memorial.

But that begs the question, what would be an appropriate tribute?

Many fans have called for the club to pay the remaining cash needed to finish an existing statue of the Three Degrees called ‘The Celebration’ – which has been in the pipeline for years – and move it to The Hawthorns.

However, in this writer’s opinion, the prototype does not bear a great resemblance to the three men in question – even though sculptor Graham Ibbeson has done a fantastic job of Laurie Cunningham’s statue near Leyton Orient.

Even though it’s a nice idea, and has been supported by Cunningham’s family and Regis himself, and may look better in full form, it is likely to raise eyebrows if it was unveiled at the ground.

A few years ago, former chairman Jeremy Peace offered to take over 'The Celebration' statue project and have it redone to look more like the former players before placing it in Halford’s Lane when that stand is eventually refurbished.

But members of Sandwell Council declined. Its future destination is not yet known, but for a number of reasons, it will not be The Hawthorns.

So with that statue already destined for different part of West Bromwich and a figure of Tony Brown already at the ground, another, separate statue might be too much duplication.

Which brings us on to the possibility of renaming a stand. The Birmingham Road End and Smethwick End are iconic in their own rights and should not be touched.

Halford’s Lane, less so, but even that has a history attached to it. That leaves the East Stand, which the majority of supporters would be happy to repurpose for a legend.

But having just one, or maybe two stands to play with creates its own problems.

There’s no question Regis, Cunningham and Brendon Batson had a huge impact on the culture of British football and society as a whole; the avalanche of tributes over the past two weeks has proved as such.

But we are talking about The Hawthorns here, not the National Football Museum or St George’s Park.

If Regis deserves a stand, then surely Jeff Astle does, surely Tony Brown does? But then what do you do with the Astle gates and the Bomber statue?

And what about Graham Williams, who lifted the League Cup as captain in 1966 and the FA Cup as skipper in 1968? What about players like Bobby Hope, who played in both those finals?

What about the 1954 vintage, players like Ray Barlow who won the FA Cup and finished second in the league?

What about W.G. Richardson, who scored both goals in the victorious 1931 FA Cup final, or Jesse Pennington, who captained the team to the First Division title in 1919/20?

What about Ally Robertson and John Wile, second and third on the all-time appearance list and, in the words of Batson, a crucial component in the Three Degrees’ impact on British football.

Cyrille’s untimely death has focused the mind, but a knee-jerk reaction to a premature death, as painful as it has been, would be insulting to some of Albion’s other icons.

Because it’s roughly 40 years since Regis arrived at the Baggies in that explosion of colour, vivid in yellow and green, for many of those still living he epitomises the club.

In terms of nostalgic emotion, that era is enjoying its time in the sun. Not too long ago to be forgotten, not too close to be ignored. Regis was the first love of the majority of middle-aged fans.

But the generation before adored Astle, and generations after loved Bob Taylor. What happens in 20 years time when the Superbob and Gary Megson era becomes just as rose-tinted?

Even if the club understandably decide that Regis deserves a stand because he transcended Albion and literally changed the face of British football, you can’t call it the Cyrille Regis Stand and ignore the abuse Cunningham and Batson went through at the same time.

But the term ‘Three Degrees’ is very much of its time and even now it sticks in the throat a little. Imagine how that will look on top of the East Stand in another 40 years time?

There’s no question Cyrille’s legacy deserves to be permanently recognised at The Hawthorns in some way – and if the club do decide to name a stand after him, it would definitely be deserving.

Albion First, for what it's worth, have asked the club to either fund their own statue of the Three Degrees, rename a stand, or open a Wall of Heroes at the ground.

Because of the reasons set out above, there are potential issues to overcome if either of the first two suggestions are taken up.

But a Wall of Heroes, or a memorial of some kind to the great man and his two friends who broke down barriers in the blue and white stripes of the Baggies certainly seems appropriate.

At the moment, the club are primarily focused on Cyrille’s funeral next Tuesday and drawing up plans for the next home game on Saturday, February 3.

But after that they will start looking into a permanent tribute to Regis and the Three Degrees.

Hopefully it will be a fitting one, because Cyrille's untimely passing has reminded everyone of their impact and it is something that deserves to be recognised at The Hawthorns in some way.