[Onetruebaggie]

What a beautifully evocative and emotional tribute from our club, forget the premiership, forget the money, forget the ego's and the circus that is modern football, I truly don't enjoy football like I used to and feel disenchanted with it all, but! When our club does this, it shows it's true side, it shows the footballing world how great we really are and how our fans rally together in times of need. I truly hope at our next home game there is a genuine outpouring of emotion from all sides and maybe it can become a springboard to inspire greater things.

That was a truly emotional video but well worth the watch, it's times like this that your proud to be a Baggie!
COYB

[Kennyg]

The heartfelt tribute to Cyrille by Dave Bowler on the official website had me close to tears. He has put into words what all of us have tried to say today.
A wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. Having been lucky enough to see him play, and having met him in recent years I can only say the younger generation of fans will never experience this kind of player, this kind of human being in their lifetime. I was lucky to have seen and spoken to this legend.
God bless you Cyrille.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Such an awful, awful day for Albion and for football. Some wonderful tributes going round, a credit to the club and the fans, but tributes don't fill the hole of what we've lost in Cyrille.

RIP

[BaggieMan]

I’ve had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach since I first read the news around 7am.
Met Cyrille once in the players lounge at Stoke and he was a really nice guy and happy chatting to a ‘Baggie’.  Seem to remember the game was a draw with Stoke pressing hard for a winner. Cyrille’s comment was “It was like the feckin Alamo” with a huge smile on his face.

The Big Man will be sadly missed as was the other ‘King’,  Jeff Astle. Can’t imagine how his wife and family are feeling. I’m just so glad Cyrille watched us hopefully turn the corner against Brighton.

Regis

[bomberbrown1968]

I'm not ashamed to say I've shed a few tears today, from hearing the news on the way to work I still don't think it's sunk in that Big Cyrille has gone. I've spent time on here reading your great memories and stories, I've had the radio on listening to all the footage culminating in the WM phone in where former players and genuine supporters from all clubs have paid tribute.

I was lucky enough to be a 15 year old at the ground with my Dad when Cyrille made his debut against Rotherham and scored twice and in an instant we had a new hero. I saw his first match for us, his last match and most of those in between as I had a season ticket & went home & away for the next 7 or 8 years.

He had such an effect on me as a spotty teenager to see this bloke built like a heavyweight boxer exploding with pace, brushing aside defenders, out jumping them and unleashing rocket like shots. He was my Roy of the Rovers, and no matter what my Villa and Blues mates could say about the Baggies they couldn't deny that we had a diamond in Cyrille

As I got older I used to go to a place called the Europa Lodge Hotel which was just off the motorway island for a drink before and after the matches and amongst the many players there was Cyrille, who would always shake your hand, sign an autograph or just have a chat about the upcoming game or how they'd played, can you imagine sitting in a pub, where the players went as well.

He had so much time and respect for everyone, which carried on when he finished playing, I've met him twice since and not for a minute did he remember me but he did genuinely remember chatting with supporters in the pub and how much he enjoyed being able to mix sociably with fans.

Cyrille RIP big fella - you had a profound effect on my love of the Albion, sheer class on the pitch and sheer class off it as well - Thank you, off to dry my eyes again

[Beefy 1965]

That picture of my daughter with Cyrille is only half the storyline,
Jess was at the football club playing her steel pan for her school band, Cyrille stood up and made a speech about football and Christmas,
I got chatting to Cyrille about football especially the 3-1 victory against Villa in the snow on a Boxing day, we were 1 down with ten to go ,he said with a grin ah me and Tomo tore em one at the end, then praised Jess and said how good the band sounded,
Jess arranged to have her photo with Santa later and when Hednesford FC called the photo shoot for their Christmas programs she thought for some reason it was her cue to join in and joined Cyrille, Santa, Hednesford Town officials and the Mayor on stage, a official tried to tell Jess she could have one with Santa alone later,
She looked a little crest fallen,
Truth is Cyrille held his hand out and said no
Let her stay it's good for football , Good for Xmas the young ones must be involved
As they say what happened next , the picture is history
And that's why I'm so devastated tonight to lose a man who made my daughters Christmas
RIP big man x

[Zinman]

So many memories and words are inadequate to express what we've all lost today. I guess I'm of the same generation as many of the posters on here, remembering seeing this raw talent's debut and knowing that we'd found a star. My abiding memory is of his league debut against Middlesboro. In those days my Villa supporting father used to take me to matches but I'd never seen him applaud an Albion goal....until Cyrille struck that afternoon. Such a pity that so many of his performances weren't captured on film, and how blessed are those of us who got to witness them in person.

Cyrille, thanks for the memories and rest in peace.

[hibeejim21]

A great player and a great bloke. It's a sad day for you guys,but take solace from his great achievements.

RIP cyrille

[4evaabaggie]

After being an avid reader and viewer on site, today's news has finally pushed me into posting. Like all on here i am devastated to see the second of my two footballing heroes has now passed away, my only solace is the fact that he is now back in partnership with my other hero.
R.I.P Cyrille.

Mightybrom, welcome, hope now your here you will join with the rest of us and post more often, always nice to have new members and new views. its a shame your first post is about such a sad event in Albion history.

Still can not believe this legend has gone.

[Dingle-Dingle]

Heaven`s eleven just got stronger. Can we get another one? DD