When the Albion board of directors convened for a meeting late in the 1976/77 season, there were momentous issues on their mind, not least the fact that it was likely that player-manager Johnny Giles would be repeating his threat of resignation from the previous year, and that this time, he would not be dissuaded from his course of action.

In the circumstances, they could be forgiven for not really paying much attention to other matters, but under the stewardship of Chairman Sir Bert Millichip, the Baggies board were nothing if not utterly thorough and businesslike. So it was that line by line, agenda item by item, they scrutinised all the normal day to day issues that confront any football club, some big, some small.

There had been some conversation about a recommendation made to them by the club’s chief scout, the legendary player and, at the time, still the club’s record goalscorer, Ronnie Allen. He had spotted a young talent in a non-league game in London and was vigorously putting the case that the Throstles simply had to sign this young centre-forward. And when it came to knowing a thing or two about scoring goals, let’s face it, Ronnie Allen had something of a pedigree. 

In the end, Allen’s opinion carried the day and it was reported solemnly in the Club’s minute books that “It was reported we had signed C Regis from Hayes FC at £5,000 plus other payments after first team games”. 

The actual story was a little more colourful than that though, as Cyrille recalls. “From what I’m told, Ronnie Allen heard about me, he heard that I was this big, raw black guy, and he came down to see me playing for Hayes. He used to tell the story that he saw me go up for a ball and put the ball in the net along with four defenders and decided “that’ll do for me!” 

“It wasn’t straightforward as that though, because I think Albion though they were too big a club to be buying from the non-leagues by then, back in Division One. Ronnie had to persuade the board to buy me, eventually he said he’d buy me with his own money and that persuaded them. 

“I had a one-year contract, the club paid Hayes £10,000 altogether after so many games, and that bought the floodlights at Hayes, and they’re still there! Then Johnny Giles resigned and Ronnie Allen took over as manager, so that helped me.”

Within a couple of months of signing, Cyrille was making his debut for Albion in the League Cup against Rotherham United. He scored twice as Albion won 4-0, and he was on his way.

Was there ever a better £10,000 spent by the Albion?