Former West Brom and England forward Cyrille Regis, who blazed a trail for black players, has died at the age of 59, the Professional footballers’ Association announced on Monday.

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

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

Along with Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson, who joined West Brom in 1978, the trio of black players were nicknamed “The Three Degrees” after the singing trio of the same name.

“Terribly sad news this morning that footballing pioneer Cyrille Regis has died aged 59,” the PFA tweeted.

Regis was born in French Guiana in February 1958 but moved to London with his family at the age of five and was spotted playing Sunday morning football by the chairman of a non-league club.