The Three Degrees: The Men Who Changed British Football Forever

by Paul Rees

When Cyrille Regis became one of the first black players to be selected for the full England team, he was sent a package in the mail. Inside it was a silver bullet and a note that ‘You’ll get one of these through your knees if you step on our Wembley turf.’ In the 1978/79 football season Regis' club West Bromwich Albion, an unglamorous and little publicised club from the West Midlands, became the first British football team to field three black Cyrille Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson. They did so against the backdrop of the most divisive and poisonous racial tension in the UK’s history – a time when the National Front movement was at its most virulent. This book will tell the story of a defining and groundbreaking chapter in the history of British football and the country as a whole. The story is one about sport but also as much one about social change.

Genres: Football

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2014

Reviews

[Jordan Trout · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read about West Bromwich Albion’s influence on the integration of black players into the English game. Cyrille Regis getting mailed a silver bullet and a note reading ‘you’ll get one of these through your knees if you step onto our Wembley turf’ stands out. Proud of our football club for always standing by what is right.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read;a good football book that sent me back to my panini albums, and one that shined a light on the racism that was part and parcel of the football I grew up watching. Whilst the insights into the various players and the replaying of the main footballing set pieces, I do tire of the Noddy Grade2 British social history that accompanied it...

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting book detailing the careers of the three degree, batson, Cunningham and regis and more so on the time they played for west Bromwich albion and also set to the back drop of economic and social change and unrest in the 70's and early 80's

[Ger Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Superbly researched and contextualised. Amazing story and it helps that the Author obviously felt very close and interested in the subject. Highly recommended.

[Paul McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cracking book on a fascinating subject

[Kenroy Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back a lot of memories. Familiar places, names and events.

[John Ainsworh]

Great book for any football fan - brings back childhood memories