Albion manager Chris Hughton has paid a glowing tribute to FA Cup final opponent Cyrille Regis.

The legendary former West Brom centre-forward has died of a heart attack, aged 59.

Regis was in the Coventry team that upset Hughton's Spurs in the 1987 FA Cup final at Wembley.

He was a pioneer in an exciting West Brom side with fellow black players Brendan Batson and the late Laurie Cunningham.

The trio paved the way for black players to make a breakthrough in English football.

Hughton (below) told The Argus: "It's incredibly sad. Cyrille is my age and looked in great shape.

The Argus: "He meant a lot to me, particularly being a black player in the same era. He was always a very high-profile player but also a really fabulous fella as well.

"I knew him very well. I shared many social events with him when he was a player and kept in contact with him. After he came out of the game he was working for a football agency.

"I came into contact with him there and at other events.

"I remember playing against him at White Hart Lane. He was a very good player, the type that centre-halves didn't like to play against.

"He wasn't overly aggressive but he had a lot of natural strengths and pace."