Laurie Cunningham was only 33 when he died and spent most of the peak years of his career playing abroad.
But what he did on the pitch, and the changes he helped bring about off it, left a lasting impact on the English game.
Rejected by Arsenal, he began his professional career at Leyton Orient in 1974 and within five years he became the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid.
His amazing journey from Brisbane Road to the Bernabeu went via West Brom, where the winger became the first black player capped by England at any level
His amazing journey from Brisbane Road to the Bernabeu went via West Brom, where the winger became the first black player capped by England at any level
His sign on fee then was £950,000, aged 22, Cunningham left the Hawthorns for Madrid. For all parties, things would never be the same.
Laurie was like Cristiano Ronaldo in the way he used to take people on," he commented.
"He had his style, his grace and his pace. He ran on his toes, he was balletic with his amazing tricks and pace."
may he rest in perfect peace.
By Ronnie Collins
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