West Bromwich Albion have enjoyed a rich history, with five FA Cups and one top-flight title to their name thanks to the efforts of some of the West Midlands club’s biggest legends.
Baggies supporters have enjoyed the services of several memorable players over the years from hard-working midfield servants to goal scoring heroes.
West Brom have given their supporters plenty to smile about including top-half Premier League finishes and a historic League Cup triumph.
Jeff Astle
- Appearances: 361
- Goals: 174
- Years at West Brom: 1964-1974
- Trophies: League Cup 1966, FA Cup 1968
Jeff Astle is one of the Albion’s biggest legends, epitomised by the fact that he was known by the Hawthorns faithful as ‘The King’.
The centre-forward scored 174 goals for West Brom, most notably the winner in the 1968 FA Cup final as the Baggies beat Everton 1-0.
He also scored the Albion’s solitary goal in their 2-1 League Cup final defeat to Manchester City in 1970, further enhancing his legendary status.
Astle sadly died at the age of 59 in 2002 due to a brain condition usually suffered by boxers, but he will always be remembered at The Hawthorns as ‘The King’.
Tony Brown
- Appearances: 720
- Goals: 279
- Years at West Brom: 1963-1980
- Trophies: League Cup 1966, FA Cup 1980
Tony Brown is West Brom’s record appearance maker and all-time record goal scorer, making him one of The Hawthorns club’s most talked about players.
Brown goes by the nickname of ‘Bomber’ and was named as the Midlands Footballer of the Year three times.
He finished the 1970/71 First Division season as the top scorer, having notched a remarkable return of 28 goals from midfield.
Brown continues to co-commentate on the majority of the Baggies’ games on BBC Radio WM, summarising his former club’s highs and lows.
Cyrille Regis
- Appearances: 302
- Goals: 112
- Years at West Brom: 1977-1984
- Trophies: N/A
Although Cyrille Regis didn’t win any trophies with West Brom, he helped the Black Country outfit reach the semi-finals of both the League Cup and FA Cup during a memorable 1981/82 campaign.
The forward is one of the Baggies’ all-time leading scorers with 112 goals in 302 outings.
Regis became just the third black player to represent England when he was called up by the Three Lions to face Northern Ireland in 1982.
He was known as one of ‘The Three Degrees’ when he plied his trade for the Albion alongside Brendan Batson and Laurie Cunningham, with the name stemming from that of a Motown group.
Football came together to commemorate Regis’ death when he suffered a heart attack in January 2018.
Laurie Cunningham
- Appearances: 99
- Goals: 26
- Years at West Brom: 1977-79
- Trophies: N/A
Like Regis, Laurie Cunningham was one of the first high-profile black players in English football, and was the first black player to represent the Three Lions at Under-21 level and the first in a competitive game for the senior team.
The majestic winger was seen by Albion fans as one of the best players in the country in the 1978/79 season and went on to play for the England senior team in the summer of 1979.
Cunningham became the first Briton in the modern era to sign for Real Madrid when he left The Hawthorns in 1979.
The wideman performed exceptionally well for Madrid in their 2-0 win over Barcelona in 1980, and was part of the Wimbledon side who famously beat Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final.
Bryan Robson
- Appearances: 198
- Goals: 41
- Years at West Brom: 1975-81
- Trophies: N/A
Bryan Robson made his West Brom debut in a 3-1 away victory over York City in April 1975 at the age of 18.
Robson proved his versatility in the 1975/76 season, playing in a variety of different positions as the Baggies finished third in Division Two and clinched promotion back to the top-flight.
The midfielder showed his class for the Albion at the top level, helping the West Midlands side reach the Fa Cup semi-finals in 1978, where they were beaten by Ipswich.
Robson had an outstanding football career, making 90 England caps while he made over 340 outings for Manchester United after leaving The Hawthorns in 1981.
He later returned to West Brom as a manager in 2004, helping the Baggies avoid relegation from the Premier League on the last day of the 2004/05 season.