West Brom Legend dedicates honorary degree to former team mates in emotional speech

The trio were nicknamed 'The Three Degrees' by Ron Atkinson Credit: ITV Central

Former West Bromwich Albion player Brendon Batson has dedicated his honorary degree to his former team mates.

He received the degree at the University of Warwick today (Wednesday 16 January) for services to football.

At the end of his speech in which he urged those listening to 'be bold' and 'take risks', he said he'd like to dedicate the award to 'friends who can't be with me today, Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis'.

His voice cracked with emotion as he remembered his two lifelong friends and former team mates.

The trio were nicknamed the Three Degrees by Ron Atkinson after West Bromwich Albion became the first top-flight club to field three black players at once in the late 1970s.

Batson's recognition at the University of Warwick comes two days after the first anniversary of Regis' death which shocked the football world.