“The best player I ever played with” | Albion legends return for a tribute to Johnny Giles

During his time with the Baggies, Giles also orchestrated a golden age of Albion talent.

‘Bomber’ Brown played some of his best years under Giles on his way to becoming Albion’s record goalscorer and appearance scorer, with both records remaining intact to this day.

“He had a huge influence on me when he first came,” “Bomber” said. “My self-confidence was at a very low level at the time. Johnny got me playing again and gave me that confidence back. After that it only went one way, we played in a great team.

“He was a great player and a great manager. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with, I would say. The club was struggling and Johnny came, in that short time he got us promoted back to the big time club. I wonder where we would have been if he hadn’t done that.’

Like Brown, centre-back Robertson also played with and under Giles during his more than 500 appearances for the Baggies.

“For me he was the best manager I ever had,” Robertson said. I had been out of the team and never missed a game when John was the manager. He was brilliant to play for and a brilliant manager. The whole club changed completely, it was at the bottom and then we got promoted to the old First Division.

“It will be fantastic to hear some of the stories he has because he is brilliant.”

Robertson’s defensive partner John Wile, born in County Durham, joined Albion from Peterborough in 1970 and spent many of his more than 500 appearances under Giles.

“He had a huge influence on me and everyone,” Wile said. “He made me a better player, he made the team a better team. He came to us as a renowned midfielder, one of the best midfielders in the country, in the world even.

“It was a privilege to play with him, play for him and make Albion a much better team.”