Bobby Robson

[stressederic]

Sir Bobby Robson shows courage in fight for lifeGeorge Caulkin

He had threatened not to make a speech, but nobody believed him. Fifteen minutes in and Sir Bobby Robson was still praising and cajoling, sharing stories and anecdotes, prompting laughter, emotion and rapt attention. “It was like one of his team talks,” Alan Shearer said, and the comparison felt apt, albeit with one crucial difference. “This is about saving lives,” Robson put it later. “Not winning matches.”

 

His has been an exceptional existence, full of drama and dignity, trophies and achievement, but Robson may have celebrated his best result away from the football pitch. Fabio Capello, one of his successors as England manager, had come to witness it, armed with a cheque for £75,000 on behalf of the FA. So had Shearer and Peter Beardsley, two of the finest players in Newcastle United’s history.

 

In less than a year, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has raised in excess of £1.2 million for cancer-related projects under the NHS banner. Its work will continue and endure, but finding the funds to equip the cancer trials research centre that bears his name at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital was its original cause. That facility was officially launched yesterday.

 

It has been an enormous undertaking, magnified by the circumstances. Struck by the disease four times, Robson’s latest grapple with cancer will be his last; it is one he has been told he cannot win. Typically, he has thrown himself at an unequal challenge with zest and gusto, a man defined by his sense of wonder. Inspired by his battle, his history, his generosity of spirit, the money has surged in.

 

He cut a birthday cake for the cameras — he was 76 this week — and spoke for far longer than he intended. There were tributes to Professor Ruth Plummer, the oncologist who treated him and stirred him into action, and to all those who have contributed to his charity. “It’s wonderful, so many people doing so much for nothing,” he said. “Mind you, I haven’t received Fabio’s expenses yet!”

 

Away from the flashbulbs and the microphones, perched beside Lady Elsie, his wife, he reflected on his journey, the kindness he has encountered. “This is such a fabulous moment for me and everyone connected with the foundation,” he said. “When it started, I never dreamt it would come to this. This is up there with anything I have achieved in the game.

 

“At first, it took a while for the cheques to come in and we got a bit nervous. I thought to myself, ‘What have I done here? How is this going to work?’ But we turned the corner and since then the response and reaction has been colossal, whether in the North East or beyond. It has been magnificent. I have had fivers and tenners thrust at me in the street from people I’ve never met before.

 

“Football makes a huge difference to people in this region, but football is about beating your opponent. This is about beating death. I’ve met unforgettable people and come across so many heart-rending, sad stories. But through it all, the goodness of people has shone through like a beacon. It has been an amazing year — one of the most rewarding of my life — and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.

 

“Cancer is an horrific disease, but at the same time cancer has shown me the best in people. There have been days when I’ve been unwell and I’ve had operations which mean I am partially paralysed, but I have always tried to make sure it doesn’t affect me.

 

“I don’t want people to think of me as poorly. I want people to think of me as the same Bobby as I always have been. This has been a real kick, the perfect tonic.”

 

Shearer, Newcastle’s record goalscorer, led the tributes to his former manager. “Bobby is warm and generous and he’s fighting cancer with humour and goodwill,” he said. “He needs something to focus on and this has given him a lease of life to leave a legacy behind. He’s loved by everyone. Anyone who has played under him owes him a debt of gratitude. I certainly do.

 

“He is an inspiration because of the way he has handled his life. When you look back at when he was England manager — we were laughing about it earlier over a cup of tea — he was on £68,000 a year. You look at the sums being thrown around now and you have to smile.”

 

People do a lot of smiling around Robson. “I just feel so proud,” he said yesterday. “Proud, but humble. And very, very honoured.”

 

sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk

 

A man for all seasons . . . and quite a few countries

 

1972-73: Starts run of nine top-six top-flight finishes in ten years with Ipswich Town

 

1978: Wins FA Cup with Ipswich

 

1981: Lifts Uefa Cup with Ipswich

 

1982: Starts eight-year stint in charge of England

 

1986: Leads England to World Cup quarter-finals

 

1990: Guides England to within penalty shoot-out of World Cup final

 

1992: Wins second successive Dutch league title with PSV Eindhoven

 

1993: Takes Sporting Lisbon joint top in Portugal but sacked in December

 

1994: Leads Porto to Portuguese Cup final win over Sporting

 

1996: Collects second consecutive league title with Porto

 

1997: Lifts Spanish Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in only season as Barcelona coach

 

1999: Oversees 8-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in first home match in charge of Newcastle United

 

2004: Guides Newcastle to a third successive top-five finish

 

The Times

 

Top man

[gns]

I love Bobby Robson, absolute 100% top bloke and loves his footy.

[Gerrardrules]

Genuine gentleman. Deserved his knighthood.

[Chili Palmer]

A true football man, I wish there were more like him in the game today.

[Mike]

A true football man, I wish there were more like him in the game today.

 

i'll echo that 100%

[muleskinner]

The England job has gone from 68 grand a year to what, 7 million inside 20 years?

 

Always liked Bobby Robson, seems a top bloke.

[Gilps]

Aye, one of the good guys is Robson.

[floyd]

The bigheaded attitude of some of the Newcastle players towards a man who has given so much, and forgotten more about football than most of the overarted egos, he was managing, and then his subsequent dimisal by Fat Freddie, goes a long way to expaining why the game has changed massively, since when coincidently, Bobby Robson was managing England in Italia90, when after this, footy changed forever.

Top man is Bobby

[anny road]

i have had a beer with him at the Excelsior Hotel nr Heathrow when he was Barca Manager

 

he was flying out there early the following morning, I was flying to Germany the same

 

 

spoke to him for about 50 mins in a deserted bar....all about football......loves Liverpool....said he was gutted that we didnt consider him for the job when Paisley retired, but said we did the right thing........seemed to have real respectt that I was a match going fan.....lovely man, top manager

 

True Legend

Edited February 21, 2009 by anny road

[Raj]

True Legend

 

Fully agree.

Always has dignity and respect for others

[Billy Dane]

Top man, nothing but respect for a man who is proud of his roots and loves his football.

[Earl Hafler]

i have had a beer with him at the Excelsior Hotel nr Heathrow when he was Barca Manager

 

he was flying out there early the following morning, I was flying to Germany the same

spoke to him for about 50 mins in a deserted bar....all about football......loves Liverpool....said he was gutted that we didnt consider him for the job when Paisley retired, but said we did the right thing........seemed to have real respectt that I was a match going fan.....lovely man, top manager

 

True Legend

 

Completely agree. It'll be a very sad day when he passes.

[Leo No.8]

One of my favourite characters in football Sir Bobby, an absolute gentleman and a great manager.

 

Will be a sad day if he loses his battle this time as its seems he will.

[charlie clown]

Yea, proper old school and seems genuinely likeable. Rubbish pundit though.

[matty]

Seems a top guy. Despite meeting Anny Road.

[Leo No.8]

Seems a top guy. Despite meeting Anny Road.

 

Would you prefer Sir Bobby had he jabbed a cocktail stick off the bar in Anny's eye at the end of that story, because of a drunken disagreement over the spelling of Shola Ameobi?

[The Hitman]

Always liked Sir Bobby-he seems to be one of those guys that comes across as a really nice fella,and by all accounts he's a lovely bloke.

Knows his football too,one of the old school.

Deserves a lot of credit for plying his trade abroad too,more English managers/players should do that.

[Flight]

Would you prefer Sir Bobby had he jabbed a cocktail stick off the bar in Anny's eye at the end of that story, because of a drunken disagreement over the spelling of Shola Ameobi?

 

 

 

[R A Softlad]

Genuine gentleman. Deserved his knighthood.

 

Told me and three of my mates to f*** off when we asked for his autograph outside old wembley before England v Yugoslavia in 86 - me and my mates were on a school trip and 14/15 at the time.

 

It's a shame what he's going through though.

[The Hitman]

Like he said.

Geniune gentleman.Deserved his knighthood.

[Superjay]

Told me and three of my mates to f*** off when we asked for his autograph outside old wembley before England v Yugoslavia in 86 - me and my mates were on a school trip and 14/15 at the time.

 

It's a shame what he's going through though.

 

To be fair.... I would have told you to f*** off and all.