Sir Bobby!
Tomorrow marks the day that a year ago, Sir Bobby Robson finally lost his brave battle against cancer. The days and weeks that followed brought a scale of mourning across the football world that I think we’re unlikely to ever see again. Find me a football fan who didn’t like Sir Bobby Robson, and he’ll probably be the same man who thinks that David Cameron is all about helping the working classes.
pointing David in the direction of the local polling station, no doubt
He was a remarkable man, from a humble background, dedication, his knowledge and brain for the game led him to becoming one of the games best loved characters, who never forgot his roots. And that is exactly what Sir Bobby was, a character whose enthusiasm for the game was infectious, who by his own admission never stopped learning about football, who people stopped to listen to when he spoke. His record as player and then manager speaks for itself
If there is one image that stood out from the shrine that developed in St James’ Park following his death, was that amongst all the black and white scarves, shirts, flags and banners, it was the lone red and white stripes of a Sunderland shirt with a message of thanks to the former England manager. That says it all about what he meant to the footballing world.
It’s hard to give a favourite moment about Sir Bobby Robson, I’m sure everyone will have a different one, he achieved so much as a manger abroad, with Ipswich, and with England only to be knocked out in 1990 in the cruelest possible fashion.
For me however it’ll be those years where he achieved a dream of his, and came so close to delivering those of the fans with some silverware, in charge of his beloved Newcastle. After the doom and gloom under Dalglish and Gullit, he brought pride back to the north east. Great european nights once more, Shearer back to his best, the attacking football we craved and great little memories like the travelling fans singing Happy Birthday to him as we crusied to victory away at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Great times to be a Newcastle fan.
Sacking him and replacing him with Souness was a dreadful decision. Which we are still recovering from. What we would give for his knowledge and passion now as we head into the new Premiership season.
A football man, a gentleman, a geordie. Rest in peace Sir Bob...
Black ‘n’ White Army
Submitted by Dave Brown
30/7/2010
