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Sir Bobby Robson: A man of character and dignity
Saturday, 1 August 2009
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The death of Sir Bobby Robson brings to an end one of the most distinguished and dignified careers in the world of football.
He was a player of international status but also an outstanding national and club manager — and above all a remarkable human being.
Bobby Robson’s career speaks for itself. He was capped 20 times for England and later excelled as a manager. He brought unfancied Ipswich Town out of the shadows to win the FA and Uefa Cups and he went on to steer England to within a whisker of a World Cup final.
Robson then built an outstanding career as manager of a string of major European clubs with which he won the Dutch and Portuguese championships and then, with Barcelona, the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Bobby Robson was also a romantic and he returned in later life to take charge of his beloved Newcastle United. He brought this underperforming club to fifth place in the Premier League before being controversially and unfairly sacked by a regime that had
more ambition than sense. By this stage, however, his reputation had been long-secured and he was deservedly recognised with a knighthood as an elder statesman of British football.
His calibre was measured not only by his success but also by the way he handled adversity. He was deeply wounded by England’s failure to reach the World Cup final and also by his summary dismissal by Newcastle, but he reacted with great character and dignity.
Mr Robson also faced enormous health challenges, but he faced these with great courage and also
used his fame to raise a small fortune for cancer research. From beginning to end, Bobby Robson was a good man who made a difference.
Many thousands of football followers and other fans will mourn his passing and he leaves a lasting legacy to all that was good about football. He was a refreshing example of a “good guy” in a sport that lately has been tarnished by bad behaviour on and off the field, and also by absurd financial rewards that border on the obscene.
The variety and depth of the tributes by a range of figures as diverse as the Prime Minister Gordon
Brown, Sir Alex Ferguson and former England captain Gary Lineker are a witness to his true worth.
His achievement was not only in moulding successive sets of players into winning teams but also in enabling individuals to believe in themselves and to combine their talent for the greater good.
He also demonstrated that a passion for his sport could provide a passport from the hard life of a miner to become an ambassador for all that was best in his native country which had given football to the world.
Bobby Robson also showed that hard work and talent, allied to grace and charm, can travel very far and that, by contrast, the unsavoury characteristics of some modern footballers and professionals in other games are far removed from the true qualities of sport. He was that rare combination of a man who was a legend in his own lifetime, but who also retained the core values that sustained a life of achievement and of service. He will always be remembered as a true sporting hero, and above all, a gentleman.
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a true gentleman , a huge football name for me from my childhood & teens ....... such strength and dignity , even in his last weeks , you can ONLY have had admiration for Sir Bobby Robson ! Our current youth could take a BIG leaf out of his book. So hard to believe that that giant football character is no longer with us. R.I.P. Sir Bobby.
Posted by saddened admirer | 01.08.09, 19:45 GMT
"A Gentlemen, a Scholar and a Judge of Good Liqueur" An old Ulster salute for a truly fine man.
Posted by Ulsterman | 01.08.09, 08:44 GMT
just had a really bad day today and just finished work and to come home and hear about bobby as just knocked me only seen him on the box the other day in a wheel chair and i was stund then god bless bobby :coley from hudds
Posted by coley | 31.07.09, 18:37 GMT
RIP Bobby you were a good ambasidor to the game and I know you loved the Irish people as well. you were all that is good about the game.
Posted by sean from co down Ireland | 31.07.09, 17:28 GMT
The world of football is a much lesser place today
RIP Sir Bobby
Posted by Strucker | 31.07.09, 16:14 GMT
What sad loss for sport a truly wonderful man respected by all who new him,and loved by everyone, a legend is not too great a description of this true Geordie. RIP Sir Bobby.
Posted by a lover of the game | 31.07.09, 15:19 GMT
A true gentleman of the first order, reveered by many,loved by all RIP
Posted by a lover of the game | 31.07.09, 15:04 GMT
Sir Bobby, never forget. Rest in peace.
b00ts, The Netherlands.
Posted by b00ts | 31.07.09, 14:32 GMT
Great man who will be sorely missed by all. I'd recommend his autobiography as a great read to all.
RIP Bobby - You'll Never Walk Alone
Posted by Paul aka Subby | 31.07.09, 13:51 GMT
Legend
Posted by cally | 31.07.09, 13:08 GMT
holy moly, thanks for those posts, they encapsulate Sir Bobby, and the endearing way he had about him.
As per the other post, the world has lost a true gentleman, as a Newcastle United supporter, I am proud to pay tribute to a real Geordie and footballing legend.
Ho way the lads.
Posted by sjc | 31.07.09, 13:07 GMT
From Holy Moly:
Journalist to Shola Ameobi: Do you have a nickname at the club?
Ameobi: Not really, no
J: So what do the lads call you?
SA: Shola
J: And what about Sir Bobby? What does he call you?
SA: Carl Cort.
Posted by holy moly | 31.07.09, 12:59 GMT
From Holy Moly:
Bobby is at a book-signing in Newcastle. Little kid gets Sir Bobby to sign his book after queuing for ages.
'Have you signed a lot of books today, Sir Bobby?'
'Oh, hundreds, son. Absolutely hundreds'
Kid walks off with his signed book, and glances down at the inscription; 'Best Wishes, Bobby Hundreds.'
Amazing. RIP Bobby Hundreds.
Posted by holy moly | 31.07.09, 12:59 GMT
As a Newcastle fan it is an extremely sad day. Sir Bobby brought fight and passion back to the club and in his time at St James Park we had Champions League football for 2 seasons and finished 3rd and 4th in the league. If only we had someone like him now the club would not be in the mess that it is.
In addition the way he bravely fought and dealt with cancer over the past 5 years and the amount of money he has raised through his foundation speaks volumes of the man. Only last Sunday was he raising more money to help people less fortunate than himself battle and beat the terrible disease.
May your rest in peace Sir Bobby, you truly were a legend a word that is used too often nowadays in football.
Toon Toon
Posted by NI toon | 31.07.09, 12:23 GMT
An absolute legend. Sir Bobby had personality and charisma in abundance. Football will never see his like again. Only 5 years ago, at the age of 71 he was running around the training pitch. He fought cancer and won 5 times. Always showing strength and dignity in public. I'm so glad he got to manage Newcastle and "come home" as he described it. The world has lost a great, great gentleman.
Posted by Geordie | 31.07.09, 12:13 GMT
Great man, great life. Thanks for the memories!
Posted by Will Hawkes | 31.07.09, 11:45 GMT