| The late Sir Robert "Bobby" Robson. | | | | and success in the in the 1972-73 season, and they |
| It would be difficult to actually point your finger at which | | | | never fell below sixth place in any of the following nine |
| of Robson's achievements more entitled Sir Bobby to | | | | seasons, which was a remarkable achievement for a |
| receive his knighthood as any other. His exemplary | | | | provincial club with limited support. Robson's Ipswich, in |
| career as a professional footballer, successful | | | | their light blue soccer uniforms were a soccer purist's |
| manager of a number of UK clubs, his successes in | | | | dream and Sir Bobby's skills as a manager were being |
| Europe as manager of some of its leading clubs, his | | | | recognized. Especially outstanding was his ability to |
| role as manager of the English national team in one of | | | | nurture home grown talent and even in the early days |
| their finest post Sir Alf Ramsey periods, or probably a | | | | of "check book management", during his thirteen year |
| combination of them all. Sir Bobby was a much loved | | | | at Ipswich, Sir Bobby only bought 14 players. He also |
| and respected figure on the World soccer scene for | | | | got his first taste of silverware at Ipswich, winning the |
| many years, and what always stood out in his | | | | 1978 FA Cup and the 1981 UEFA Cup. |
| character was his tremendous inner calmness, humour | | | | Bigger clubs were knocking on door all the time, but he |
| and humility. | | | | seemed content, till one day an offer came in that |
| Born in 1933 to a working class family in the North East | | | | such a patriot as Sir Bobby could not turn down, and |
| of England, Sir Bobby was a classical midfield player, | | | | that was to manage the England national team. |
| with a great understanding of the game and an eye | | | | Robson took over as England manager after the 1982 |
| for goal. Most of his playing career, which lasted two | | | | World Cup finals and remained in the post for eight |
| decades, was spent with Fulham, split by successful | | | | years, leaving after the 1990 final. English football has |
| period with West Bromwich Albion. Even as a young | | | | traditionally enjoyed a love-hate relationship with their |
| man, Sir Bobby displayed signs of an interest in fresh | | | | managers, in that they love them before the take the |
| challenges and sunnier climbs, taking off for the west | | | | job and hate them soon as they are in it. Sadly Sir |
| coast of Canada to become player manager for | | | | Bobby was no exception yet he handled the criticism |
| Vancouver. | | | | with his typical dignity and humour. During his tenure |
| Sir Bobby made a total of twenty appearances for | | | | England won not a single award, yet they got a lot |
| the English national team during which he scored four | | | | closer than any other manager after Sir Alf Ramsey |
| goals from the midfield. In all his career as a footballer, | | | | as well as any since. |
| one of Sir Bobby's greatest regrets is that he never | | | | After leaving England,became a bit of a soccer |
| one a single medal although he did win twenty caps | | | | wanderer, bringing his experience to clubs like Sporting |
| for the English national team, scoring four goals. | | | | Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, Barceló in Spain and |
| Whilst his playing career was winding down in | | | | PSV Eindhoven in Holland He succeeded in winning |
| Vancouver, and his management skills were just | | | | honours for all of the clubs that he managed, with the |
| starting to blossom, Sir Bobby received a call from his | | | | most outstanding being the European Cup Winners |
| former club Fulham to come back and mange the club. | | | | cup for Barcelona in 1989. |
| It was an offer that the found hard to refuse, and he | | | | In the mid nineteen nineties, Sir Bobby decided that the |
| returned to the UK, and at the of 35 began his career | | | | time was right to return to the UK. In 1999 he was |
| as a soccer manager in the English League. | | | | offered the manager's job at Newcastle, in his beloved |
| Signs of his promise were there to be seen and it | | | | North- East of England. Many advised Sir Bobby not to |
| wasn't long before offers started to come in. Sir | | | | take on the job, as once aging the "love them before |
| Bobby surprised a few people by taking the manager's | | | | the take the job and hate them soon as they are in it" |
| job in 1969 at unfancied Ipswich Town. Robson | | | | syndrome again applied, but not with the club's |
| obviously felt that the pace of life in this pleasant | | | | supporters but with club's owner. Newcastle were |
| corner of England would suit him fine.. He took a year | | | | perennial under achievers, and despite taking the club |
| or two to learn the tricks of his trade and by the early | | | | to 4th, 3rd and 5th finishes in the Premier League, and |
| seventies, Robson had put together a team that | | | | into Europe. was sacked in 2004 and for the first time |
| began to win games as well as some minor trophies. | | | | in his career. |
| Robson led Ipswich to fourth place in the First Division | | | | |