Leazes1986 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 BOBBY ROBSON has won countless battles during a career which has earned him a permanent place in the nations hearts. But his latest fight, sadly, will be his last. English footballs favourite knight has admitted that a fifth bout of cancer affecting his lungs will be the one which sends him to his grave. He knows his time is coming to an end in a matter of months. Yet his legacy will never die. No one would ever let that happen. Sir Bobby has taken on and outwitted many a top-notch coach and team in his glorious life. From memorably leading Ipswich to domestic and European triumph to taking England unforgettably to the brink of World Cup glory, Robson knows what combat means. Images of his jigs of touchline delight at Italia 90 will never fail to bring a smile to anyones face. But taking on the illness that has hit him so cruelly once again is beyond him. Specialists have told the 75-year-old to prepare for the worst.Typically, he will fight until the bitter end. Emotionally, he revealed to SunSport: I have accepted what they have told me and I am determined to make the most of what time I have left. I have been fortunate to survive this long. It is thanks to my doctors and their dedication. My condition is described as static and has not altered since my last bout of chemotherapy. They have arrested the growth of the tumours on my lungs and I have my next scan shortly. I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go sometime and I have enjoyed every minute. I dont even think about it and my biggest problem today was unrelated, just old-fashioned laryngitis. Caring, charismatic and with time for anyone, Robson is loved by all. He may have been struggling with cancer for 17 years but continues to spread his warmth over everyone. Donating a £500,000 cheque on behalf of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation for a new dedicated cancer research centre in his beloved Newcastle yesterday simply said everything about the man. Troubled times? The worst. You will not find him, though, shutting himself away in despair. He added: I am not going to sit around at home thinking about what might or might not happen. I have always found it difficult to turn down good causes and invitations from people I know. My family and close friends have always said I should say No more often and now is no different. Advertisement It has been a hectic summer. I have watched a couple of days of Wimbledon, several days of Test cricket and Durham county cricket. "I had my own celebrity golf tournament in Portugal and managed to enjoy a few days holiday afterwards before returning to London, where I was honoured by the Football League Managers Association. They not only inducted me into their Hall of Fame with a host of celebrities but it was at a special dinner, the first of its kind. The word legend may be used too freely in the modern world of egotistical football stars. Yet it was made for blokes like Bobby Robson. Will anyone ever repeat what he did with Ipswich, after a playing career which saw spells at Fulham, West Brom and Vancouver Royals plus caps earned for England? A difficult start to managerial life with Fulham was put to bed when he strolled into Portman Road in 1969. At the end of a 13-year spell, the Tractor Boys had landed the UEFA Cup, the FA Cup and twice finished runners-up in the title race. England came calling after a nightmare World Cup campaign in 1982. It took Diego Maradonas shameful Hand of God goal to help send England home from the 1986 World Cup and, though failure followed in the 1988 European Championships, Italia 90 saw Robson at his best. Carving a team built around the twinkling talent of Gazza, the finishing of Gary Lineker and the pride and power of Stuart Pearce, only a crushing penalty shootout defeat by West Germany stopped the Three Lions from reaching the final and exacting revenge on a sub-standard Argentina side. He headed to PSV Eindhoven and discovered a striker called Ronaldo. Robson signed the Brazilian while bossing Barcelona, arriving in La Liga via Porto and Sporting Lisbon. His spell at the Nou Camp saw the Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Cup-Winners Cup all bagged in his first year. The madmen at the Nou Camp promptly decided to push him upstairs and after just a year he went back to PSV before, in 1999, returning home to Newcastle. He took the Toon on a rollercoaster of Champions League emotions before Freddy Shepherd shamefully dumped him in 2004. A spell helping Steve Staunton with the Republic of Ireland followed but his ill-health continued. An operation for a brain tumour in 2006 was negotiated. Then in May last year, cancer returned yet again this time in his lungs. Despite that, he is still bursting with an enthusiasm and love for football that should be studied by many of the money-grabbing mercenaries polluting the beautiful game today. And the man is so special that Alex Ferguson even put to one side his bitter feud with the BBC last December to present him personally with a lifetime achievement award. There will be only one Bobby Robson. We must enjoy him while we can, as we will certainly miss him when he is gone. So sad to read that. Absolute legend. Its hard to accept his times almost up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewellander Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Absolute punch to the gut. I just hope that he's not going to be in pain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlito Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Absolute legend. God bless. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
QBG Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 You cannot help but admire this man's spirit, a true legend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 You know it's coming sooner rather than later as the great man says, but it'll be a really, really, really sad day when he passes. Not just for me, or us as Newcastle fans, or supporters of all the other clubs he worked with, but for football in general. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 You know it's coming sooner rather than later as the great man says, but it'll be a really, really, really sad day when he passes. Not just for me, or us as Newcastle fans, or supporters of all the other clubs he worked with, but for football in general. I can't imagine what SJP will be like the first game after he does leave us. There will be a fair few tears shed that day. Awful news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Coubury Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I love you. More than anyone than i don't personally know. You will always be a legend in my heart, my son wil know of your legacy, you will be missed. This is breaking my heart, bye Bobby. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 What a guy, death is such a horrible event in anyones life but we must remember that he's a wonderful man and from what he tells us has had a wonderful life aswell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leazes1986 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I love you. More than anyone than i don't personally know. You will always be a legend in my heart, my son wil know of your legacy, you will be missed. This is breaking my heart, bye Bobby. I think you spoke for hundreds of thousands of geordies there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 hes admitting it, its not long, this is shit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Fucking hell, i can't imagine what it would be like without him. He was part of my upbringing in Newcastle United. Please god don't make his time come yet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzieMandias Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I'll save my eulogies for the time being, but this is not happy news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 So sad A true legend if there ever was one. Love you, Sir! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I love you. More than anyone than i don't personally know. You will always be a legend in my heart, my son wil know of your legacy, you will be missed. This is breaking my heart, bye Bobby. I think you spoke for hundreds of thousands of geordies there. Sorry, but why just Geordies? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Snrub Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 So, so sad. When they day comes I will be locking myself in my room with a lot of alcohol and watching videos of our 01-02 season all day long. Fuck the entertainers of the 90s, this was our most exciting team since the Prem. He saved us from certain relegation and made us the most likeable team in England. The most likeable man football will ever see. A true gent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I love you. More than anyone than i don't personally know. You will always be a legend in my heart, my son wil know of your legacy, you will be missed. This is breaking my heart, bye Bobby. I think you spoke for hundreds of thousands of geordies there. Sorry, but why just Geordies? that doesn;t matter right noe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Extremely sad, hope it is as painless as possible. A true hero to us all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 The time when i started coming to matches was when SBR was just appointed our manager, hes a legend! i dunno about you lot, but Im sure i will shed a tear or two when he dies. We love you Bobby Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanji Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sir Bobby you are a legend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leazes1986 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44447000/jpg/_44447116_robson_getty.jpg http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40016000/jpg/_40016478_arrival33.jpg http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38826000/jpg/_38826769_manofmonth03_getty.jpg http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/images/2007/05/15/allardyce_bobby_470x353.jpg http://rcdhn.org.uk/events08/images/cuthcareball4.jpg Hero Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I remember the day he joined us, a great time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1525397.ece Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leazes1986 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1525397.ece Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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