TRIBUTES TO THE ‘GRANDFATHER OF FOOTBALL’

Oct 31 2008 The Journal

SIR BOBBY CHARLTON, Ashington-born England World Cup player: “I am honoured to be here, he is very respected in the game and we all think a lot of him.

Newcastle United should have kept him on, put him on the board or something, then they perhaps wouldn’t be in the mess they are in now.”

ALAN SHEARER: “Sir Bobby saved my career at Newcastle when he arrived as manager. For that I will always be grateful. He is a great ambassador for the region and for world football, the grandfather of football.

“I think we can all take a leaf out of his book.”

BRYAN ROBSON: “He is a great man and what he is doing now is fantastic. It is typical of the man to put something back now. He is fighting cancer in the same way as he fought adversity all through his career, with courage and determination. Tonight is a great occasion for the North East.”

BRENDAN FOSTER: “He is an inspiration and his cancer foundation is a fantastic idea.”

FREDDIE SHEPHERD, who hired and later controversially fired Sir Bobby as manager: “He is a great man, that is why I am here.”

SIR ALEX FERGUSON: “Sir Bobby is somebody who makes you feel better when you are in his company, he has a warmth, an enchanting quality. I feel very honoured and privileged to be here tonight supporting such a fantastic cause. Nobody in football will ever say a bad word about Sir Bobby Robson.”

GRAEME DANBY: “Sir Bobby is a warm, generous man and a great ambassador for the region. I am overjoyed to be here.”

MICK HUCKNALL, guest singer: “He is truly one of the great footballing men of England.”