Passion, humour, warmth and love

Sep 22 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

Warm tributes were paid both inside the memorial service and outside by those who came to celebrate a life.

A WHO'S who of football's biggest names gathered yesterday beneath the imposing arches and columns of Durham Cathedral to pay tribute to "A National Treasure" born just a few miles down the road.

Capello and the Charlton brothers, Shearer and Sheringham, Bruce and Beardsley, Gascoigne and Sven Goran Eriksson all listened to eulogies from Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker, cancer specialist Prof Ruth Plummer and best man Tom Wilson, who shared digs with the young Sir Bobby Robson when they were setting out on their football careers together at Fulham.

The 90-minute Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Bobby Robson was conducted by the Dean of Durham, the Rt Rev Michael Sadgrove, who greeted Sir Bobby’s widow Lady Elsie as she arrived with her family.

He told the 1,000-strong congregation: “It is indeed fitting that we should remember Sir Bobby here in Durham Cathedral, for as a son of County Durham, born and bred in the nearby villages of Sacriston and Langley Park, this was always his home.

“We rejoice in his love of North East England and his commitment to the people of his region.

“We celebrate his most distinguished career in the world of football, as a player, manager and coach, and as a timeless ambassador and enthusiast for the game.

“We give thanks for the work of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, praying for all who suffer with cancer, that through the work of the Foundation, many may be given hope.”

Gary Lineker, who played for Sir Bobby’s England side during the World Cups of 1986 and 1990, told the congregation how he made him feel “seven feet tall” when he called him into the England squad.

And, amid laughter from the congregation how he “brought me back down to earth again” when he was sitting on the substitute’s bench at Wrexham for his first game against Wales.

“With 20 minutes to go he turned to me and said: ‘Go and get warmed up Garth!’”

Lineker also recalled how, during the 1990 Italian World Cup when England lost in the semi-final to Germany on penalties, he would “chase Gazza around the golf course on a buggy, shouting at him to put a shirt on.

“Another time he hauled him off the tennis court during the second set, because it was just a few hours before a World Cup match.”

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Sir Bobby never forgot his roots in the North East.

He told the congregation: “He never forgot that. He always knew his roots.

“Fantastic that he would do that, not to change his entire life. It’s a great talent that, not to change, to be the same person.”

One of Sir Bobby’s other great triumphs away from football – helping to raise around £1.8m for his foundation which funds research into the early detection of cancer – was represented by his oncologist, Dr Ruth Plummer.

She described him as “a true gentleman who would never walk away from a friend in need.”

Football managers past and present included England boss Fabio Capello as well as previous national managers Sven Goran Erikkson, Graham Taylor and Steve McLaren.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, and previous managers Roy Keane, Mick McCarthy and Peter Reid, Harry Redknapp of Tottenham Hotspur and David Moyes of Everton were also present.

Footballers past and present included Nicky Butt, Alan Smith and Andy Carroll of Newcastle United, Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given, former United players including Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, Paul Gascoigne, Malcolm MacDonald, Frank Clark and Bob Moncur, as well as several of his old Ipswich team, including Eric Gates from County Durham.

Bryan Robson, from Chester-le- Street, England captain under Sir Bobby, said: “I never came across anyone with such a passion for football and we had a tremendous personal relationship as both manager and skipper. I owe him a lot. He called me his Captain Marvel and it stuck for the rest of my playing career. He will be missed by everybody who knew him.”

Peter Beardsley, who played for Sir Bobby’s England team in two World Cups. “He was a great man, one of us from the North East. It is fitting that we are having this memorial service at Durham Cathedral. Elsie will be so proud.”

And Paul Gascoigne, England 1990 World Cup hero: “Bobby was like my second dad. I can’t describe how much he meant to me. I loved him.”

From the world of showbusiness were Tyneside duo Ant and Dec, while Welsh singing star Katherine Jenkins sang Pie Jesu.

Sir Bobby Charlton said: “He was magnificent for the game of football. I will think of him as someone who was always gracious, always kind.”

They all listened intently as Tom Wilson, who was best man at Esh Parish Church, overlooking Sir Bobby’s home village of Langley Park, when he married Lady Elsie 54 years ago, said: “They tell me you should never finish a eulogy by saying ‘We’ll never see his like again’ – but we won’t.”