RIP Sir Bobby Robson

It has been a pretty poor year for Newcastle football fans. Today they are mourning one of their very best in Sir Bobby Robson, dead of cancer at 76.

Robson grew up as a Newcastle United supporter and his last coaching job, in a career that was most famous for his coaching of many European clubs plus the English national team, was for Newcastle, which has since slumped out of the English Premier League.

Robson had been diagnosed with cancer five times since 1991, and finally succumbed only five days after a public appearance at St James’ Park to raise funds from Newcastle supporters for his cancer charity.

Having debuted for Fulham in 1950 and played for England at the 1958 World Cup, Robson’s coaching career also began at Fulham, a side which never delivered him playing honours.

The height of his club coaching career came with Ipswich, which he took to FA Cup and UEFA Cup triumphs. He also took England to the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup before Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal stopped their run.