Source: SKY_Sports
Fans flock to remember Sir Bobby
Tearful football fans flocked to Newcastle's St James' Park on Saturday to pay their respects to Sir Bobby Robson, following his death on Friday at the age of 76.
Hundreds braved rain to lay flowers and sign a book of remembrance at the stadium.
The first tier of the Sir John Hall Stand was covered with shirts, scarves, flags, banners and flowers laid by grieving fans.
Families stood tearfully as a steady procession of well-wishers added to the colourful pitchside tribute.
They spoke movingly of the way in which Robson had affected their lives and their love for a man who had been an inspiration to them.
One fan, Kevin Gregg, 47, a security guard from Blakelaw, was with Robson when he visited St James' Park for his charity match last Sunday.
Brave
The married father-of-three said: "I walked beside Sir Bobby as they pushed him round the ground in his wheelchair.
"He looked so very weak he should not really have been there, but knowing the man there would have been no stopping him.
"He had this little green cushion he used for supporting his left arm and shoulder and he didn't like people to see it. But I saw that his blanket had slipped, so I moved it back into place to cover over the cushion - and he looked at me and smiled. It struck me just what a brave, great man he was.
"It was so emotional. There were people in the crowd - men, women and children - and they were all openly crying.
"It is devastating that he's gone - it's like losing your granddad.
"He deserves all of this and more - I think they should rename St James' Park after him. He should at least have a stand named after him. As a fan, I would love to come to the Sir Bobby Robson Stadium on a match day.
"I worked at St James' Park when he was the boss here. He always had time for everybody, no matter who you were.
"When he was on his way out to his car, he would always stop and sign autographs even if it was raining, even if he had his hands full. He would just put everything down and be there for people. He was a gentleman."
One of us
Father-of-five Ian Runciman, 47, who works for the Ministry of Defence at RAF Boulmer, and his son Ewan, nine, tied a Berwick FC scarf to the stand.
He said: "We've come down from Amble to pay our respects. It is the least we could do. I just wanted to pay tribute to a pure football man.
"Sir Bobby, when he was at Newcastle, came to watch Berwick play Albion Rovers - and the crowd gave him a great reception.
"There are not many Premiership football managers who would take the time to do something like that.
"People loved him because he was such a nice guy. He was approachable and like one of the supporters. He was one of us."
