Source: Daily_Mail
Sir Bobby Robson: Sportsmail writers' personal memories of a Geordie legend
The genuine warmth of Sir Bobby Robson made him a great man among mere managers. Adored by fans and those who worked under him, football truly is in mourning following his death at the age of 76.
Sir Bobby wasn't always given an easy ride by the press, yet he was much more forgiving towards the journalists he worked with. Sportsmail writers pay their personal tributes to the Geordie legend.
SIMON CASS
The last time I saw Sir Bobby Robson was at the magnificent Night of all Knights charity event last October.
While obviously very unwell, Sir Bobby clearly had a fantastic evening as the some of the biggest names in football turned out to support the great man's cancer charity.
The queue for his autograph circled the entire hall of the Rainton Meadows Suites, Houghton-le-Spring. But, as ever, Sir Bobby was only too happy to oblige.
Nice to see you, Sir: Knights Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson
The Q&A session with Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton was the highlight of the evening, even though Mick Hucknall did bring the house down with a rendition of some of Simply Red's best-known songs.
As he reminisced with two of his best friends in the game, Sir Bobby showed, despite his illness, he was still as sharp as a tack as he indulged in some of his legendary mickey taking.
I got to know him thanks to my dad, Bob, who had been a friend since Sir Bobby's time as manager of Ipswich. I managed to grab a few brief words with the man himself, who always liked to share a tale or two about his time with Barcelona as he knew I had spent three years in Spain covering their great rivals Real Madrid.
The evening headed well into the wee small more hours with many present admitting it had been one of the best sporting dinners they had ever been to.
More importantly, the star-studded event, also attended by Alan Shearer and Bryan Robson, raised in the region of £185,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
It was a night I will never forget for a man who will never been forgotten by all those who had the pleasure of spending even the briefest few moments in his company.
My sports editor gave me Sir Bobby's home number and I called him to ask for a comment. I was on the phone for perhaps 10 minutes, the first seven of which were spent listening to Sir Bobby enquiring of the health and wellbeing of just about every senior reporter on our football writing staff.
I always find that the mark of a true legend is the ability to remember that - no matter how successful or famous you are - there are other people in the world too.
Sir Bobby oozed class when I spoke to him that day. He was a special man.
MATT BARLOW
The beauty of Sir Bobby is that he inspired different generations. For my father's he was a fine England footballer who went into management. For younger fans he was Newcastle's best manager of the modern era.
Those in Holland Spain and Portugal recall his success overseas. I still automatically associate him with his remarkable work at Ipswich and then England.
As a man his was his vast knowledge and humility which struck you and because of his kind and gentle manner it was sometimes easy to overlook precisely how much he had achieved in the game in his life time.
One day after a Newcastle game at The Valley I wanted to write a story about the impressive form of Craig Bellamy and asked Sir Bobby if he had ever worked with anyone quicker. 'Well,' he said, 'Ronaldo wasn't bad you know'.
Which one's Bobby? Robson and his England captain Bryan Robson
SIMON JONES
I was introduced to Sir Bobby at a dinner in London while chatting to Bryan Robson. Bryan had been recalling various Bobby stories including the day Bobby came down for breakfast and said to him, 'Morning Bobby' to which Bryan had replied, 'No boss, you're Bobby.'
Bobby turned to me and said: 'Don't believe all they tell you, son. I never forget a name, Steve!'
CHRIS WHEELER
What always impressed me about Sir Bobby was his ability to conduct himself with complete dignity even at the lowest points of his career.
When the tabloids turned on him at the beginning of the 1990 World Cup, first over the news he had agreed to take over at PSV Eindhoven after the tournament (the FA had already said they were unlikely to keep him on) and then following England's poor start in Italy, he faced the 'PSV Off Bungler Bobby' and 'Bring 'Em Home' headlines and never once lowered himself to hit back at his tormentors.
When England lost out in the cruellest of circumstances after that penalty shoot-out with Germany, there was none of the self-pity so typical of many managers, just a rueful smile and a congratulatory handshake for Franz Beckenbauer.
And then later in his managerial career, when he was moved upstairs at Barcelona in 1997 despite delivering the European Cup Winners' Cup, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup during his only season in charge, and sacked by his beloved Newcastle, he never once vented his disappointment in public.
He was old school, a true gentleman of the game. Of all the memorable quotes attributed to Sir Bobby Robson - and there are many - my favourite is his recollection of a game against Scotland.
'Denis Law once kicked me at Wembley in front of the Queen in an international,' he said. 'I mean, no man is entitled to do that really.'
They don't make them like that anymore.
LAURA WILLIAMSON
Sunny disposition: Sir Bobby Robson
I met Sir Bobby in March 2008 in his beloved Newcastle. Just listening to that distinctive voice as he talked me through his journey from Durham miner's son to England manager was inspiring, never mind his eye for detail and obvious fondness for his friends in the game.
He was frail, fighting cancer for the fifth time, but spoke with such passion and dignity, banging his hand on the table to emphasise his points.
Sir Bobby said his ability to communicate was the key to his success. 'I could talk,' he said. 'I knew I could stand in front of people and talk about the game. How to play it, how to win, how to lose, how to get over losing and start again. That's the trick.'
When I said goodbye, I'll never forget the way he put his hand on my shoulder and said: 'I'm sure you'll write a good piece, my dear.' I hope I did.
ASHLEY GRAY
I was never fortunate enough to meet Sir Bobby, but he will forever have his place in my football education.
He often seemed too nice to be a football manager, yet you don't ride the rollercoaster of being the England manager for eight years by being a soft touch.
Many people of my generation will remember him most as the man who got the best out of Paul Gascoigne and took a rather ordinary England team to the brink of reaching the World Cup final in 1990. I was nine years old when he consoled a tearful Gazza on that crushing yet proud night in Turin.
Before the tears: Sir Bobby Robson celebrates with Paul Gascoigne following England's defeat of Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup
My other abiding memory is the dignity with which he conducted himself during a difficult spell at Barcelona. Sir Bobby won the Cup Winners' Cup and Spanish Cup yet was moved out of the manager's chair.
But more inspiring than any of his managerial battles was his fight with cancer and the determination to raise money and improve the prospects of other.
Thousands have been donated in his memory since his death, putting the total at more than £1.6million. You can give to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation here: http://www.justgiving.co.uk/thesirbobbyrobsonfoundation
