Tooj 16 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 BOBBY ROBSON has won countless battles during a career which has earned him a permanent place in the nation’s hearts. But his latest fight, sadly, will be his last. English football’s favourite knight has admitted that a fifth bout of cancer affecting his lungs will be the one which sends him to his grave. He knows his time is coming to an end in a matter of months. Yet his legacy will never die. No one would ever let that happen. Sir Bobby has taken on and outwitted many a top-notch coach and team in his glorious life. From memorably leading Ipswich to domestic and European triumph to taking England unforgettably to the brink of World Cup glory, Robson knows what combat means. Images of his jigs of touchline delight at Italia 90 will never fail to bring a smile to anyone’s face. But taking on the illness that has hit him so cruelly once again is beyond him. Specialists have told the 75-year-old to prepare for the worst.Typically, he will fight until the bitter end. Emotionally, he revealed to SunSport: “I have accepted what they have told me and I am determined to make the most of what time I have left. I have been fortunate to survive this long. It is thanks to my doctors and their dedication. “My condition is described as static and has not altered since my last bout of chemotherapy. “They have arrested the growth of the tumours on my lungs and I have my next scan shortly. “I am going to die sooner rather than later. But then everyone has to go sometime and I have enjoyed every minute. “I don’t even think about it and my biggest problem today was unrelated, just old-fashioned laryngitis.” Caring, charismatic and with time for anyone, Robson is loved by all. He may have been struggling with cancer for 17 years but continues to spread his warmth over everyone. Donating a £500,000 cheque on behalf of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation for a new dedicated cancer research centre in his beloved Newcastle yesterday simply said everything about the man. Troubled times? The worst. You will not find him, though, shutting himself away in despair. He added: “I am not going to sit around at home thinking about what might or might not happen. “I have always found it difficult to turn down good causes and invitations from people I know. “My family and close friends have always said I should say ‘No’ more often and now is no different. Advertisement “It has been a hectic summer. I have watched a couple of days of Wimbledon, several days of Test cricket and Durham county cricket. "I had my own celebrity golf tournament in Portugal and managed to enjoy a few days holiday afterwards before returning to London, where I was honoured by the Football League Managers Association. “They not only inducted me into their Hall of Fame with a host of celebrities but it was at a special dinner, the first of its kind.” The word legend may be used too freely in the modern world of egotistical football stars. Yet it was made for blokes like Bobby Robson. Will anyone ever repeat what he did with Ipswich, after a playing career which saw spells at Fulham, West Brom and Vancouver Royals plus caps earned for England? A difficult start to managerial life with Fulham was put to bed when he strolled into Portman Road in 1969. At the end of a 13-year spell, the Tractor Boys had landed the UEFA Cup, the FA Cup and twice finished runners-up in the title race. England came calling after a nightmare World Cup campaign in 1982. It took Diego Maradona’s shameful Hand of God ‘goal’ to help send England home from the 1986 World Cup and, though failure followed in the 1988 European Championships, Italia 90 saw Robson at his best. Carving a team built around the twinkling talent of Gazza, the finishing of Gary Lineker and the pride and power of Stuart Pearce, only a crushing penalty shootout defeat by West Germany stopped the Three Lions from reaching the final and exacting revenge on a sub-standard Argentina side. He headed to PSV Eindhoven and discovered a striker called Ronaldo. Robson signed the Brazilian while bossing Barcelona, arriving in La Liga via Porto and Sporting Lisbon. His spell at the Nou Camp saw the Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Cup-Winners’ Cup all bagged in his first year. The madmen at the Nou Camp promptly decided to push him ‘upstairs’ and after just a year he went back to PSV before, in 1999, returning ‘home’ to Newcastle. He took the Toon on a rollercoaster of Champions League emotions before Freddy Shepherd shamefully dumped him in 2004. A spell helping Steve Staunton with the Republic of Ireland followed but his ill-health continued. An operation for a brain tumour in 2006 was negotiated. Then in May last year, cancer returned yet again — this time in his lungs. Despite that, he is still bursting with an enthusiasm and love for football that should be studied by many of the money-grabbing mercenaries polluting the beautiful game today. And the man is so special that Alex Ferguson even put to one side his bitter feud with the BBC last December to present him personally with a lifetime achievement award. There will be only one Bobby Robson. We must enjoy him while we can, as we will certainly miss him when he is gone. It hasn't come as a shock but still it gets to you when you hear it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrBass 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sad news Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Kelly 404 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Massive shame, as that article says he truely is a legend of not just football but sport in general. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Gloom 2,942 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 :-( Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheMoog 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Gutted, I hope he enjoys what time he has left. A true legend, gentleman and inspiration to the last. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Besty 4 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 What a legend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stevie Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sad times hes not going to have time to see us win anything. As mentioned if Lady T deserves a state funeral I'm sure he does. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattM4 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Legendary Man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paddy 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Sad times hes not going to have time to see us win anything. As mentioned if Lady T deserves a state funeral I'm sure he does. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wavey Davey 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Aw, no. Brilliant man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Douggy B 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 I have never met anybody with a bad word to say about him. Top man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Flintoff 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Gutted. Always thought he was invincible. In fact I still think he is. Take care o'yasel Bobby lad, true legend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Happy Face 27 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Absolute legend. The suggestion of a state funeral is daft if you ask me though. He'll get a hero's send off anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alex Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 I think many of us have suspected this for some time now. What can you say about the bloke that hasn't already been said? One of the people that makes the game we love what it is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JonGoodwyn 1 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Has been coming for a while Fantastic man, and inspiration to us all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chaser 36 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Like has been said, you always know its going to happen but its still very sad news to hear it so bluntly. Obviously the papers have put a twist on things as Bob said sooner rather than later but he could yet fight on for another year or 18 months who knows. Itll be a very sad day for Football and the North East the day it does happen though Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 13 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Typical Bobby, brave and honest to the end. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayatollah Hermione 3,727 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Going to be a sad day when it happens. Real legend and an amazing bloke. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Craig 24 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 I think many of us have suspected this for some time now. What can you say about the bloke that hasn't already been said? One of the few people that makes the game we love what it is. FYP The worst news possible but sadly one we all knew was likely to come. State funeral is far-fetched, given the way we (or should we say Shepherd) dealt with his departure, his association with us is nowhere near as great and fairy-tale like as it was with Ipswich and indeed they're already considering renaming a stand after him. The true gent of football IMO who will be very, very, very sadly missed by anyone in the game. If the fuss made about him doesn't at least match the level that George Best's death got then something is sadly wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fop 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 It's what I hate most about cancer, not that it just kills you, or that it hangs like a sword of Damocles (and might finish you off at any second like a heart attack might), but that it's like said sword being slowly lowered inch by inch until it eventually finishes you. It says a lot about him that he can keep going in the face of that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Had he come here when KK left, we would have won something. I truly believe that. It'll be like losing a friend when Sir Berb dies. Ledge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 As has been said, pretty inevitable but still awful to hear. I'm sure he'll make the most of the time he has remaining. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deano 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Very sad indeed, great bloke, great personality and has been wonderful for the game....it will be a sad day! Theres only one bobby robson, one bobby robson!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fop 0 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Had he come here when KK left, we would have won something. I truly believe that. It'll be like losing a friend when Sir Berb dies. Ledge. Without a doubt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Asprilla 1 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Very sad news, one of a kind that fella. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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