Arise Sir Bobby.....

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See below from Soccernet - agree with the general sentiments, but who among us was calling for his head in the close season???? I can't stand Jeff Powell, he's a disgrace......

The City slickers, with their share portfolios tucked under the arm of their sharp suits, wanted Newcastle United to pension off dear old Bobby Robson before the start of this season. The forces of ageism, empowered as they are by trendy New Labour, were knocking on his door at the Ovaltine hour and trying to lead him out to pasture.

And, yes, many among the younger and more restless foot-soldiers in the Toon Army were agitating for him to be taken to the knacker's yard and a young stallion of a manager brought in.

Shame on them all. The directors at St James' Park hesitated, if only because they had seen so many clubs make a knee-jerk change for the worse and were very unsure as to whom on Planet Football they could safely hand over the reins.

Lucky them. Lo and behold, it is Newcastle who are up there giving that other United the most thrilling run for all their Premiership millions.

Win their game in hand and they will be a point ahead of the Manchester Reds. And if it does go to the wire, Sir Alex Ferguson can forget the mind games which so unnerved Kevin Keegan the last time Newcastle were in a title-winning position. Not that he would insult this particular opponent by trying it on. There is too much mutual respect.

Not only is Robson his elder, but Newcastle's challenge is being driven by the old-fashioned football virtues which Ferguson himself prizes so highly.

What the doubters forgot in all their prejudice against a pensioner in a young man's game is that Robson is neither a slave to fashion nor motivated by money, not even the grey economy.

The reason he is still doing this at 67 - when even Ferguson keeps announcing his retirement at 60 - is that he loves the game.

Plain, simple and pure as that. The enthusiasm for football is still unquenchable after all these years. The zest for life after cancer blazes on. The man's dignity stands as a beacon for high standards at a time when the greedy, the mad and the ugly are disgracing the game.

If decency counts for anything at all, it is time for Sir Bobby to arise.

Even at this jangling moment in what he insists will be his last Premiership season, Sir Alex would be first to agree.

While he has not won as much as Ferguson, no-one has done more for British football than Robson.

An elegant playing career as an England wing half was followed by the fairy-tale at Ipswich and then his country's call for a return to arms as manager.

In defiance of one of the most shameful and vindictive media witch-hunts - not guilty, this column - he inspired England's finest World Cup moments since the glorious summer of '66.

The Hand of God quarter-final against Argentina and the semi-final battle all the way to penalties against West Germany put to embarrassment the newspaper hack whose cronies shoved him in front of the TV cameras at one England match to proudly announce: 'I'm here to bury Bobby.'

It took an extraordinary human being to bear no grudge, one who continued to conduct himself as a worthy ambassador for Britain abroad while winning club championships in Holland and Portugal.

He works on with undiminished gusto, a Geordie boy returned to his roots in the hope of bringing some deserved reward to a people who share his passion for the old game.

Newcastle is Robson's spiritual home but here is living proof that if you're good enough, you're still young enough.

Not only that, but he is striking a blow for over-60s everywhere, men and women whose wealth of knowledge and accumulated wisdom are being discarded all too readily in all walks of working life.

Youth alone is no substitute for experience.

Robson also has that other great gift, a wife who understands him. The wonderful Elsie would not dream of telling him to retire.

Settle for the couch in front of the telly? He should cocoa.

Not while Grandad's Army is marching to the refreshing drum-beat of his own unflagging optimism and uplifting exuberance .

Not only that, but to whom do we suppose England would turn to plug the emergency should Sven Goran Eriksson, heaven forbid, fall ill or fall prey to that other United prior to Japan this summer?

Bobby Robson's OBE is not enough. Give him his knighthood, while he's still young enough to enjoy it.



-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Answers

Ageing Perfectly

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2002

Couldnt agree more , and after reading about his cancers in his biog , I feel even more for the man. IF this happens this season , IF the unthinkable happens I have no doubt that the honours list will spell his name. But I agree he should be given it now, Im afraid even at the age of 28 I have a new hero ... move aside King Kev the real messiah has arrived.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002

You 28, Sting? F**k me, I thought you were older :-)

As for the 'younger and more restless foot-soldiers in the Toon Army...agitating for him to be taken to the knacker's yard", why let the facts get in the way of good copy?

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002


I don't recall any movement to get rid of Bobby.......but you must all remember the pre-season pessimism.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002

Aye, but that was surely more to do with an apparent lack of movement in the transfer market than YBR's leadership.

-- Anonymous, February 05, 2002


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