Wembley pays tribute to Sir Bobby

Wembley celebrates Sir Bobby Robson Day
Sir Bobby Robson scores at Wembley against France

Sir Bobby Robson, one of English football’s most loved personalities, passed away after a long battle with cancer five years ago. 

To mark the anniversary the FA has said today will be Sir Bobby Robson Day with tributes to the football legend being paid all over the country.

 
As a top-class player Bobby was a wing-half or inside-forward who could both create and score goals. He began with Fulham and was at West Bromwich Albion when he won the first of his 20 England caps in 1957.

It was a dream debut, Bobby scoring twice as France were beaten 4-0 in a Wembley friendly. He linked up superbly with Blackburn right-winger Bryan Douglas and it was a partnership that promised much with the World Cup in Sweden only a few months away.

 
Tommy Taylor gave England an early lead before Bobby made it 2-0 on 24 minutes, converting Douglas’s low cross with aplomb. He notched the fourth too on a grey November afternoon.

 
The England star had a disappointingly short spell as Fulham’s manager before commencing a glorious 13 years as Ipswich Town boss in 1969. The Suffolk side were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1975 before finally making it to Wembley three years later.

 
Bobby’s Final team included five full internationals but it was the little-known Roger Osborne who scored the goal that beat Arsenal. 

Bobby’s Ipswich were Champions in Europe in 1981, winning a two-legged UEFA Cup Final against AZ 67 Alkmaar from Holland. 

Bobby was appointed England manager the following year and enjoyed great success.

He qualified the Three Lions for two World Cups and a European Championships.

During the latter of those World Cups England produced their best ever tournament performance on foreign soil reaching the semi-finals of Italia 90.

When Sir Bobby’s England reign drew to a close his Wembley record read 20 wins from 34 matches.

After leaving the international scene Robson’s managerial career continued to flourish at home and abroad and he was back at Wembley again in 2000 as Newcastle boss for the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

After ending his managerial career then put his name and efforts into the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, a cancer research charity which has collected millions of pounds. 

The ultimate ‘Football Man’ was created a Knight Bachelor and inducted as a member of the English Football Hall of Fame.