Sir Bobby unites Blair and Brown

Jul 26 2009 by Paul Loraine, Sunday Sun

PRIME Ministers past and present have sent messages of support for Sir Bobby Robson ahead of his fundraising match at St James’s Park tonight.

Players from Sir Bobby’s World Cup squad of Italia ’90 are to line up against players from the German side which knocked them out of the tournament on penalties.

The match is set to raise thousands for Sir Bobby’s cancer charity - The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation - with the former England and Newcastle boss battling the disease for the fifth time.

Football stars including Gazza, Chris Waddle and Peter Beardsley are all turning out for the cause as well as more recent England and Newcastle heroes Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand.

Before the game starts, UEFA are going to present Sir Bobby with a UEFA lifetime order of merit award and there will be a performance of Nessun Dorma from three tenors to put everyone in the World Cup mood.

Following news of Sir Bobby’s award, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair added their names to the ever-increasing list of well wishers ahead of the encounter.

In a letter to the event’s organisers, Gordon Brown wrote: “It gives me the greatest of pleasure to offer my congratulations to Sir Bobby on receiving this well-deserved UEFA merit award.

“I would like to send my warmest best wishes to all of those taking part in what is sure to be a wonderful and memorable occasion. It can only act as an inspiration for future generations in celebrating the tremendous contribution that Sir Bobby has made over many years to football, both in England and Europe, and I’m sure this occasion will live long in the memory.”