Sunday Sun campaign for Sir Bobby memorial

Aug 2 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

THE Sunday Sun is today launching a call for a permanent memorial to be made in honour of the legendary Sir Bobby Robson.

The former Newcastle United, Ipswich and England manager was surrounded by his family in his Durham home when he passed away on Friday, just days after his fundraising game at St James’s Park.

As tributes to Sir Bobby poured in from royalty, the nation’s leaders and friends and former players from the world of football, a rallying call was also sounding for a memorial to be created to pay homage to the great man.

While saddened Toon fans laid flowers, gifts, teddies and other tributes at St James’s, many were backing calls for a stand at the Magpies’ home ground to be named after him.

Others suggested a statue should be erected elsewhere in the city, to recognise the great contribution Sir Bobby made to football, charities, and the region as a whole.

Steve Wraith, a season ticket holder and editor of fanzine Players Inc said: “As a footballing community, we hold a torch up to someone who achieved so much for football.

“Supporters should lead the call for a stand to be named at St James’s after him.

“I know of a level at the Copthorne Hotel which is already named after him, and that’s a nice gesture, but we need something which is a lot more visible.

“There’s a statue of him in Ipswich, so I think there should be a statue of him here, and we should lobby Newcastle City Council to get that done.

“He was a great ambassador for the region. If the council can pay out money for public art to be put up around the city – like the horrendous blue carpet they put outside a nightclub – they can pay for a statue of Sir Bobby, which will actually mean something to people.”