FA honours Sir Bobby Robson

Sir Robert William Robson, famously known as ‘Bobby Robson’, is set to be commemorated with a National Football Day named in his honour. The event will mark the Football Association’s 150th anniversary celebrations and will be held on 10 August, which will be called ‘Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day’. This will coincide with the start of the 2013-14 season, four days before England play Scotland at the New Wembley.

Reports also suggest that Sir Robson’s widow, Elsie is expected to be around along with his family, and the FA intends to involve around 150 different clubs from all levels, with the idea being to promote grass-roots football.

A young Robson started his senior career at Craven Cottage before taking up his first managerial duty at the same team. A short spell at Fulham gave him the boost to achieve what would been an incredible career as a football manager.

Robson crafted his spell at Ipswich Town in such a manner that he needed to buy only fourteen players from other clubs in his thirteen remarkable years at the helm. He believed in Ipswich’s youth programmes and was known to bring the best out of his home grown players through sheer tactical genius, with his good interpersonal skills, caring attitude, hard work and enthusiasm helping them to achieve their best.

This was also the reason why he was the front runner to take over as the manger of Three Lions after their dismal performance at the 1982 World Cup. Ron Greenwood was eventually replaced by Robson, and he managed the English side in the next two main events, taking England the closest to a World Cup triumph in years, with a penalty shootout semi-final loss to West Germany at the 1990 World Cup.

Also known to have influenced the likes of Jose Mourinho and Andre Villa Boas, Robson was instrumental in many programmes involving degrees in coaching and managing a football team. It was under Robson that Mourinho realised his abilities to manage a side and forged a dream to move to England.

After delivering league and Cup success at PSV Eindhoven, Porto and Barcalona, Robson moved back to England with Newcastle United before hanging up his boots in August, 2004. His services were honoured at St James’ Park and Portman Road by putting up his statue, a memory in the name of his footballing achievements and goodwill towards the game.