DOCUMENTS released in the wake of the Hillsborough police cover-up suggest officers tried to use Sir Bobby Robson ’s match day testimony to blame Liverpool fans for the disaster.

The former Magpies boss, in his capacity as England manager at the time, was at the 1989 FA cup semi-final when 96 fans were crushed to death.

It has been revealed that unnamed officers went over Sir Bobby’s witness statement in an attempt to find evidence of Liverpool fans misbehaving.

But earlier this month it emerged that fans were not to blame and there had been a cover-up to mask police failings.

Papers kept secret for 23 years have shown that high-level police officers interviewed Sir Bobby following his appearance at the match, and highlighted anything he said that supported the misguided theory that drunken fans caused the crush.

Former solicitor general Vera Baird hit out at what looks like an attempt to drag Sir Bobby into a police cover-up.

The former Redcar MP is seeking to be the first elected police commissioner for Northumbria and has already called for resignations over some of the actions of senior South Yorkshire officers.

She said: “The Hillsborough panel found that 116 statements were doctored to remove criticisms of South Yorkshire Police, yet every criticism of the fans was left in.

“Some of the removals changed the facts as well, and many were done without the consent of the writer. It looks to me as if they were teeing up Bobby’s statement to be used in the same way.

“He would have been appalled, as a great friend to the fans, and would have been horrified to be seen as a pawn to be used against them.”

Trevor Hicks, the chairman of Hillsborough families support group, said the revelations were typical of how the police “twisted” evidence.

Mr Hicks, who lost both of his daughters in the disaster, said: “Unfortunately, it is hardly surprising to see this. We have come across far worse, but this just shows what was going on.

“I liked Bobby. My stepson is a Newcastle United supporter and Bobby Robson was one of those people who cut across club loyalty and was liked by many.

“But we saw that officers changed their evidence and removed bits that did not support their criticism of the fans.”