Football united in grief for Sir Bobby Robson

Alan Shearer, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson led the tributes to the miner’s son from Langley Park, County Durham, who finally lost his long battle with cancer, aged 76.

And donations were last night pouring in to the cancer charity he established in his beloved North-East to help the battle against in the disease.

In a statement released yesterday morning, Sir Bobby’s family said: “It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer.

“He died very peacefully this morning at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.”

Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined soccer fans across the country in mourning the loss of one of British sport’s great gentlemen, who came within a penalty kick of taking England to the 1990 World Cup final.

At St James’ Park, where the flags were lowered to half mast, Newcastle’s first team squad laid a wreath of lilies in the centre spot. Alan Shearer, Sir Bobby’s captain at Newcastle, led the tributes.

‘‘He was held in high regard across the world, not only for what he did in football, but for what he did in life,” he said.

‘‘He was a winner, a battler and a fighter and he fought until the very last.’’ Affection for Sir Bobby cut across traditional football rivalries.

At the Stadium of Light, flags were also flying at half mast and Sunderland players will sport black armbands in the game against Celtic later today.

Club chairman Niall Quinn said: “Like everyone in the football world, we at Sunderland were stopped in our tracks when we heard the devastating news of Sir Bobby’s passing this morning.

“Quite simply Sir Bobby Robson was Mr Football.”

The England side’s second most successful manager had been in failing health since being diagnosed with cancer for a fifth time two years ago.

Since then he used his rare blend of fame and immense popularity to raise more than £1.6m for research into early cancer diagnosis.

After a cancer trials centre opened five months ago in Newcastle, Sir Bobby hoped that would be his legacy.

Last night Liz Luff, spokeswoman for the Bobby Robson Foundation, said his death had prompted an avalanche of new donations.

Paul Gascoigne, whom Robson once described as ‘‘daft as a brush’’, said: ‘‘I’m speechless. I’m devastated. Bobby was like my second dad.

‘‘I can’t describe how much he meant to me. He gave me a chance to play in the World Cup. I can’t really talk that much because I just want to cry. I love him.”

Sir Bobby’s final public appearance was at an England v Germany match at St James’ Park on Sunday in front of 33,000 people, in aid of his charity.

There was high emotion when he was introduced to the players – some of whom would have guessed they would be seeing him for the last time.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: ‘‘I mourn the passing of a great friend, a wonderful individual, a tremendous football man and somebody with passion and knowledge of the game that was unsurpassed.’’ Jose Mourinho, who was Sir Bobby’s translator at Porto, said his mentor was a ‘‘great coach, but more than that, a great person’’.

Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper said: ‘‘We were in the canteen when we heard the news and the players were visibly moved. It was a privilege to know him. Everyone loved him and rightly so.”

Books of condolence were opened at Newcastle United and Ipswich Town, where he first tasted managerial success.

At St James’ Park, former employee James Paterson remembered: ‘‘I was a security guard at the training centre and it was hammering down with rain.

‘‘Bobby came up to me with a great big umbrella, put his arm around me and said ‘there you go son, that’ll keep you dry’, then walked back in, getting wet himself. He was a pure gentleman.’’ Sir Bobby leaves wife, Elsie, and three sons, Andrew, Paul and Mark.

A private funeral will be held, with a public memorial service later.

■ To donate to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation log on to sirbobbyrobson foundation.org.uk