Sir Bobby And Wor Jackie Return Home!

Last updated : 26 April 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

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 ... Newcastle are to honour former manager Sir Bobby Robson by unveiling a new statue at St James' Park.

The nine-and-a-half-foot bronze sculpture will stand at the south-west corner of the stadium.

It will be unveiled before the Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, May 6 with Sir Bobby's widow, Lady Elsie, and her family in attendance.

The statue, sculpted by Tom Maley, has been commissioned by the club.

So Mike Ashley's idea to rename St James' Park may have got our hackles up ... but let's give the man credit for this.

Managing director Derek Llambias said: "We are delighted to be able to honour Sir Bobby Robson with this lasting tribute.

"He was a great man and ambassador for this football club and for the city.

"He achieved great success during his time as manager of Newcastle United and this statue is a fitting way for the club to remember him."

Lady Elsie will be joined by members of her husband's squad and staff, current boss Alan Pardew and his coaching team and representatives from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the charity he founded to raise money to fund cancer research.

Lady Elsie: "It's very fitting that there will be a tribute to Bob outside Newcastle United's ground. This is where his love of football began.

"As a boy, he would come here with his dad and he likely queued to get into the ground where the statue will be sited.

"My husband's career took him all over the world, but he was always a Newcastle fan at heart. He loved this club and was very proud to be its manager.

"I think the statue design is wonderful and I'm very grateful to Newcastle United for funding it."

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Milburn scored 200 competitive goals for the Magpies between 1946 and 1957 before being transfered to Linfield.

JET (John Edward Thompson), along with Alan Shearer, is possibly the greatest player Newcastle ever produced.

Born in Ashington he signed for Newcastle in 1943 and spent 12 years with the club. Capped 13 times for England, he won 3 FA Cup medals (1951, 1952 and 1955) scoring in every round in 1951.

Until recently held the record of the quickest ever Cup final goal, 45 seconds. Joined Linfield as player-manager and was voted Ulster Footballer Of The Year in 1958.

His Newcastle goalscoring record was beaten by Alan Shearer in 2006.

He died from lung cancer aged 64 on October 9, 1988.

The statue of Wor Jackie was paid for by Evening Chronicle readers more than 20 years ago, and is now standing proudly at the South East corner of the ground close to the Strawberry pub.

Chronicle readers raised £35,000 for the tribute which was sculpted by Susanna Robinson from North Yorkshire.

The statue originally went up in Northumberland Street before it was moved to St James' Boulevard.