Timeline of Sir Bobby's story

  1. Bobby Robson is born

    1933

    Bobby Robson is born in Sacriston, County Durham on the 18th February 1933.

  2. Early playing career begins

    1950-1956
    • Player, Langley Park Juniors
    • Player, Fulham
  3. Makes his mark

    1956-1962
    • Player, West Bromwich
    • Player, England, 20 caps, 4 goals
  4. Playing career comes to a close

    1962-1968
    • Player, Fulham (1962 to 1966)
    • Player, Vancouver Royals (1967 and 19868)
  5. Making the steps into management

    1965 - 1968
    • Becomes a staff coach for the FA
    • Manager, Fulham (1968)
  6. Ipswich Town era begins

    1969 - 1982
    • Manager, Ipswich Town
    • FA Cup winner (1978)
    • UEFA Cup winner (1981)
  7. Bobby becomes England manager

    1982-1990
    • Manager, England
    • Leads England to two world cups (1986 and 1990) and one European Championships (1988)
  8. Bobby goes international

    1990 - 1992
    • Manager, PSV Eindhoven
    • Dutch League Championship winner (90/91 and 91/92)
  9. Health battles begin

    1992-1996
    • Bobby is first diagnosed with cancer whilst managing PSV Eindhoven (1992)
    • Manager, Sporting Lisbon
    • Manager, Porto
    • Wins Portuguese Cup, Super Cup and League Championship with Porto
  10. Melanoma diagnosis and moving to Barcelona

    1995 - 1997
    • Diagnosed with a malignant melanoma whilst managing FC Porto (1995)
    • Manager, Barcelona (1996/1997)
    • Wins European Cup Winner’s Cup, Spanish Cup and Super Cup
  11. Returns to PSV Eindhoven

    1998
    • Manager, PSV Eindhoven
  12. Bobby comes home

    1999 - 2004
    • Manager, Newcastle United
  13. Arise Sir Bobby Robson

    2002
    • Knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List
  14. Honours galore

    2003 - 2008
    • Honorary Doctorate from Newcastle University (2003)
    • Honorary Freeman of the City of Newcastle (2005)
    •  BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
    • Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Ipswich (2008)
    • Honorary Freeman of the City of Durham (2008)
  15. Cancer returns and major surgery

    2006-2007
    • Cancer strikes again in Sir Bobby’s lungs (2006)
    • Tumour removed from his brain, leaving partial paralysis (2006)
    • Tumours return to Sir Bobby’s lungs (2007)
  16. Sir Bobby Robson Foundation is launched

    2008
    • Launches the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation on 25th March
  17. Legacy strengthened

    2009
    • Officially opens the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre within the Northern Centre for Cancer Care
    • Sir Bobby dies peacefully at home aged 76
  18. Works begin on the Sir Bobby Robson Institute

    2026
    • Works starts on building the Sir Bobby Robson Institute at the Freeman Hospital, a £30m building raised from funds given in Sir Bobby’s name
  19. Official opening of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute

    2028
    • Official opening of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute

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