Newcastle United are to honour former manager Sir Bobby Robson with a statue at St James' Park that will be unveiled on 6th May.
Statue of former manager to provide lasting tribute
Newcastle United are to honour former manager Sir Bobby Robson with a statue at St James' Park that will be unveiled on 6th May.
The nine-and-a-half-foot bronze sculpture will stand at the south-west corner of the stadium and will be seen for the first time ahead of Newcastle's match against Manchester City a week on Sunday.
Sir Bobby's widow, Lady Elsie, and her family will be in attendance on what promises to be a special day for the club.
The statue, sculpted by Tom Maley, has been commissioned by Newcastle to celebrate the former England manager's five-year reign, which saw the Magpies finish fourth, third and fifth in successive seasons and reach the second group stage of the UEFA Champions League and the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.
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."
Fitting
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 said: "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."
