Sir Bobby Robson speaking at the launch of the
My Newcastle Sir BoBBy roBSon
SBR Cancer Trails Research Centre in February
Newcastle -
My Kind of Toon
In an extract taken from Sir Bobby
Robson’s Newcastle - My Kind Of Toon,
Bobby talks candidly about his illness,
what football and the city of Newcastle
means to him, and the challenges of
setting up his charity, The Sir Bobby
Sir Bobby Robson
Newcastle - My Kind Of Toon
Robson Foundation. ExTRacT couRTESy oF HoddER aNd STougHToN
you’ve got a chance. If you don’t, it will only get worse.
I
f the North East made me, then the life I’ve lived
in football has certainly shaped the character I I’ve always been a fighter. Without that quality,
was given. It’s the nature of the beast that you you won’t get very far. After first being diagnosed
have to deal with disappointment, but that’s what with cancer during my spell at PSV Eindhoven, I
it is – it’s not adversity or disaster. Losing matches in went to FC Porto, when it happened again, far more
such a highly competitive, demanding environment seriously. This time it was a malignant melanoma
hurts like hell, but you learn that seven days later in my face. I needed an operation to take my teeth
you’ll have another game, another opportunity to out, cut through the roof of my mouth and make
win, to put smiles on people’s faces and to revel in sure everything was removed. Afterwards, I required
that fleeting sensation of pleasure and then to do it radiotherapy and, for the rest of my days, I’ll have
all again. Managers become men of steel, because to wear a rubber plug to fill the hole in my mouth.
you develop the ability to take a hit, get back up and Attached to false teeth, it has to be cleaned every time
fight again. If a boxer gets knocked down in the ring, I eat.
he can either stay on the ground or get up and throw Huw Davies, the consultant surgeon who looked
the next punch. Whatever faces you, face it. Come out after me so well and became a family friend, was quite
swinging. To survive, you have to do that. And when it blunt. ‘People who’ve had what you’ve had simply
comes to football, I’ve endured. don’t work again,’ he said. ‘It’ll take you six months
That process of getting over defeat, responding at least to get over this, so don’t even think about
to sadness or recovering from a blow has helped me coming back to work until after the New Year. But my
in my grimmer moments. I’ve had a great life, I really advice is to forget about employment, pull out, enjoy
have. When I look back on everything I’ve done and your retirement and spend the money you’ve earned.’
seen, the experiences I’ve had, the myriad colours and That was in August.
memories, I don’t feel as though I’ve ever been ill. I’ll Towards the end of that October, I was so miserable
puff out my chest and say to Elsie, ‘I’ve been fit all my that I rang the president of Porto. ‘I’m okay, I’m coming
life, I have.’ She’ll look at me as if I’m daft. ‘Bobby, what back,’ I said. After that I went to Sporting Lisbon,
are you talking about? You’ve had cancer five times.’ Barcelona, back to PSV for another season and then
She’s right of course, but it rarely interrupted my work to Newcastle for five years. Everybody is different, of
and never detracted from my enjoyment of living. If course, and I’m not saying that my way is the right
you’re 2–0 down at half-time, what do you do? You way, but by fighting cancer I’ve extended my career
look at where the game is going wrong and why, what and probably enjoyed the best part of my life. I could
you’re going to do about it, what you’ll change or never write off Ipswich or England, because I loved
which player you’ll replace. Deal with the problem and them both, but for variety and excitement, the curve
g
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