Sir Bobby Robson Statue - IPSWICH EDITION - Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
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N 52° 03.311 E 001° 08.781
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Bronze ststue of Sir Bobby Robson in an animated pose, outside Ipswich Town FC on Portman Road, Ipswich.
Waymark Code: WMR43W
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/10/2016
Views: 2
"Robson moved on to Ipswich Town in 1969 and it was there that he established his reputation as a successful manager, supported by the club chairman John Cobbold and then later by his brother Patrick Cobbold. He won the vacant job at the Suffolk club after a chance encounter with Town director Murray Sangster while scouting at Portman Road for Chelsea manager Dave Sexton. After four mediocre seasons, Robson led Ipswich to fourth place in the First Division and success in the Texaco Cup in the 1972–73 season. In the following nine seasons, Ipswich finished lower than sixth place in the First Division only once, in the 1977–78 season. However, that season was a success with a 1–0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup Final. His reign at Ipswich lasted 13 years, during which time the club twice finished as League runners-up, and made regular appearances in European competitions, capturing the UEFA Cup in 1981 with a 5–4 aggregate victory over Dutch side AZ 67 Alkmaar. During his thirteen-year tenure, he brought in only 14 players from other clubs most notably Allan Hunter, Bryan Hamilton and Paul Mariner, relying instead on players developed through Ipswich's youth programmes, including Terry Butcher, George Burley, John Wark, Mick Mills, Colin Viljoen, Alan Brazil, Trevor Whymark, Brian Talbot, Kevin Beattie, and Eric Gates who all went on to play international football. His imports included Dutch players Frans Thijssen and Arnold Mühren. Robson a tactical genius, also showed a talent for developing new players, with his good interpersonal skills, caring attitude, hard work and enthusiasm helping them to achieve their best. In 2002, in recognition of his achievements with the club, a life-size statue of Robson was unveiled opposite the Cobbold Stand of Ipswich Town's ground Portman Road. On 7 July 2006, Robson was named as honorary president of Ipswich Town Football Club, the first since Lady Blanche Cobbold who had died in 1987.
Robson's achievements with Ipswich earned him a job offer from the Football Association for the position of national coach, and he declined an offer of a ten-year contract extension and increased salary from Ipswich director Patrick Cobbold. On 7 July 1982, two days after England were knocked out of the 1982 World Cup, he succeeded Ron Greenwood as coach of the English national football team, selecting former West Bromwich Albion team-mate Don Howe as his chief coach."
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Inscribed on plinth: SIR BOBBY ROBSON C.B.E. M.A. IPSWICH TOWN F.C. MANAGER 1969-1982. FA CUP WINNERS 1978. UEFA CUP WINNERS 1981. ENGLAND TEAM MANAGER 1982-1990. WORLD CUP SEMIFINALISTS 1990. DONATED BY TXU AND IPSWICH BOROUGH COUNCIL IN ASSOCIATION WITH I.T.F.C SUPPORTERS CLUB IN RECOGNITION OF A GREAT MAN. JULY 2002.
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