A FOOTBALL club that was saved from financial ruin by the late Sir Bobby Robson has raised more than £1,000 for his cancer charity.

Tow Law Town’s Ironworks Road ground in Tow Law, County Durham, was bathed in sunshine for a special charity match to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

The football legend’s widow, Lady Elsie Robson, became president of the club last year and watched with pride as Northern League players, past and present, battled it out for the President’s Cup.

The closely fought match, which raised £1,090 for the charity, finished two-two and was settled on penalties.

Tow Law Town credits Sir Bobby with saving the club from financial ruin in 2001 as gate receipts plummeted during the Foot and Mouth crisis.

The then Newcastle United manager helped with several fundraising events that helped keep the club afloat.

Lady Elsie said: “I’m proud to be President of this football club. They’ve done so much to support the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the people here are so sincere and friendly.

“We’re grateful to everyone who helped organise this event and to everyone who contributed.”

Sir Bobby, who died in 2009, launched his Foundation in 2008 to help find effective ways to detect and treat cancer.

*THURSDAY has been declared Sir Bobby Robson Day to mark the fifth anniversary of his death, and the Football Association is organising a day of grassroots events.

The Northern Echo will be printing readers’ tributes to Sir Bobby in Thursday's paper. Leave your tributes at northernecho.co.uk/bobbyrobson or tweet us using hashtag #echobobbyrobson