Tears and cheers from Newcastle supporters (From The Northern Echo)
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Two vast screens at St James’ Park relayed live footage of the memorial service at Durham Cathedral
8:46am Tuesday 22nd September 2009 in News
THERE were tears and cheers at St James’ Park as thousands of Geordies said goodbye to one of their own.
Most of the Leazes End was filled with fans who came to pay tribute to the man “who bled black and white”.
On Saturday, the same stands reverberated to the sound of 42,000 fans at the Plymouth Argyle game singing “There’s Only One Bobby Robson”.
Yesterday was a more sombre affair, but there was no doubting the sentiment was the same.
Two vast screens at the pitchside relayed live footage of the memorial service at Durham Cathedral.
Even the stewards wiped away tears as they witnessed a host of footballing royalty pay tribute to the former Newcastle United boss.
The memorial service took place ten years after Sir Bobby’s first home game in charge of the Magpies – an 8-0 rout of Sheffield Wednesday.
In the following five years he spent at the helm of the club, St James’ Park witnessed a succession of memorable matches.
The fans at the ground yesterday had not forgotten those moments.
Nor had they forgotten the humble character of the County Durham miner’s son who always remembered his roots.
Norman and Jean Moore had travelled from Burnopfield, in County Durham, to pay their respects.
Mrs Moore, 72, said: “He was just one of the people – he was one of us.
“His dad was a miner and he started as a miner and my dad was a miner.
“Everybody just relates themselves to him.”
Mr Moore added: “We just wanted to pay our respects to the best manager Newcastle ever had – and England.”
As the service ended, the Durham cathedral organ played the Local Hero (Going Home) theme – the music that plays when Newcastle United run out onto the pitch.
Nothing could have been more appropriate.
A spontaneous round of applause and cheers erupted from the Leazes End as loud as any goal celebration.
Goodbye Sir Bobby.
