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Sir Bobby Robson

Sue Lawley's castaway is football manager Sir Bobby Robson.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is Sir Bobby Robson. Sir Bobby Robson is one of the most enduring and popular faces in football. For more than five decades he has dedicated his life to the game - as a player and manager. As a small boy growing up in a mining village in County Durham, he learnt his ball skills by playing football in the streets and backyard with his four brothers.

By the time he was 15, Bobby knew he had a particular gift and was attracting the attention of the local talent scouts. But, despite being offered a professional place by his home team of Newcastle, he decided to head south to Fulham, where he thought he'd have a greater chance to shine. He went on to play successfully for Fulham and West Bromwich Albion and earned twenty England caps before an ankle injury cut short his international career. He then managed Ipswich Town for 13 very successful years - leaving when he was offered the opportunity manage the England squad. After a successful career in Europe he returned to Britain in 1999 to manage Newcastle but was sacked early in the season. Despite health problems, he says he hasn't given up hope of finding another club to manage.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: It Was a Very Good Year by Robbie Williams and Frank Sinatra
Book: The works of historian John Keegan: The First World War & the Second World War collected into one volume by John Keegan
Luxury: Sun lounger with canopy to protect him from the sun

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 10 Dec 2004 09:00

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Robbie Williams & Frank Sinatra

      It Was a Very Good Year

      • Swing When You're Winning.
      • Chrysalis.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Nessun dorma

    Soloist: Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Pavarotti

    • You'll never walk alone.
    • Decca.
  • ABBA

    The Winner Takes It All

    • 25 Years of Rock and Roll.
    • Connoisseur Collection.
  • Chris de Burgh

    Lady In Red

    • Beautiful Dreams.
    • A & M Records.
  • Edward Elgar

    Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36: Variation IX "Nimrod"

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

    • Crush: the Soundtrack.
    • EMI.
  • Barry White

    Just The Way You Are

    • Barry White: the Collection.
    • Mercury.
  • Peggy Lee

    Is That All There Is?

    • The Capitol Years (The Best of Peggy Lee).
    • Capitol.
  • Louis Armstrong

    We Have All The Time In The World

    • That's Love - Simply the Best of Love.
    • EMI.
  • Book Choice

    • The works of historian John Keegan: The First World War & the Second World War collected into one volume - John Keegan

  • Luxury Choice

    • Sun lounger with canopy to protect him from the sun

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir Bobby Robson

Broadcasts

  • Sun 5 Dec 2004 11:15
  • Fri 10 Dec 2004 09:00

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