Irish Baggie 𓅪

Daddy, husband & mad WBA season ticket holder living in beautiful Co Wexford, Ireland. Tries to run, keep fit and loves sandwiches...and Jam...and Tayto crisps

[FTBL_Planet @FTBL_Planet]

When Bobby Robson finished his last chemotherapy session in 2007, Dr Ruth Plummer pulled him to one side at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Bobby thought it was going to be about his health.

Instead, Ruth wanted to talk to him about something else.

Her department was too old.

There was a new Early Cancer Trials Unit being planned at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, three times bigger than what they already had, with a proper laboratory, modern equipment and room for clinical trials.

But there was one problem.

They did not have the money to kit it out.

So Ruth asked Bobby if he knew anybody who might help.

Bobby went home and spoke to his wife Elsie.

The next day, they started making calls.

Very quickly, what had started as a quiet conversation with Ruth had turned into a committee.

Then the idea came up.

Use Bobby’s name.

He was not comfortable with that at first.

He did not want a charity built around himself.

But the others told him it would open doors, and once Bobby agreed to it, there was no going halfway.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was born.

At the first meeting with the hospital, Don Robson got straight to the point.

How much money was needed to get started?

£500,000.

And Ruth needed it by the summer of 2008 because she wanted the facility running by October.

That was when Bobby knew what he had walked into.

“There could be no slowing down, no pulling out, no getting halfway down the road and turning back.”

The original plan had been simple enough.

Bobby would lend his name, act as a figurehead, and stay in the background.

It did not work out like that.

He went to the meetings.

He did the interviews.

He kept going even when he was not well.

Sometimes he would pull Ruth to one side and ask her:

“What have you bloody well got me into?”

But he never missed a single meeting.

The launch was held at the Copthorne Hotel.

By then, Bobby was fully in it.

“If I’m committed to something, then I’m committed.”

And then the money started coming in.

Within seven weeks, the first target had already been reached.

£560,000.

Then people started turning up at Bobby and Elsie’s house.

The first donation came from a woman carrying an envelope full of cash.

Her husband had recently died, and his final request had been that people at his funeral gave money to Bobby’s charity instead of buying flowers.

She handed over £271.74.

“What can you say to that?”

Then there was Johnny Bliss, a local singer with pancreatic cancer.

His doctors had told him he had months to live, but he still held a concert, sold CDs and raised around £10,000 for the Foundation.

Bobby met him at the Copthorne.

Johnny brought his family with him, and made the men wear their best suits and ties.

Bobby could see he was not well.

“I could have cried.”

And for all the football he had lived through, all the countries, all the clubs, all the games, this became his last big job.

“It’s not about beating Portsmouth any more.”

“It’s about beating death.”

As of today the Sir Bobby Robson foundation has raised over £27 million.
#football

[The Lower Tiers @LowerTiers]

EFL Clubs Who Have Won The Most Matches In Top Flight History 👏⬆️

[Ben Simmonds @BenSimm02]

#AlbionFamily #WBA hi everyone, im heartbroken to announce that my dad, Andrew Simmonds has passed away at the age of 45. He absolutely loved the Albion and the #AlbionFamily has lost a big part of its heart with his passing, any shares would be greatly appreciated thank you 💙🤍

[FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer]

Harry Kane heads it home ‼️

Just the slightest of touches to put England in front before the break 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[Second Tier podcast @secondtierpod]

Matheus Pereira in a West Brom shirt was unplayable 🇧🇷🤩

[Lewis Cox @LewisCox_star]

Very sad to see @JonnyDrury_Star depart Express & Star/Shropshire Star towers for pastures new today.
Been plenty of miles, 2am podcasts, too many shocking performances but a total pleasure and he will be missed by all here. Coming to an away end near you soon!!! boing boing lad

[Chris Richards 🇬🇧🐦‍⬛ @YamYamCockney]

@ThrostleArchive What a team

[David Beard @daddyrave14]

As he doesn't post on social media i couldn't let today pass without mentioning my B71 sidekick, Rob Lane, who celebrates his 3️⃣8️⃣ year's service at @WBA ...
🌱 ⚽️ 👍

Many congratulations.

#TheHawthorns

[David Beard @daddyrave14]

@WBA

Another one consigned to history ...
🌱 🚜

#TheHawthorns

[Kieran Maguire @KieranMaguire]

Yunyi Guokai Ltd, owned by former West Brom owner Guochan Lai, and Renhe Sports Management Ltd, owned by former Reading owner Dai Yongge, are both given strike off notices at Companies House. Looks like it’s for non compliance wirh company law issues.

[FootballAwaydays @Awaydays23]

ON THIS DAY 2005: West Brom completed the great escape after being bottom at Christmas then to survive relegation on the final day of the season

[Celtic Football Club @CelticFC]

CHAMPIONS AGAIN!

🏆 Celtic are crowned Champions of Scotland for the FIFTH season in a row!

Huge congratulations to Martin O’Neill and the Bhoys

#Champion5 | #CelticFC🍀🏆

[Jed Wallace @jedwallace12]

Thank you all 💙

[Kieran Maguire @KieranMaguire]

Took 112 days to charge the club
2 day hearing
16 hours for verdict
19 days to publish decision

No one from EFL gave evidence at the hearing.

3/4 people from West Brom.

[Second Tier podcast @secondtierpod]

On this day in 2007 🗓

West Brom beat Wolves 3-2 in the Play-off semi-finals! 🤩👀

[Adrian Goldberg @GoldbergRadio]

Really enjoyed writing my first book, so now I'm planning a second.

Confessions Of A Football Club Owner.

I'm buying a stake in as many fan-owned clubs as I can and telling their stories.

Here's a taste from my trip to @MotherwellFC @TheWellSociety

https://t.co/LeLIxAGRYD

[Adrian Goldberg @GoldbergRadio]

Readers seem to have enjoyed my write up of a trip to watch @MotherwellFC v Hearts...

My second book will be about the likes of @TheWellSociety and other fans who own their own clubs, so have a read, follow (for free) and support if you can.

https://t.co/zIom6h4UDk

[Celtic Football Club @CelticFC]

🚀 One for the ages...

#CELRAN | #CelticFC🍀

[Cats That Make You Go Awww @CuteAdorableCat]

I used to get nagged nonstop by my husband for buying two robot vacuums.
Now he’s gone and turned them straight into tanks 🙂

[WBAKitStats 𓅪 @WBAKitStats]

ALBION ICONS | #OTD

49 years ago today, a would-be electrician was signed from Hayes.

Little did we know at the time, but an Albion legend, trailblazer and true icon of the game had arrived.

There’s only one Cyrille Regis ❤️

#WBA