This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/8266045.stm

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Football greats honour Sir Bobby Football greats honour Sir Bobby
(20 minutes later)
Some of the biggest names in football have paid their respects to former England manager Sir Bobby Robson at a service at Durham Cathedral.Some of the biggest names in football have paid their respects to former England manager Sir Bobby Robson at a service at Durham Cathedral.
Sir Bobby died on 31 July aged 76 following a long battle against cancer.Sir Bobby died on 31 July aged 76 following a long battle against cancer.
The service was live on TV and was also beamed to thousands at Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground and St James' Park in Newcastle. The service was live on TV and was also beamed to thousands in Ipswich town centre and at St James' Park in Newcastle.
Gary Lineker said Sir Bobby was "gentlemanly, dignified and diplomatic, he never let his country down."Gary Lineker said Sir Bobby was "gentlemanly, dignified and diplomatic, he never let his country down."
In his tribute, the former England striker said: "Bobby was not just a brilliant leader of men that brought the absolute best out of his players, but he was without question the single most enthusiastic and passionate man in football.In his tribute, the former England striker said: "Bobby was not just a brilliant leader of men that brought the absolute best out of his players, but he was without question the single most enthusiastic and passionate man in football.
Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker were key players in Sir Bobby's 1990 team Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker were stars of Sir Bobby's 1990 team class="" href="/sport2/hi/football/8267396.stm">Robson service in photos
"He made you feel good about yourself and good about the game."He made you feel good about yourself and good about the game.
"He loved the game and the game loved him. He was a lion of a man, no, make that three lions.""He loved the game and the game loved him. He was a lion of a man, no, make that three lions."
Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on Sir Bobby's grace in defeat after his Aberdeen team had knocked Ipswich Town out of the Uefa cup and said it had been a privilege to have met him.Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on Sir Bobby's grace in defeat after his Aberdeen team had knocked Ipswich Town out of the Uefa cup and said it had been a privilege to have met him.
He said: "What made him so special was that he influenced people who had never met him.He said: "What made him so special was that he influenced people who had never met him.
"They admired his courage, his dignity and his enthusiasm."They admired his courage, his dignity and his enthusiasm.
"It's been one of the privileges of my life to have met him and to be enthused by him, he influenced me then and he would always influence me.""It's been one of the privileges of my life to have met him and to be enthused by him, he influenced me then and he would always influence me."
Former Fulham player Tom Wilson recalled Sir Bobby's early playing days and his love for North East England.Former Fulham player Tom Wilson recalled Sir Bobby's early playing days and his love for North East England.
He said: "Friends have said to me you should never finish a eulogy with a cliche such a 'we'll never see his like again'... but we won't."
Cancer specialist Dr Ruth Plummer spoke about the foundation set up in Sir Bobby's name, which has so far raised £1.8m.
Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins sang at the service, also attended by former players including Paul Gascoigne, Terry Butcher, Alan Shearer, Bryan Robson, David Seaman and Stuart Pearce.
Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello, who all managed England after Sir Bobby, are also there.
From Fiona Trott, BBC correspondent in Durham.From Fiona Trott, BBC correspondent in Durham.
As people took their seats inside Durham Cathedral the rain came down outside.As people took their seats inside Durham Cathedral the rain came down outside.
It's making it a sombre day but Alan Shearer says Sir Bobby would have wanted this to be a happy occasion, a chance for people to get together and share their memories, and no doubt they will. It made it a sombre day but Alan Shearer says Sir Bobby would have wanted this to be a happy occasion, a chance for people to get together and share their memories.
Members of the 1990 World Cup squad, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker are here, as well as football legends Bobby and Jack Charlton.Members of the 1990 World Cup squad, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker are here, as well as football legends Bobby and Jack Charlton.
It took over an hour for all these footballing greats to arrive and the streets leading up to the cathedral are cordoned off. It took over an hour for all these footballing greats to arrive and the streets leading up to the cathedral were cordoned off.
Some onlookers say they're disappointed they can't get closer.Some onlookers say they're disappointed they can't get closer.
But if all the fans were invited this cathedral would be filled five times over. But that's the effect Sir Bobby had on people.But if all the fans were invited this cathedral would be filled five times over. But that's the effect Sir Bobby had on people.
Other well-known figures paying their respects amongst the 1,000-strong congregation were Bobby and Jack Charlton, Sam Allardyce, Mick McCarthy and TV presenters Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. He said: "Friends have said to me you should never finish a eulogy with a cliche such a 'we'll never see his like again'... but we won't."
The service closed with Tenors Unlimited singing Nessun dorma, the opera aria which became a theme tune for England's World Cup campaign during Italia 90. Cancer specialist Dr Ruth Plummer spoke about the foundation set up in Sir Bobby's name, which has so far raised £1.8m.
Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins sang at the service, also attended by former players including Paul Gascoigne, Terry Butcher, Alan Shearer, Bryan Robson, David Seaman and Stuart Pearce.
Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello, who all managed England after Sir Bobby, were also there.
Other well-known figures paying their respects among the 1,000-strong congregation were Bobby and Jack Charlton, Sam Allardyce, Mick McCarthy and TV presenters Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.
The service closed with Tenors Unlimited singing Nessun Dorma, the opera aria which was the BBC theme tune for Italia 90 and became synonymous with the England team's World Cup campaign.
Sir Bobby managed England from 1982 to 1990, taking the national side to the quarter finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and reaching the semi-finals four years later.Sir Bobby managed England from 1982 to 1990, taking the national side to the quarter finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and reaching the semi-finals four years later.
Many former England greats attended the ceremony
Before that he had led Ipswich Town to FA Cup and Uefa Cup success.Before that he had led Ipswich Town to FA Cup and Uefa Cup success.
Following his time with England he had spells in charge of PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona, before returning to manage Newcastle United.Following his time with England he had spells in charge of PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona, before returning to manage Newcastle United.
He won the Dutch and Portuguese league titles and the European Cup Winners' Cup. His final coaching role was as an assistant to Steve Staunton with the Republic of Ireland.
Current Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is also at Durham Cathedral. Sir Bobby won the Dutch and Portuguese league titles and the European Cup Winners' Cup with Barcelona.
The invitation-only event began at 1400 BST. Current Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola was also at Durham Cathedral for the invitation-only event.