Bobby Robson returns to Craven Cottage on Saturday, 33 years after telling
himself: "I'll never come back to this bloody place again."
The grand old man of English football was just 35 and nine months into
his first job in management when Fulham sacked him one November afternoon
in 1968.
The Newcastle manager recalled: "I was driving home over Putney Bridge
when I spotted the Evening Standard billboard," he recalled. "It
said: 'Fulham sack Robson.' I was white. I knew nothing about it. I couldn't
believe it. I'd only just left the ground. "I stopped the car and bought
the paper. I read that I'd been sacked. I didn't know what to do. I drove
home and said to my wife Elsie: 'What are we going to do?' We had three
children and a mortgage. Christmas was round the corner and I was suddenly
out of work.
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Bobby Robson Manager of Newcastle United
|
|
| |
|
|
"I rang the club. Everyone was embarrassed. They asked me to go in
the next morning to meet a guy called Eric Miller and discuss compensation.
Tommy Trinder was the chairman but the real boss was Miller, who later shot
himself. "When I met him I remember asking to keep the company car.
'You can't leave me without a car,' I said. I had a three-year contract
but they sacked me after nine months, three of which were in the close season.
Had they told me I'd be on trial for the first nine months, I wouldn't have
signed the contract.
"I remember walking into the middle of the pitch. I'd been at Fulham
for 12 years as a player. I was really angry and upset. I didn't break
down but there was a tear or two. I remember vowing that I'd never return
to the bloody place again."
Robson smiles at the memory now. In the ensuing decades, he's proved
Fulham wrong countless times, with Ipswich, England, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting
Lisbon, FC Porto, Barcelona and now, Newcastle.
He was the Fulham manager when Newcastle last played at Craven Cottage
in the top division. Embroiled in a fight for survival at the foot of
the table, the Fulham of Johnny Haynes, Les Barrett and Fred Callaghan
nonetheless beat Newcastle 2-0 in April 1968.
"They were bottom of the old First Division when they appointed me
manager and I couldn't save them," he recalled. "We started the
following season quite well and were eighth when they sacked me. It obviously
wasn't good enough for Mr Miller. "I've had no other experience in
football to equal that blow to my esteem as a young coach. When I finished
playing, I qualified as a coach with Don Howe and committed myself to that
path in life. Then they suddenly slammed the door in my face. I was worried
stiff.
"I remember going to the Labour Exchange to sign on the dole but I
was too embarrassed to go through with it. I'd promised the kids that we'd
have a TV for Christmas and I didn't want to disappoint them. "I went
to the Radio Rentals shop in Weybridge. The guy sat me down and we filled
out the form. 'Occupation he asked. I said I was unemployed. I could see
him thinking: 'How are we going to get our money?' I remember saying to
him: 'Trust me. Please.'"
The three young Robsons had their TV in place for Christmas and early
in 1969, Ipswich asked him to become manager at Portman Road. A year later
they were bottom of Division One but, with great foresight, offered him
an extension to his contract.
Today Robson is wealthy, famous and rightly regarded as something of a national
treasure. He will be 69 in February. "I can't give up football now,"
he grinned. "I've no desire to spend every Saturday afternoon in Tesco.
I have a 12 month, roll-on contract. Every day I've got 12 months to go.
Suits me nicely."