Rooney Donates Items To Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
Proud Wayne Rooney delighted to donate to Sir Bobby Robson auction in support of the man who once tried to sign him England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has spoken of his honour in supporting the Sir Bobby Robson online auction – while revealing the legendary manager once tried to sign him. The country’s greatest goalscoring has used his record-breaking achievement of scoring 50 times for England to support the online auction which raises money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and other national and local charities. The auction – which has attracted 140 items from the world of sport, celebrity and lifestyle – runs until Sunday 29 November with Rooney joining the likes of Jose Mourinho, Theo Walcott and his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, in backing the global fundraiser. Rooney revealed that he was a “keen historian” of his country’s footballing history and that he was proud to support the auction by donating a commemorative England shirt marking his achievement as the Three Lions’ greatest goalscorer – one of only 50 made. The England captain said:
"Sir Bobby Robson was a football man to the core and someone who once tried to sign me for Newcastle. I only played against his teams on a few occasions. But as the England captain and a keen historian of the England team, I am aware of his impact as manager and as the most successful national team manager since Sir Alf Ramsey. I can remember vividly, even though I was only a small boy, the effect he had on the team during the World Cup in Italy 1990 when we came so close to making the final. It is a huge honour for me to captain the England national team and a matter of great pride that I have managed to become the country's current record goalscorer. I can think of no cause more relevant than Sir Bobby’s Auction and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to receive one of only 50 special commemorative England shirts to mark the achievement.” The winning bidder can also have a special dedication written on the shirt by Rooney, who breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s 45-year goalscoring record in September. Rooney’s support of the Sir Bobby Robson Online Auction has seen him team up with his former Manchester United manager with Sir Alex Ferguson donating a rare tribute to his most famous night in football. Sir Alex Ferguson, who himself described Sir Bobby as an inspiration, has donated an incredible sketchbook drawn by Salford artist Harold Riley chronicling Manchester United’s dramatic comeback to lift the Champions League trophy in 1999. Speaking on behalf of the Robson family, Mark Robson said:
“I know Dad would have loved to have had Wayne Rooney in one of his England teams. He adored Paul Gascoigne and his genius skills and Wayne is in that bracket. It is great to hear Italia 90 has inspired a generation, including Wayne’s record-breaking achievements. Even after he moved on from the national team, Dad never missed an England game at Wembley and he would have been thrilled to bits to have seen Wayne’s 50th goal.” Of his Dad’s friendship with Sir Alex Ferguson, Mark added:
“Both Dad and Sir Alex Ferguson’s longetivity in management brought them closer together – there was a huge amount of respect. It started when Ipswich and Aberdeen were doing well in the UEFA Cup and they then reconnected their friendship when Dad went to Newcastle.” The internationally-renowned auction has seen household names from the world of sport and beyond donate priceless pieces of sporting memorabilia, which was led by Jose Mourinho giving his ‘FIFA Ballon d’Or Coach of the Year Trophy, in lending their support to the Sir Bobby’s Online Auction. Money-can’t-buy experiences have been donated by Barcelona, Fifa, UEFA while your own football team could be playing at St George’s Park, the home of the England football team, in the Sir Bobby’s LMA football tournament. A chance to take your place in the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Classic, on the sidelines at a NFL International Series game or be a VIP at the final of the World Snooker Championships or World Darts Championships, to The FA and The PFA giving incredible prizes in some of the 150 star lots going under the virtual hammer. The money raised from the annual auction has directly helped the fight against cancer, most notably by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation which the football legend set up in 2008 to support cancer projects and international research into the disease. Other beneficiaries from this year are the In The Game – League Manager’s Association Charity, the GeeWizz charitable foundation and West Suffolk Hospital Charity. To view the auction, register and place your bid, visit www.sirbobbysauction.com