This morning we lost one of the good ones. Sir Bobby Robson died at around 6.30am, peacefully, at home, and surrounded by his family. Tributes from the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Alan Shearer say a lot more about the man than I can.

He has had a great innings, enjoying a remarkable 50-year career in football – as a player at Fulham and West Brom, and a manager at Vancouver Royals, Fulham, Ipswich Town, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, Newcastle United, and as national manager with England, and consultant with the Republic of Ireland.

As a Newcastle supporter, I knew him best for his time as Toon manager between 1999 and 2004. There were some great times, even if there were no trophies. And when his reign petered out, courtesy of a clueless generation of multi-millionaire players, it said more about the sad decline of the game than of the man himself.

A great raconteur, Sir Bobby’s regular after dinner speeches and football talk-ins were legendary – full of humour, honesty, and passion for the game he loved so much. He loved Newcastle United, too, and it must have hurt him so much to see his once-great club in its current reduced circumstances. His funny and moving Lifetime Achievement Award speech at the 2007 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards is well worth another watch.

Sir Bobby seemed to be a man who had time for anyone, and his selfless charity work after his multiple cancer battles will have long-lasting effects. Through the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, established to aid the detection and treatment of cancer in the North East of England, Sir Bobby has done something more important than anything he did in football – he has saved lives.

He was working right up until Sunday, turning up at a charity match to raise yet more money. “WOW!!!! What a fantastic reception I received,” he said in a message posted on his charity website. “It was one of the best nights of my life and I can’t believe how many people turned up to support me and my charity… Thank you all again from the bottom of my heart.”

RIP Sir Bobby, thanks for everything.

Make a donation to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation

Football

Brian Wilson
The Sage, Gateshead

In a world of rock and pop where the words “genius” and “legend” are thrown around with carefree abandon, here is a man who truly deserves to be called both.

Having survived drugs, mental illness and a rock dad who made Joe Jackson look like father-of-the-year material, for 67-year-old Brian Wilson to be on any stage, anywhere in the world, is something of a triumph.

Tonight he shuffles on at the Sage in a baggy beach shirt and white running shoes, perches slightly precariously on a stool behind his electric piano, and yells, “Hello Newcastle upon Tyne! I hope you enjoy the concert!” His ten-piece band assembles behind him and, after a sweet harmonising intro, launches into California Girls. And what a glorious sound. Paul McCartney reckons the musicians behind Brian are the best touring band in the world, and on this evidence it’s hard to argue with Fab Macca. To hear intricate teenage symphonies like Good Vibrations recreated live with such detail in this fantastic venue is simply stunning.

Brian seems happy and genial, even if some of the between-songs banter and skits induce a touch of deja vu. And when he sings, his voice fragile but unmistakable, it’s thrilling. To hear Brian Wilson sing God Only Knows feels like nothing less than a privilege.

The show lasts for two and a half hours, and the only grumble for my 50 quid is that there is not enough material from the Pet Sounds and Smile LPs in the set (no I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times or, my fave, Surf’s Up). The emphasis is on the upbeat, and there is little room for Brian’s more melancholic output. Not that the wedding dancers in the aisles care a jot. By the end of the show, everyone is on their feet, including Brian, leading his band through a finale of Surfin’ USA and Fun,Fun, Fun. Hats off to the band, and thank you to Brian. Won-won-won-wonderful.

Listen to my Beach Boys / Brian Wilson Spotify Playlist.
Listen to Brian’s latest album That Lucky Old Sun on Spotify.

Music