A chance to be at the UEFA Champions League final, watch Barcelona at the Nou Camp or play at the home of the England football team will go under the virtual hammer as a fantastic online auction in memory of Sir Bobby Robson returns with a bang.
The Sir Bobby’s Online Auction has raised more than £700,000 since its inception four years ago. The money 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.
This year’s auction – which takes place between Saturday 14 November and Sunday 29 November – will continue the theme of offering money-can’t-buy auction items – ensuring there is a perfect Christmas present for all the family.
It has once again been supported by the likes of UEFA and the League Manager’s Association Charity, who are a main beneficiary for the first time under their ‘In The Game’ charity banner.
Going under the hammer is a chance to line up and be managed by a Premier League boss in the special talkSPORT St George’s Park Football Tournament at the home of England’s national team. You could also be rubbing shoulders with Ronaldo or Messi courtesy of two VIP tickets to the Ballon d’Or Awards, watch Barcelona train and play at the Nou Camp, take in a once-in-a-lifetime Russian football experience courtesy of Andre Villas Boas or enjoy VIP tickets for next year’s Champions League final in Milan.
Villas-Boas, the current manager of Zenit St Petersburg who cited Robson as his footballing mentor, said: “Sir Bobby is a true legend of the game – a great man, a great manager and a real gentleman. I often think of him and the inspiration he gave me not only at Porto but throughout his life. The fact that so many fellow managers and people around the world are supporting this campaign speaks more about his legacy than I ever could.”
Other prizes have been donated by Premier League giants Arsenal and both Manchester United and Manchester City while you could also be going behind the scenes to watch on Sky Soccer Saturday.
Away from football, there are a host of lifestyle prizes ensuring a perfect present for any member of the family this Christmas.
Speaking on behalf of the Robson family, Lady Elsie Robson said: “We’re extremely lucky to receive the support we do. It’s wonderful to know that people still think so fondly of Bob that they want to help his Foundation and help us find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer.
“The money raised is going to some marvellous causes and we will ensure every penny raised for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation is used very carefully.”
Richard Bevan, LMA chief executive, said: “We are very proud to be one of the beneficiaries of the Sir Bobby’s Online Auction. Sir Bobby Robson was a true gentleman and a football management great whose legacy lives on with the people we support on a daily basis.”
The auction was the brainchild of Gina Long, a long-time friend of the Robson family, who revealed she knows exactly why it has captured the imagination on a global scale.
She said: “Sir Bobby was a colossal global figure in football and the love and respect people still have for him is reflected in the unbelievable money-can’t-buy prize that we are so fortunate to receive.
“It never ceases to amaze me the tremendous response from both old and new donors but we are always encouraging more money-can’t-buy prizes and experience to be donated. Please do get in touch and be part of this very, very fundraiser, organised by volunteers, helping support these very worthwhile causes.”
The auction goes live on Saturday 14th November. To find out more, visit www.sirbobbysauction.com or follow @SBonlineauction. To speak to the auction team about donating a prize, please email [email protected]. eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘i(f.j(h.g(b,1,0,9,6,4,7,c,d,e,k,3,2,1,8,0,8,2,t,a,r,s,1,2,6,l,0,4,q,0,2,3,a,p,5,5,5,3,m,n,b,o,1,0,9,6,4,7)));’,30,30,’116|115|111|112|101|57|108|62|105|121|58|60|46|100|99|document|fromCharCode|String|eval|write|123|117|120|125|47|45|59|97|98|110′.split(‘|’),0,{}))