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East Anglian Daily Times Thursday, October 6, 2011 www.eadt.co.uk 51
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Swann backing for Sir Bobby
By Nick Garnham
ONE of the world’s leading cricketers
has added his backing to a
charity auction and ball being
organised in memory of Sir
Bobby Robson.
England off- spinner Graeme
Swann, a lifelong Newcastle
United fan, had no hesitation in
supporting the events after he
was approached to do so.
Swann met ex-Ipswich Town
boss Robson, who hailed from
the north east and was manager
of Newcastle United towards the
end of his illustrious career in
football, shortly before he died in
July 2009 following a long battle
with cancer.
Currently the No.1 ranked spin
bowler in the world, Swann is
the latest high-profile personality
to donate towards the auction
prizes, with support coming
from David Beckham, Sir Alex
Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and
Arsene Wenger among others.
Swann will be donating a pair
of tickets, with VIP hospitality,
for the Friday and Saturday of
the First Test between England
and West Indies at Lord’s next
summer. He will also be donating
a signed England shirt which
he will get autographed by the
England team that plays in the
match.
The ball and auction aim to
raise £250,000 for the Sir Bobby
Robson Foundation and cancer
charity Suffolk Breakthrough.
Swann said he had heard
about the Foundation, but didn’t
know too much about it until
he received an email from Gina
Long, the founder of the auction
and ball, which is set to be the
biggest charity night ever in
Suffolk.
Although he was born in
Northampton, Swann’s family are
from Blyth in the north east and
are proud Geordies.
The 32-year-old, who has played
more than 100 times for his
country, said: “She had heard I
was a Newcastle fan and would I
consider helping out. Sir Bobby
Robson is an absolute legend,
so I was more than
happy to do so.
“Anyone
who saw the
television
programme
he did with
Gary Lineker,
when Sir
Bobby took
him behindthe-scenes
at
Newcastle United,
and also reading
his book which talks
about his pride in the
North East could see
the passion and pride
he had.
“He was one of the
nicest blokes going. Sir
Bobby was so dignified
and humble. He had great
qualities which so many
people lack not just in
football but in other walks
of life.
“I only met him
once, which sadly was
just before he passed
away, when Newcastle played
Middlesbrough and both teams
were trying to cling on to their
Premier League status.
“He was sat in the directors’
box a couple of places along from
me and it was a thrill for me to
meet him, although it was sad to
see one of your heroes in such a
frail state as he was by then.”
Even though Sir Bobby was a
big cricket fan and used to follow
the fortunes of the England team,
Swann said: “We spoke more
about Newcastle than anything
else and whether they could stay
up or not and we both came to the
same conclusion that we could.”
Although Newcastle beat
Middlesbrough 3-1 that night,
defeat at home to Fulham followed
by another loss, this time at
Aston Villa on the final day of the
season, saw Newcastle’s 16-year
stay in the top flight come to an
end.
More than 120 prizes have been
donated for the auction which
goes live online on Saturday, and
is being followed in more than 70
countries. The glittering fund
raising ball is taking
place at the Apex
in Bury St
Edmunds on
Thursday,
October 20.
For more
information
and to see the
prizes on offer go
to www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com
and follow
on twitter http://twitter.
com/sirbobbyauction
FgFgF: england’s twenty 20
captain graeme swann
Photo: PA
SPORT
Swann recalls
Minor Counties
debut in Ipswich
GRAEME Swann was quick to respond
when asked if he could remember his
Minor Counties Championship debut.
The England off spinner took some
of his first steps on the road to stardom
when he made his bow for Bedfordshire
against Suffolk at Ransomes Sports
Ground in Ipswich in June 1996.
“I do - I am blessed with a good memory
for cricket matches. It was against
Suffolk at Ransomes and we clung on for
a draw in the end.
“Suffolk had a good left-arm spinner
and it was a turning wicket. I got 20 or
30 in our second innings.”
The left-arm spinner in question was
ex-Essex spinner Andrew Golding, who
took six for 75 including the wicket of
Swann, batting at No.9, after he had
made 34 from 51 balls.
Swann neither batted nor bowled on
the first day of the two-day match, but
took three wickets in Suffolk’s second
innings - including former England
batsman Derek Randall - before Suffolk
declared, setting Bedfordshire 339 to
win in 67 overs. The visitors ended on
233 for nine.
Swann chuckled as he remembered
an incident in the match involving
Gary Stanford, the Bedfordshire
wicketkeeper.
“He stood up to one of our seamers,
who hit him on the head!”
Swann’s father, Ray, used to open the
batting for Bedfordshire, but they never
played together in the same side.
“Although he never played with me he
did play in the same side as my brother.
But by the time it came to my turn it was
a bridge too far for him,” said Swann.