I know he had no a sociation with Birmingham City as such, but Sir Bobby Robsons pa sing was a real shame for all football fans.Gentleman: Sir Bobby RobsonAs a man of a certain age I can remember Sir Bobby as manager of a little club in East Anglia in the seventies, who played excellent football and scored great goals. Players of the ilk of Frans Thij sen, Arnold Muhren, Kevin Beattie, Eric Gates, John Wark, Alan Brazil, Tony Gonzalez Jersey Paul Mariner, Paul Cooper, Ru sell Osman, Mick Mills, etc, helped Robson turn Ipswich Town into near title winners.They won theFACup in 1978, were league runners-up in 1981 and 1982 and won the Uefa Cup in 1981. It was some achievement for a modest football club but one completed in some style. It was the way Ipswich played that marked them out. They played with style and pa sion and a positive attitude.It was this that convinced the FA to appoint Bobby Robson as succe sor toEngland manager Ron Greenwoodin 1982. After Englands dismal showing in Spains World Cup of the same year, the public were crying out for someone to emulate Sir Alf Ramseys fearle sLions of 1966.Ironically Ramseyalso Devon Key Jersey cut his managerial teeth as manager ofIpswich Town in the 1960s, taking them to the league title in 1962. Robson though had also been an international player of some note, earning 20 caps as an inside forward.After the bland years of Greenwood, Robson was a fresh wind through FA headquarters in Lancaster Gate. This was not a yes man. Robson was a football man an enthusiast, a lover of the beautiful game.His early tenure was fraught and he was pilloried by the pre s, perhaps unfairly, as he got to grips with a different, le s hands-on role compared to club football.He failed to qualify for the 1984 European Championships and offered his resignation but the FA declined. In Mexicos World Cup of 1986 England needed to beat Poland in their final group game to progre s to round two. Robson decided to attack and Beardsley teed up Lineker for a first-half hat-trick.England beat Paraguay 3-0 and played Argentina in the quarter-finals. Despite being two-nil down to the hand and foot of God, Robson sent on John Barnes to attack down the left. It was a move in line with Robsons positive nature if were going down, were going down fighting. Lineker Clyde Edwards-Helaire Jersey scored and almost equalised as England tore into the Argentinians.Robson emerged with due credit but was pilloried once more after a disastrous Euro 88 in West Germany. He kept his job, just and responded with his finest hour.England qualified handsomely for Italia 90 and got through the group stages to face Belgium in round two. The FA had told Robson his contract would not be renewed before the tournament started but Robson, far from throwing in the towel, impre sed on his team the need for togetherne s and fight.In a dour match against Belgium, in which they looked second best, they dug in and a wonderful strike from David Plattin the final minute of extra time put them into the quarter-finals again, where they would face Cameroon.The Cameroons attacked England but the Three Lions fought to a 3-2 win over the Indomitable Lionsand a George Karlaftis Jersey semi-final against the old enemy West Germany. youtube: A deflected Andreas Brehmefree-kick off Paul Parker gave the Germans the lead, against the run of play, but Lineker equalised late on to force extra time. Chris Waddles snap-shot looked to have won it for England but it canoned off the inside of a post and England bowed out on penalties. Robson was a hero in defeat. It was Englands best showing since 1966 and he went on to succe sfully manage PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and PSV again. He was revered at each place he managed and even found time to nurture one Jose Mourinho.In 1999 Robson took over at Newcastle his hometown club and guided them to fourth and third place finishes in the Premier League. Oh for a Robson now at St Jamess Park.He couldnt remember his players names, he bubbled with enthusiasm like a schoolboy and he stuck to his principles of attacking football. All were reasons to why he was so universally liked.Yet with all the pre sure of top cla s management, Robson was a humble and pleasant man. He was humorous and generous. The only player he ever criticized was Diego Maradona after that goal in 1986, and then only in the mildest way publicly.Its a clich but Robson was an old fashioned gentleman. He was a link with a past that played the game hard but fair Zayne Anderson Jersey and shook hands generously with the winners.Sir Bobby was one of the last of the true sportsmen, perhaps bewildered by the exce ses of todays prima donnas but optimistic about the future of the game. Because for Sir Bobby Robson it wasnt about any individual, it was about the game, the spirit of competition, the ability to prove your worth within the rules.For all that and more, his example will be sorely mi sed. That is why all of football should mourn his pa sing.