Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
There’s going to be a real family atmosphere with opportunities for people to take shots on the practice pitch, there’s going to be a food and wine fair and a buffet lunch in the Sir Bobby Robson suite
Photograph: Paul Milsom and Johnny Wheeler
footballing stars and legends and will even be led onto the pitch by their young sons. What’s more they are hoping that the match will raise £20,000 or more for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Paul, the Managing Director of Milsom Hotels explained that he went to Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Ball and Auction at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds and couldn’t resist bidding to be one of the teams to play a charity match at Portman Road. The added lure was that one of his all time heroes, former Ipswich captain and England player, Mick Mills, MBE, who is now also a patron of the foundation, would be managing the team.
His team is managed by another Ipswich Town great, George Burley, the former player, international and manager who took the club back into the Premiership. Obviously it’s not just going to be a big day for Paul and Johnny but an opportunity for ITFC fans to see some of the greats back in action for the day. Johnny’s team includes John Wark, Brian Talbot, Richard Wright, Darren Curry, Fabian Wilnis, Neil Thompson, Simon Milton and David Johnson. Paul’s team includes Matt Holland, Mark Venus, John McGreal, James Scowcoft, Jason Cundy and Russell Osman. The rest of the 18-strong teams (there are going to be lots of rolling substitutes) will “I couldn’t resist and it was for two great be made up of guests and staff from the charities – the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Wheeler and Milsom businesses. and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.” “We are hoping that lots of town fans Several thousand pounds later (well £5,300 will want to come along on the day to see to be precise) the only question was who was Ipswich’s greats in action again but we’ve got going to buy the other team, which was up lots of other things going on as well. for grabs in an online auction. “There’s going to be a real family So next day Paul had a chat to his lifelong atmosphere with opportunities for people friend Johnny Wheeler and chairman of to take shots on the practice pitch, there’s Wheeler Wine and persuaded him that he going to be a food and wine fair and a buffet had to win. lunch in the Sir Bobby Robson suite,” Johnny “The auction took three hours and at explained. £8,100 cost rather more than I thought but Obviously both Paul and Johnny want to it was such a great opportunity not just to play for as long as possible and have been help charity but for my staff and clients to be doing a lot of training to get themselves involved too,” explained Johnny. match fit.
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