Clubs Will Pay Tribute To Robson
Ipswich and Newcastle will pay tribute to their former manager Sir Bobby Robson when they meet on Saturday.
Robson died in July aged 76, and the players of both clubs will wear commemorative shirts in his honour.
The shirts will later be auctioned off for Robson's cancer charity, while 709 balloons will also be released, one for each game he managed Ipswich.
The North Stand at Portman Road will be renamed the Sir Bobby Robson Stand by his wife and two sons.
A parade of former Ipswich players and coaching staff will also precede the match.
Saturday's further tributes to one of English football's most respected figures follow the memorial service held at Durham Cathedral on Monday.
"I'm sure it's going to be an enjoyable day for the supporters," said Ipswich boss Roy Keane ahead of the Championship fixture, which will be screened
live on BBC One at 1730 BST.
"I think it's going to be a cracking game from our point of view - that's what we need to and that's what we need to stay focused on.
"We need to go out and get a victory and make it an even more enjoyable day for our supporters."
Robson took over as manager at Ipswich in January 1969 and led the East Anglian club to victory in the 1978 FA Cup and 1981 Uefa Cup, while also finishing second on two occasions in old First Division before taking over as England boss in July 1982.
Keane took charge at Portman Road during the summer but is still searching for his first league win after eight games, with his side second bottom of the table.
"I'm clearly disappointed," he said. "We knew it was going to be tough but we certainly expected to have more points than what we have. We have to put that right over the next few weeks and months ahead.
"You have to believe. If the manager of your football club is not positive then what chance have you got?
"Realistically, the beauty of the Championship - and why it's so interesting for lots of teams - is that sixth place (the final play-off spot) is always within reach.
"Despite our disappointing start we are nine points behind the play-offs and that is a positive spin. But, of course, that gap will get wider the longer we go without winning.
"We need to win some football matches to get confidence and some momentum, which is massive in football."
Robson joined Newcastle as manager in September 1999 and helped revive their fortunes by steering them to fourth 2001/02, third in 2002/03 and fifth in 2003/04 before being sacked in 2004.
The Tyneside club have made a strong start to their campaign as they look to get promotion back into the Premier League at the first attempt.
Magpies caretaker manager Chris Hughton has bolstered his side with the loan signing of striker Marlon Harewood, who is expected to figure against Ipswich.
Hughton said: "For anybody who was at Sir Bobby's memorial on Monday, it was a very emotional affair in a wonderful, wonderful setting.
"It's ironic that we are playing Ipswich in the very next league game, and certainly what Sir Bobby would have wanted to see is an entertaining game played at great pace and a lot of respect on that pitch."
BBC SPORT | Football | Championship | Robson clubs ready to pay tribute
