Memories of Italia 90 with son of Sir Bobby
IT all ended in tears but England’s World Cup semi-final game in 1990 went down in history as one of the most iconic matches.
This weekend marks 30 years since Sir Bobby Robson’s team narrowly missed out on reaching the final after being defeated during penalties against West Germany. That famous night at the Stadio Delle Alpi in Turin is still seared into the memories of supporters and the heartbreak and nostalgia still remains.
The nature of the defeat and the drama of the penalty shootout against West Germany created an abiding sense of loss and of an opportunity missed for the manager, team and fans.
He went on to achieve many great things in football in the years that followed, and Sir Bobby won trophies with clubs across Europe before his emotional homecoming to Newcastle United - but his time with England never left him. Sir Bobby’s son, Mark Robson, followed England through the group stages of the tournament and was at the semi-final along with his mum, brothers, cousins, uncles and his granddad. He has fond memories of the competition despite how it all ended.
Mark says: “It’s strange thinking back to that tournament. I think most people remember Italia 90 very fondly, despite the pain of losing the penalty shootout.
“It was an incredible experience to be out there. Dad was just so, so proud of that squad, proud to work for the FA and proud to be manager.”
Mark, who was 27 at the time, said: “It was such a thrill to be able to go to a World Cup and go along and support the team, which was always something special.
“At the start of Italia 90, things were pretty bad. There was the backdrop of hooliganism, English teams banned from Europe and a horrible tabloid circulation war. And for dad of course, the press vitriol towards him for getting the job with PSV Eindhoven because he knew his eight years with England were up after the tournament.
“Ultimately though, the team and football as a whole, I think, gained so much more respect by the end of the competition. Things changed as a result of it.
“During the group stages, there were two ‘England’ hotels in Sardinia that were close to each other.
“When possible, the players’ families stayed in one right on the beach and the team were in another up the hill. On rest days, the players would come down to spend time with their family and enjoy the beach. There was a lovely atmosphere then and there were some great characters in the squad.
“I remember the players’ hotel had a golf course and one day dad invited
me to play a round with him. I didn’t have my clubs with me but Wilson had given all the players clubs and a golf bag each and Gazza said he’d lend me his.
“I should have known he’d have done something to them and, when I reached the first green, I realised he taken the flaming putter out. He just couldn’t help himself.
“Gazza was at the top of his game that tournament. Young, friendly and relaxed, he was non-stop, 120 miles an hour every day, and just what the squad needed really.”
Mark added: “Gazza was the best player in the world, at such a young age he was just remarkable really.
“They were great players and strong characters.
“That was a reason why they progressed so well. It was a great reward for Dad because he was a great judge of people and characters as their manager.”
As well as Paul Gascoigne’s genius on the pitch, he also helped remove a lot of the tension and pressure of the major competition.
“There was undoubtedly huge tension at times,” Mark said. “The reason England were on the island of Sardinia in the group stages of the tournament was because it was seen as a good way to isolate and counteract the hooligan faction.
“The policy worked well and I don’t remember there being any trouble in Sardinia but going to and from the stadium was very strange because of all the security measures. I remember we were in a hire car and followed the team to the games in a convoy with armed police, the army, helicopters and armoured personnel carriers. It was a very odd way to go to a football match.
“So, there was a lot of stress in the build up to the competition and the tabloid press in particular caused a lot of tension. Fake news was wellestablished, even then! We know it was all part of a tabloid circulation war at that time but that didn’t make it any easier to take and it hurt dad and the whole family deeply.
“Gazza’s daftness really helped release the pressure. And I remember John Barnes did much the same, maybe without aiming to. I think John helped the others relax because he seemed so at ease. He made a difference. And Gazza’s pranks and mischief-making made for something different for everyone to focus on.
“The team had a driving (golf) competition one day. John Barnes strolled up, I think not ever having played golf before, and promptly won it. To the amusement of everyone and dad’s utter disbelief.
“Looking back, we now know how much that World Cup, and especially that semifinal, meant to English football. It all helped to change perceptions of football in this country for the better and it’s amazing to know dad was at the heart of that.”
Mark says he remembers finding it “weird” that the stadium was only three-quarters full, in a bid to curb bad behaviour, and he has vivid memories of Brehme’s looping goal for West Germany and Lineker’s equaliser just after 80 minutes.
He also recalled the bus journey after the game when he joined the defeated players.
He said the team was “shocked, sombre and no one spoke” and added: “There was real disappointment and regret.”
Reflecting on the 30 years since the England loss, Mark said: “It’s a big part of dad’s career, Italia 90, it’s a big part of why people remember Dad.
“Like all my family, I miss my dad very much. I know he would be happy knowing mum, my brothers and me are so involved with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. And that his grandchildren have raised funds for it. All the family support it. He’d be very proud of that.”
Sir Bobby Robson launched his Foundation as an NHS charity fund in 2008 to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer before he died in 2009 at the age of 76.
Mark said that during the coronavirus pandemic the charity “had to take a back step”.
He added: “We’re looking forward to picking up fundraising again and trying to get back to the new normal of the charitable sector.
“It’s a strong charity and especially in the North East and very important in Newcastle for cancer care.
“We’re itching to get going again.” The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, does not employ professional fundraisers and, relying completely on the incredible generosity of the general public, has gone on to raise over £14m.
■■For more information or to donate, please visit www. sirbobbyrobsonfoundation. org.uk.
Gazza’s pranks and mischiefmaking made for something different for everyone to focus on