GEORGE Burley has never made any secret of the inspiration behind his playing and managerial career, and the Scotland boss would have been delighted yesterday to hear that his mentor Sir Bobby Robson has been given the freedom of Ipswich.
Sir Bobb
y nurtured the talent of Burley, his Scotland assistant Terry Butcher, and former Scotland internationals Alan Brazil and John Wark in his great Ipswich Team of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the 75-year-old's contribution to the club was formally recognised in a ceremony yesterday.
The 75-year-old led Ipswich Town between 1969 and 1982 and during his reign, the Suffolk side won the FA Cup in 1978 and the Uefa Cup in 1981.
To mark the 30-year anniversary of the FA Cup win, Sir Bobby was granted the freedom of the Ipswich borough. Afterwards, he said: "It's a great honour for me. It's an honour that I respect. I appreciate it very much."
If Burley delivers Scotland to the World Cup finals in 2010, the freedom of Cumnock awaits.
McEnroe rolls back the yearsJOHN McEnroe made a few old ladies happy as he broke his title drought to win a first Outback Champions Series title on Sunday, beating Aaron Krickstein in a 5-7, 6-3, 10-5 tie-break.
McEnroe, 49, playing on the 30-plus tour, said: "For my favourite fan base – 75-year-old women – this proves you can still be young at an advanced age. I've been playing for a few years with frustration, and wondering if I was going to win again."
City fans sing for their SvenMANCHESTER City supporters offered an alternative chant in support of manager Sven-Göran Eriksson during Sunday's defeat at Anfield.
Club owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been tipped to sack the former England manager at the end of the season
so City fans at the Liverpool game proffered a chorus of 'Thaksin, leave our Sven alone' to the tune of Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the Wall'.
TALES FROM THE TABS: PUBS PEEVED AT POLICEGREATER Manchester Police's appeals to ticketless Rangers supporters to stay away from their city for the Uefa Cup final haven't just turned the celebrations sour north of the Border. Now, the force is facing a backlash – from the city's pubs.
The Sun has revealed that bar owners in Manchester are not best pleased at the prospect of being denied a bumper pay-day from serving thousands of thirsty blue noses.
One pub landlord complained: "The police are being extremely heavy-handed. Their solution is to shut up shop and tell them to stay away. We need a complete rethink."
The Daily Mail, meanwhile, revealed that Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock was a surprise visitor to Love Street on Saturday to watch St Mirren play Kilmarnock. The Mail speculated that Andy Dorman might be a signing target for Luggy, but pointed out that the Scot left before the end – and missed the midfielder's 90th-minute winner.
