Sir Bobby Robson memorial garden

English: On 23 May 2011 a memorial garden to Sir Bobby Robson CBE was officially opened in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, following his death on 31 July 2009. It was commissioned by the city council in partnership with regeneration company NE1Ltd. Robson had been manager of the city's football club Newcastle United F.C. from 1999 to 2004, and the garden stands in the shadow of the Gallowgate End of their stadium, St James' Park, and is also overlooked by another local landmark, the Chinatown Arch.

Originally a boarded up section of scrub land, the site 54.973774°N 1.620086°W / 54.973774; -1.620086 is bordered to the south by the street called Gallowgate (for which the Gallowgate End is named), which is a major east-west thoroughfare into the city centre. The Gallowgate End is to the north of the garden, behind some trees. An office block (Wellbar House, completed in 2009) stands to the east. To the west is wooden structure which houses an advertising hoarding facing west, into the adjacent car park serving St James Metro station. The Chinatown Arch is towards the south east, and spans St Andrew's Street at its junction with Gallowgate.

The centrepiece of the garden is a row of 5 stone plinths, each representing a different era in his life. They are lined up on the west side of the garden, with the tops aligned in a curve. The plinths were sculpted by Newcastle fan Graeme Mitcheson, with the assistance of Richard Perry and Tom Kenrick. The plinths feature images and inscriptions on their front faces, as well as inscriptions on their tops. The 400 sq metre site also features trees, planters, a tiered seating area.

View from the front, from left to right the five plinths feature the following:

• An image of a miner's lamp, colliery wheel, tools and a football and football boots. The lamp is inscribed Langley Park Colliery

• An image of three football trophies won by Robson as a manager, the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup, superimposed with a scroll of the names of each club team Robson played for or managed - Fulham - West Bromwich Albion - Ipswich Town - PSV Eindhoven - Sporting Lisbon - Porto - Barcelona - Newcastle United

• A portrait of Robson

• A partial image of the three lions depicted on the England national football teams crest, superimposed with the inscription As a player Bobby Robson made 20 appearances for England scoring 4 goals. Sir Bobby managed England from 1982 to 1990. During that time England reached the World Cup quarter finals in Mexico 86 and the semi finals at Italia 90

• An image of the Sun with an inscription in between its rays - The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation the charity he established in 2008 provides hope to other people fighting cancer

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  Location map
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  The garden viewed from the north
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  The garden viewed from the south
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  The garden viewed from the east
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  The 5 plinths
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  Plinths 1, 2 & 3
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  Plinth 1
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  Plinth 2
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  Plinth 3
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  Plinth 4
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  Plinth 4
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  Plinth 5