Middlesbrough chairman helps Sir Bobby Robson charity

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has been appointed the Teesside patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

The football club boss has agreed to take up the position after a request from Sir Bobby's widow Lady Elsie.

He will now work to promote the charity, which has raised more than £2m to fund clinical trials of anti-cancer drugs in the North East of England.

County Durham-born Sir Bobby died on 31 July 2009 at the age of 76 following a long battle against the disease.

Lady Elsie said: "Steve agreeing to help by becoming our Teesside patron means a great deal to us.

"Bobby thought very highly of Steve and the set-up at Middlesbrough Football Club and I'm sure he would approve of his involvement in his charity.

"We're very grateful to Steve for formally representing the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation as a patron and for helping us to raise money to fight this terrible disease."

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer was made overall patron of the cancer charity, which works within the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust, in October.