Pride of Newcastle: Gazza joins Pardew as statue of late great Sir Bobby is unveiled

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UPDATED:

10:45 GMT, 6 May 2012

Newcastle legend Paul Gascoigne and manager Alan Pardew lead the applause as the club unveiled a statue outside St James' Park in honour of late great boss Sir Bobby Robson.

Thousands of fans attended the ceremony ahead of today's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City as the impressive 9 ft bronze statue of their beloved former manager, who sadly passed away three years ago, was revealed.

Robson’s family, led by his wife Lady Elsie, joined Pardew, owner Mike Ashley, Gazza and some of the club’s most famous players past and present, including Lee Clark, Peter Bearsley and Bobby Moncur.

Pride of Newcastle: A statue of the late great Sir Bobby Robson was unveiled outside St James' Park

The sculpture is located at the South-West corner of the club's stadium and Newcastle's managing director Derek
Llambias told the club's official website: 'We are delighted to be able
to honour Sir Bobby Robson with this lasting tribute.

'He was a great man and ambassador for this football club and for the city.

'He achieved great success during his
time as manager of Newcastle United and this statue is a fitting way
for the Club to remember him.'

Applause: Paul Gascoigne and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew watch the Sir Bobby Robson statue being unveiled before the match against Manchester City

Robson spent five years in charge of his hometown club between 1999 and 2004, in which he twice led Newcastle into the Champions League and secured three consecutive top-five finishes.

Lady Elsie Robson, who was joined by members of her family, representatives from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and sculptor Tom Maley, added: 'It's very fitting that there will be a tribute to Bob outside Newcastle United's ground. This is where his love of football began.

Smiles: Lady Elsie Robson was proud to see the new statue of her husband outside Newcastle's stadium

'As a boy he'd come here with his dad and he likely queued to get into the ground where the statue will be sited.

'My husband's career took him all
over the world but he was always a Newcastle fan at heart. He loved this
Club and was very proud to be its manager.'

Impressive: The sculpture of Sir Bobby is located at the South-West corner of the Club's stadium.