The auction, and a ball in Suffolk held on Thursday (20th October), were organised by volunteer fund-raiser Gina Long in memory of Sir Bobby Robson and her friend breast cancer campaigner Sally Balch.
Gina Long: “Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction and Ball has been a magnificent success.
“This has all been made possible because of the enormous love and respect for Sir Bobby Robson, who I was privileged to call a great friend.
“So many football clubs wanted to do their bit to honour Sir Bobby and the support from auction prize donors, sponsors, individuals, companies and the generous bidders have helped make it a huge success and way beyond our wildest dreams.
“I did this in memory of Sir Bobby and my beautiful friend Sally Balch who lost her battle with breast cancer. I hope the fantastic auction committee, who have worked so hard, have done them justice.”
Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Lineker, Ant and Dec, Katherine Jenkins, Graeme Swann, Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola, Arsene Wenger, Denise Welch, Andre Villas-Boas, Harry Redknapp and Fabio Capello are just some of the high profile names who donated very special prizes and helped make the auction such a success.
The star lot was Jose Mourinho’s FIFA Ballon D’Or World Coach of the Year Award 2010 trophy, which raised a staggering £26,000.
Other prizes included:
• FC Barcelona experience with personal presentation by Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola
• Two match tickets and hospitality at 2012 UEFA Champions League final
• David Beckham signed shirt and ball
• Wimbledon Centre Court tickets to the 2012 Championship
• Watch England training session with Fabio Capello and signed shirt presentation
• A silver replica of the cup ‘Taca de Portugal,’ won by FC Porto under the management of Sir Bobby
• Ipswich Town FC experience to play on the Portman Road turf and be coached by legendary player
• Two tickets to the final of Britain`s Got Talent 2012
• Red Arrows VIP day at RAF Scampton
• England rugby shirt and tickets to a 6 nations game
• Customised vintage Milner safe, professionally restored with a Newcastle United legends theme
• Tickets to Katherine Jenkins Daydream tour and a meet and greet after the show
• Behind the scenes tour of the BBC Match of the Day studios with Gary Lineker
• Create your own genuine Branston Pickle experience
• Tea for two and a tour of the House of Commons
• Luxury Grand Bahama island holiday
• A Loose Women TV experience as guests of Denise Welch
• Luxury three bedroom villa holiday in Carvoeiro, Western Algarve, Portugal
• VIP football experiences at Rangers, Celtic, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Cardiff City, Swansea, Millwall, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Colchester United, Burnley, Fulham, Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Bolton, Wigan, Sheffield United, Bristol City, Watford, Norwich City, Derby County, Liverpool, Everton, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Sunderland AFC, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, and Portland Timbers (Oregon, USA) football clubs